Pat Shurmur has Colorado’s run game steadily improving
The secret ingredient to the Colorado Buffaloes’ 6-2 record hasn’t been quarterback Shedeur Sanders, two-way superstar Travis Hunter or even the progression seen on defense. Rather, it has been the vastly improved run game.
The Buffs controlled the Cincinnati Bearcats from start to finish at the line of scrimmage on Saturday, led by running back Isaiah Augustave’s 91 rushing yards and one touchdown. Overseeing this uptick has been offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who appears focused on proving this success isn’t a fluke.
“I thought we had a good plan going into it,” Shurmur said Wednesday of the run game’s success against the Bearcats. “I like to run the ball. I love to pass the ball don’t get me wrong, but when you run the ball and are gaining yards that helps the play-caller.”
CU has run the ball more than it has passed in each of the last two weeks, with impressive wins coming in both contests.
The Buffaloes get a well-deserved bye week before resuming action on Nov. 9 at Texas Tech.
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Coach Prime hinted at a potential change in Colorado’s running back room
As the Colorado Buffaloes look to rebound this Saturday against Arizona, CU head coach Deion Sanders closed his weekly presser on Tuesday with an announcement on who will likely be starting at running back: sophomore Isaiah Augustave.
“(No.) 23 may get the nod this week,” Sanders said, referring to Augustave’s jersey number. “Everyone else has started but him, so he may be that back this week that gets the opportunity to do his thing.”
A transfer this past offseason from Arkansas, Augustave leads the Buffs with 127 rushing yards on 27 carries. He has appeared in every game but the opener against North Dakota State and scored his first touchdown of the season against Kansas State.
Sanders was originally inquired about the status of freshman tailback Micah Welch, who didn’t register a carry against Kansas State.
“You gotta understand he had a hamstring injury now,” Sanders explained. “He didn’t practice every day last week, so you kind of bring him back slowly.”
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On Thursday, head coach Deion Sanders and the Buffs earned the commitment of Arkansas Razorbacks transfer running back Isaiah Augustave, a former four-star prospect who flashed some talent in the SEC last season.
Given only 35 carries as a true freshman, Augustave recorded 202 rushing yards and one touchdown. His best game came in November against Florida International when he broke loose for 101 yards on 14 carries, good for 7.2 yards per rush. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound back then ran for 80 yards against Missouri the following week.
Coming out of Naples High School in Florida, Augustave was ranked as the No. 13 running back in the 2023 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.
Augustave was named SEC Freshman of the Week. He ran for 101 yards on 14 carries as Arkansas ran for a season-high 323 yards on the ground. The freshman had only carried the ball in two games before, which means the possibility of this first season remaining redshirt.
Walcott garnered SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors after logging five tackles and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. The score was Arkansas’ fifth of the year by the defense, ranking tops in FBS.
The Razorbacks (4-7) were able to emerge victorious and will now go into the season finale with Missouri with some renewed confidence and try and spoil a 10-win season for the Tigers and Arkansas native Eli Drinkwitz.
It will most likely also keep the wolves at bay regarding Sam Pittman’s job status, but that will still be a topic of conversation and will only intensify if Missouri comes into Fayetteville and has its way with the Hogs.
Here are some of the best images from Saturday night’s game under the lights.
Led by Rocket Sanders, the Arkansas running back room could be as loaded as it’s ever been.
Reminiscent of the mid-2000s, the Arkansas running back room is arguably the best in the SEC, top to bottom, and one of the elite groups in the nation.
It’s been nearly 17 years since two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden left for the NFL, along with one-time running mates Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis. The 2006 roster also including a dynamic freshman, in future 1,000-yard back Michael Smith.
The Hogs have had some other stellar ball-carriers since then, with the likes of Broderick Green, Jonathan Williams, Alex Collins, Rawleigh Williams III and Rakeem Boyd. But this year’s complete stable of backs may be unmatched, when all is said and done. And it all starts with the explosive Rocket Man.
Starter: Raheim “Rocket” Sanders
Arkansas’ Raheim Sanders (5) runs the ball against the Mississippi Rebels at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on November 19, 2022. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Class: Junior
Measurables: 6-2, 242 lbs.
Last Season: Ran for 1,443 yards on 222 attempts with 10 touchdowns and a long of 76 yards against Auburn. He also caught 28 passes for 271 yards and a pair of TDs, averaging 9.7 yards per catch, with a long of 73 yards against Missouri State. In his 250 total touches, he did not fumble the ball.
After adding 15 pounds this offseason, the Rockledge, Fla., product, has been able to get bigger and stronger, while improving his already-elite speed. He admits that he feels better than ever entering what could be his final season in Fayetteville. It also helps that he gets to team up with senior KJ Jefferson, arguably the best quarterback in the conference, and is getting comfortable in new offensive coordinator Dan Enos’ pro-style offense.
“A lot of learning with the new offensive coordinator,” Sanders said. “(KJ Jefferson) makes me comfortable, the offensive coordinator (Dan Enos), and him as well. I just feel more comfortable this year just talking to him and learning new things and always going in for questions. He’s always there for me.”
Enos has been enamored with Sanders’ consistent effort and competitiveness, even in practice.
“You would think that he’s a freshman that just got here,” Enos said. “When I say that, I mean his attitude and his demeanor and the way he practices. He doesn’t practice like a guy who rushed for 1,500 yards last year and has all these accolades. He runs the ball in practice like a guy who is very hungry and has something to prove.”
Vegas currently has Sanders at 150-1 to win the Heisman Trophy, which also depends heavily on the team’s success, but if he can remain healthy, those odds could shrink in a hurry.
Back-up 2A: Rashod Dubinion
Arkansas running back Rashod Dubinion (6) catches the game-winning two-point conversion in the third overtime against Kansas in the 2022 Liberty Bowl in Memphis. Arkansas won 55-53. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Class: Sophomore
Measurables: 5-10, 216 lbs.
Last Season: As a true freshman, he ran for 293 yards on 71 attempts with five touchdowns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. He also caught 12 passes for 108 yards and another TD, averaging 9.0 yards per catch. In his 83 total touches, he did not fumble the ball.
The high 3-Star recruit out of Ellenwood, Ga., came in as the nation’s No. 22 athlete, according to 247Sports, choosing the Razorbacks over a long-list of Power-5 programs, such as Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Ole Miss.
He played in all 13 games last season and quickly turned heads with his elusive speed and ability to find holes, as well as pass-catching skills. He turned in his best performance against Kansas in the Liberty Bowl, rushing for 112 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, to go along with three receptions for 19 yards.
2023 Outlook: The talented back looks primed to take things up another notch this season after dedicating himself to the weight room in the offseason, under the watchful eye of new strength and conditioning coach Ben Sowder.
“Rashod is a football player,” said running backs coach Jimmy Smith. “He loves football. But when he first got here, the weight room was something he had to do, not something he wanted to do. As time went on, he started lifting weights and saw his body changing.
“Now he knows and he’s started enjoying the weight room. Coach Sowders held him accountable and started making him do it. Then once he started making him do it, he saw the changes and he started wanting to do it. It’s going to be really good for him.”
Back-up 2B: AJ Green
Class: Junior
Measurables: 5-11, 205 lbs.
Last Season: As a sophomore, he ran for 412 yards on 87 attempts with three touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He also caught six passes for 75 yards, averaging 12.5 yards per catch. Like Sanders and Dubinion, he did not fumble the ball.
The Tulsa Union alum came to Arkansas two years ago, as a 4-Star prospect, the No. 2 player in the state of Oklahoma and the No. 188 overall prep player in the nation. Green has been a solid change-of-pace back the last two seasons with his speed and receiving ability, and will likely continue to split second-team reps with Dubinion.
2023 Outlook: Green returns with outstanding top-end track speed, running a 10.38 in the 100 meters, and a 21.46 in 200 meters. He has a great initial burst with home run-hitting long speed, and has proven to have slippery strength to run through arm tackles. He showcased these traits with a 30-yard touchdown sprint against Texas as a freshman, and a few times last season, including a 20-yard jaunt against Kansas in the Liberty Bowl, which was also his first career 100-yard game
Although he could have opted to transfer after last season to seek more playing time elsewhere, Green remains all Hog.
“We all know if we wanted to go somewhere, we could play,” he said. “But why do that, when we have some of the best players right here that’s going to push us to our best potential? We’re brothers. We don’t hate on each other (and say) ‘oh, he’s getting this many carries’ and this and that. We’re just pushing each other to be the best that we can.”
Fourth Team: Dominique Johnson
Dominique Johnson (20) rushes for a touchdown against Georgia Southern at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Class: RS-Junior
Measurables: 6-1, 252 lbs.
Last Season: He was the starter at running back for the majority of the 2021 season, before tearing his ACL during Razorbacks’ 24-10 victory over Penn State in the Outback Bowl. After surgery and rehab, he missed the first three games of 2022, before injuring the same knee again later in the year. He finished the season with just eight carries for 43 yards, but maintained his year of eligibility with a redshirt.
2023 Outlook: When the Crowley, Texas, native arrived at Arkansas as 3-Star recruit in 2020, his role was still up in the air. He spent a day with the tight ends, before rejoining the running backs and eventually becoming the starter as a sophomore. His bruising style endeared himself to the coaches, which he put on display in a 40-21 win over Texas, scoring the game’s first touchdown on a 5-yard bullrush through the middle of the Longhorns’ defense. Now that he appears to be back fully healthy, that power running could benefit the Hogs again this season.
Johnson could have easily called it quits after multiple knee injuries, and is well aware of where he now sits in the pecking order. But he is back on the field with something to prove.
“Basically now again, I’m the fourth running back,” he said. “So it’s not a problem for me. I feel like as long as I keep doing how I do, run my way, my way is going to come into play. Gameday, we might need it, so I just do what I do. Encourage everybody else to keep going like that.”
New strength and conditioning coach Ben Sowders has helped Johnson add more muscle and strength this offseason, so without any setbacks, he may return to being a vital part of the run game.
“His body is different,” running backs coach Jimmy Smith said. “There’s more muscle. They took care of him. Even when he was hurt, he did a good job of doing stuff, just keeping the conditioning going. They did a good job of it. He’s kind of ahead of it because he was already in condition. When he started back running, he could do more running.”
Freshman: Isaiah Augustave
Class: Freshman
Measurables: 6-2, 208 lbs.
Last Season: The talented 4-Star out of Naples, Fla., was ranked the No. 13 high school running back in the nation, and the No. 174 overall recruit, according to 247Sports. As a senior, he had 110 carries for 1,061 yards — 9.6 yards per carry — and 11 touchdowns, including three 100-yard games. He had a slew of Division I offers and chose the Hogs over the likes of Florida State, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky.
2023 Outlook: Augustave has a tall, lean, athletic build, with good muscle mass and a frame that should allow him to continue adding bulk, under new strength and conditioning coach Ben Sowders. He possesses the top end speed to hit the long run, running an 11.01 in the 100 meters. He has the burst to hit holes straight on and the wiggle to make the first man miss, or elude an open-field tackler in space.
He is excited to be a Razorback and has already developed a close relationship with his teammates and running backs coach Jimmy Smith.
“We just really clicked, like we vibe together,” Augustave said. “I fell in love with the campus, and the coaches are all good people. They are all there for the players, it’s like a family up here and just reminds a lot of what I already got at Naples High.”
Freshman: Emmanuel Crawford
Class: Freshman
Measurables: 5-10, 168 lbs.
Last Season: Was Oklahoma’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year, after finishing high school with 6,777 career rushing yards, the most in Class 5A history. He also tallied 93 career rushing touchdowns and 13 career receiving scores. As a senior, led Grove, Okla., to a 13-1 record, rushing for 2,304 yards and 36 touchdowns on 230 carries, averaging 10 yards per attempt and 235.3 rushing yards per game. He also caught 19 passes for 546 yards, averaging 28.7 yards per reception, and seven TD catches.
2023 Outlook: Hailing from Head Coach Sam Pittman’s high school alma mater, Crawford was not heavily recruited by Power 5 schools, due to his slight build. His work in the classroom garnered offers from Air Force, Army and Navy, but Crawford decided to walk on at Arkansas. Despite his size, the speedster is not your typical walk-on, and could have a bright future down the line with the Razorbacks.
Running backs coach Jimmy Smith feels Crawford can get up to around 180 pounds and has the potential to emerge into a change-of-pace role as a scat-back in his career, as he learns the finer points of the position.
“He’ll have a role, a scat-back,” Smith said. “He’s a quick little joker, always scooting around. I had to slow him down a little bit. I tell him all the time, at running back, it’s not about going fast all the time. It’s about the pace and being able to understand the pace of certain runs. So right now he’s doing everything fast, but I’d rather him go too fast than too slow. So he’ll be alright.”
The former offensive coordinator didn’t consistently show how often he would use the depth in the backfield, but all that could change in Dan Enos’s new offense.
College Sports Wire’s Patrick Conn ranked the best running backs in college football for next season. Check out where he has Arkansas’ Rocket Sanders.
Arkansas football experienced a lot of change over the off-season, but the running back position is largely the same.
Raheim “Rocket” Sanders will once again lead the Razorback backfield, with [autotag]A.J. Green[/autotag], [autotag]Rashod Dubinion[/autotag] and [autotag]Dominique Johnson[/autotag] returning to help the SEC’s second-leading rusher from 2022. The only newcomer to the group is incoming freshman [autotag]Isaiah Augustave[/autotag] – a four-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class.
With so much depth and experience returning to the Arkansas backfield in 2023, the Razorbacks are expected to pick up right where they left off last season. New offensive coordinator [autotag]Dan Enos[/autotag] has made some noticeable tweaks to the offense from what it looked like under [autotag]Kendal Briles[/autotag], but the philosophy of being a dominant rushing team has not changed.
Adding in the fact that [autotag]K.J. Jefferson[/autotag] is also back for another season, and it’s hard not to expect another big year for Sanders and the Arkansas backfield. Patrick Conn of College Sports Wire is also a big believer in Sanders entering next season. Conn shared his top running backs in college football for 2023 and had [autotag]Rocket Sanders[/autotag] ranked at No. 3 behind Blake Corum (Michigan) and Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss). Conn says that 2023 could be Sanders’ best yet since arriving in Fayetteville.
The man they call “Rocket” was a force for the Hogs offense over the last two seasons, and despite the opportunity to go pro he returns for another season. Over the past two campaigns, Sanders has tallied 2,401 yards of offense and 18 touchdowns. This could be his best season yet with K.J. Jefferson also returning to Fayetteville.
As previously mentioned, Sanders finished last season as the SEC’s second leading rusher, behind Quinshon Judkins. He ran 222 times for 1,443 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, while also hauling in 28 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns on the year. Sanders was the only consistent presence on an Arkansas offense which struggled for most of the season.
