The 2014 season was a strange one for Colorado running backs, as the featured role rotated among four players.
All four of those players — Michael Adkins, Tony Jones, Phillip Lindsay and Christian Powell — finished with between 79 to 94 carries and 391 to 448 yards.
It was the first time since 1959 that nobody on the team had as many as 100 rushing attempts, and the first time since 1983 that nobody had at least 500 rushing yards.
Powell (448 yards) had the Buffs’ lowest team-leading total since Lance Olander (440) in 1979.
Whether the Buffs have a similar time share in the backfield this year depends on the health of its backs.
“We’d like to play two, but we had injuries last year to Michael and to Christian, so then Tony and Phillip had to do it,” CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said. “They all do things a little bit better than the other, but if one gets in a groove, you’d like to keep him (going) as much as you can.”
Jones has graduated, but Adkins, Lindsay and Powell are all back and all aiming to earn a featured role. True freshmen Patrick Carr and Dino Gordon are hoping to be in the mix, too.
“It’s a deep group, just like it was last year,” running backs coach Klayton Adams said. “I think it’s for the betterment of the team if all of those guys continue to get better throughout camp. There are three real experienced guys and then there’s some young guys that want to try to take their piece of the pie, too. We’re just hoping that all of them continue to get better.”
Powell has led the Buffs in rushing each of the past three seasons and is hoping to join Rodney Stewart (2008-2011) as the only players to lead the Buffs four times. Powell comes into the year with 1,701 career rushing yards, ranking 23rd in CU history.
The 6-foot, 235-pound Powell arrived at fall camp in great shape, which is not a surprise to Adams.
“Every year the guy works so hard all offseason to make sure he’s in peak condition and he works on the things he needs to improve on,” Adams said.
Adkins is aiming for a full season after injuries bothered him for much of 2014. He has 933 career yards, putting him on the verge of becoming the 52nd Buff to crack the 1,000-yard mark.
Lindsay, meanwhile, dazzled at times as a freshman, compiling 391 yards.
“Everybody wants to be No. 1,” Lindsay said. “I certainly do. It’s exciting to see what’s going to happen.”
Carr and Gordon could make the competition very interesting. Both were three-star recruits out of high school in the spring.
“They both have done a great job,” Adams said. “I think we have to wait until we get into full pads and really get out there in a situation where I’m not standing behind them coaching them (to fully evaluate Carr and Gordon).”
Health, of course, is the key to the running back group. But, there is a measure of comfort in knowing the Buffs have experience and a deep pool of talent in the backfield.
“If you can get one back going that’s what you want,” Lindsay said. “But running back is a hard position, man, so if something happens, boom, you have somebody that can come in that understands (the offense). That’s what coach said before: ‘Be ready, because we’re counting on you.’ “
Brian Howell: howellb@dailycamera.com, on Twitter: @BrianHowell33.
