CU's Hawkins intrigued by Scott's punting

Highly touted recruit could create trouble for opposing special teams

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

Published July 22, 2008 at 4:51 p.m.

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He said it

"He was smart enough last year to realize he was an unproven freshman and the coach's kid, and 'I've just got to come out here and do my deal.' But I think as he continues to get credibility on the football team, I really think he can take these guys to another level."

Dan Hawkins, on son Cody, CU's starting quarterback.

Numbers game

15 junior-college players were among Kansas State's 26 signees for 2008, bringing the roster's junior-college total to 47.

Photo by Marissa Roth

Darrell Scott's punting ability and running skills could force opposing defenses into some tough decisions.

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Picture this: Colorado faces fourth-and-long in its Big 12 Conference opener against Texas (Oct. 4, Folsom Field). High school All-America tailback Darrell Scott drops into punt formation.

Huh? The Buffaloes' top 2008 signee, who made the Longhorns his runner-up in a steamy and ultimately ugly recruiting battle, cast as a . . . punter?

Could happen. CU coach Dan Hawkins previously has addressed the possibility, and he did so again Tuesday at the league's preseason media briefing, saying, "Imagine having a guy who can run like that as your punter. Are you going to rush the punter or play defense? We'll find out . . . he can really bang it."

As a senior at St. Bonaventure High School (Ventura, Calif.), Scott averaged 36.9 yards a punt and Hawkins said he could challenge incumbent Matt DiLallo, whose net average last season was 35.8 yards.

First, though, Hawkins might want to get CU defensive tackle George Hypolite's take on the matter.

The well-spoken, and outspoken, Hypolite might have been speaking for any number of Big 12 defensive players when he said of Scott, "I'd try to go hit him as hard as I could. . . . I'm just saying I'll take a 15-yard penalty to take the best running back out of the game. . . . Hey, it's football."

Recipe for greatness

Although Hawkins calls him "a tremendous talent . . . a great player," he won't be rushed into getting Scott onto the field in any capacity.

Hawkins' early dealings with Scott have centered on "understanding a quality balance of life and what it takes to be successful" as much as football. "His game will come around at some point. Whether it's Day 1 or Week 1 or Year 2, I don't know. I know that it will at some point."

But Hawkins also clearly knows what a potential game-breaker would mean to his offense.

"You love to have those guys that when you block it exactly right he can take it to the house," he said, adding, "and (Scott) is a guy, when you don't block it exactly right, he can take it to the house."

Seeing Scott's highlight tape has made Hypolite think big, really big, about the freshman's future.

"If I'm worth my salt and the other leaders on this team are, if we can teach him how to work hard and study film, and dive into the process, in three years, we can talk about him winning the Heisman," Hypolite said. "The kid has unbelievable ability. He's the No. 1 running back in the country for a reason."

Six-year wonders?

Even after a methodical six-year climb under coach Mark Mangino to last season's 12-1 finish, Kansas still attracts its share of doubters - and Jayhawks safety Darrell Stuckey is aware of them.

"I believe there's always going to be doubters out there; after all, it's only been one (great) season," he said. "We still have a lot to do, a lot to prove. But we want to keep moving. It's on our (team) poster: 'We're just getting started.' "

But Kansas' task will be much tougher in 2008. Not drawing Oklahoma or Texas last season, Kansas plays both this year, plus South Division dark horse Texas Tech.

It's a lineup Mangino calls "the test for our program. We will never truly get over the hump, in my eyes . . . until we're able to defeat those teams as well."

Don't attack, Zac

Oklahoma State's Zac Robinson, a Chatfield High School graduate, is wired to be a physical, risk-taking quarterback. Yet he concedes there are times when sliding or stepping out of bounds is preferable to taking on a tackler.

"I always liked contact, and when I get the ball in my hands I always want to make a play for my team," said Robinson, whose 3,671 yards of total offense in 2007 set a single-season school record.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy loves Robinson's productivity and leadership but hopes prudence prevails in 2008.

Said Gundy: "I worry about that every night just before I take a sleeping pill to go to sleep."

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