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CU's Sumler gets nod for season opener

Sophomore will start at running back spot against Colorado State

By B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 17, 2008 at 11:23 p.m.

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Question marks about starting jobs still hover over a number of positions on the University of Colorado football team, but this might be a surprise: Don't count running back among them.

At the conclusion of Sunday's second scrimmage, running backs coach Darian Hagan named sophomore Demetrius Sumler his starter for CU's opener Aug. 31 against Colorado State (5:30 p.m., Invesco Field at Mile High, FSN Rocky Mountain).

Rather than anything the 5-foot-10, 220- pound Sumler did or didn't do Sunday, Hagan's decision was based on Sumler's cumulative work of last spring and this preseason camp, with the collective inexperience of CU's talented trio of freshmen also a factor.

"I thought the young guys pushed him, but they haven't pushed by him," Hagan said of the pressure tailback recruits Darrell Scott, Ray Polk and Rodney Stewart have exerted on Sumler.

But as he has done in his two seasons directing the running backs/fullbacks, Hagan said spelling Sumler will be done "by committee." That means as many as four or five other tailbacks -- the freshman trio, plus junior Kevin Moyd and sophomore Brian Lockridge (health permitting) -- could work their way into significant playing time.

Scott, CU's biggest tailback (6-2, 220) appears to be Hagan's first choice as a short-yardage back, while Stewart continues to show his speed and versatility. Polk, Hagan said, still "is trying to figure things out" in pass protection and other areas that give Sumler a preseason edge.

Sumler, of San Diego, has managed to maintain his focus and work ethic despite speculation that his days (and carries) in CU's tailback rotation might be numbered. And, he said, when Scott, Polk and Stewart signed their national letters of intent amid voluminous national hype, his commitment to being the starter never wavered.

"My dad and my mom didn't raise no quitter," he said, noting his goal during spring and summer workouts was "to be a leader for the Buffs (and) coach them (the freshmen), get them better."

Mission accomplished, noted quarterback Cody Hawkins (17-for-27 passing for 225 yards, two touchdowns, one interception). He said Sumler has "done an awesome job of leading. . . . We're all happy to have a guy like that. He relates to every guy on this team, and everyone likes him."

Meanwhile, the scrimmage Sunday, which drew a crowd estimated at 1,400 by school officials, did little to settle the starting guards.

Offensive line coach Jeff Grimes said in a "best-case scenario," he could identify two starters by game week, adding, "We could go in (to the CSU game) with the competition still open."

The backup quarterback position might be redshirt freshman Matt Ballenger's to lose. Senior Nick Nelson (strained abdominal muscle) sat out the scrimmage, allowing Ballenger to work exclusively with the No. 2 offense and complete 12-of-22 passes for 142 yards (one interception).

Ballenger called his scrimmage "a good day. . . . I'm not second-guessing things now; I'm just playing instead of trying to make things happen."

Freshman Tyler Hansen, usually working against a No. 3 defense, ran six times for 72 yards and completed 3-of-4 passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns. Scott called the 6-1, 205-pound Hansen "a Tebow in the making," referring to Florida's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Tim Tebow.

ETC.: Cornerback Jalil Brown made two athletic interceptions, picking off Hawkins and Ballenger. . . . Sumler (nine carries, 27 yards) and Scott (six, 36) had the most rushing yards among the tailbacks. Scott contributed kickoff returns of 50 and 47 yards, while his uncle, Josh Smith, returned a punt 44 yards for a score and added a 62- yard kickoff return. . . . Freshman safety Patrick Mahnke and linebackers Michael Sipili and Shaun Mohler were the leading tacklers, with seven each. . . . Promising freshman tight end Ryan Deehan (five catches, 71 yards) said the first scrimmage "was a lot faster, but (Sunday) I knew what to expect. It was a lot easier."

Comments

  • August 18, 2008

    2:22 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Buff4Life writes:

    If Tyler Hansen is really a Tebow in the making, I expect to see Hansen starting at some point next year. I would have liked to see it this year, if Tyler would have enrolled in January like Tebow did in FL. Once he learns the O, he can push Cody out of there.

    Go Buffs. I want to see us pin 40+ on the Rams.

  • August 19, 2008

    12:53 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SayWhat32 writes:

    "push Cody out of there"? That is just no being smart...let the guy get a redshirt year and then as a redshirt freshman he can get a year as a backup and learn the system.
    I love the way the Buffs coaching staff is taking care of pressure on the young talent. Let Scott work his way into the line up....maybe by the 4th or 5th game when the Big 12 games start he will be ready. Smart move!