Darian Hagan is a good recruiter.

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky and good.

Fearing that Colorado’s prize prospect Darrell Scott — widely regarded as the best high school tailback in the nation — could possibly change his mind and decommit late in the process, the Buffs’ running back coach went on the road looking for an insurance policy.

Hagan and Jeff Grimes, CU’s offensive line coach and running game coordinator, made recruiting visits as far away as Mississippi and Ohio looking for some more depth in the backfield.

Since they were already in the Buckeye State, the coaches checked in on linebacker prospect Douglas Rippy, who decided to play at CU instead of rival Nebraska after the Cornhuskers made a coaching change.

When Rippy found out that Hagan was in the market for another running back pupil, he recommended not flying home without taking a serious look at his friend, Rodney Stewart.

The flight home after a long road trip quickly got a lot shorter for the assistant coaches.

“The stars were aligned right that we got that kid,” Hagan says. “There’s going to be a lot of teams, when they see this kid perform, that are going to wonder how we got him here. It was just the grace of God, hard work, searching and finding guys committed to helping us out.”

Scott, of course, kept his word and signed with the Buffs in February. So did Ray Polk, who has been equally impressive so far.

But the Buffs also have big plans for the 5-foot-6 Stewart, a very strong kid already nicknamed “Speedy.”

Keep an eye out for No. 43 between the tackles, in the passing game and on the punt return.

“I played everything in high school — punter, kick returner, receiver, corner, running back,” said Stewart, who was being recruited mostly by Mid-American Conference programs before Hagan knocked on his door. “I could play it all. So however I get in a game, it’s going to be fun for me.”

Competing against Stewart isn’t fun. He showed up in Boulder ready to talk trash with his new teammates on the field, despite his quiet demeanor away from the sport.

During Wednesday’s practice, after Ryan Walters intercepted a pass intended for Stewart, secondary coach Greg Brown had to scold the aggressive freshman for going low and taking the safety down with a dangerous tackle.

“He’s physical and he loves to win. He’s street smart and one of those kids who likes to talk a lot,” Hagan said. “So we had to kind of reel him in and tell him we don’t do that here. Just go out and let your pads and your play speak for you. And he has gotten that.

“At first it was a little difficult for him, especially with the coaches not being around the kids in the summer. He was able to mouth off a little bit. But he’s gotten better and he has been backing it up. ... I love that kid. He’s awesome.”

Stewart and Rippy, who grew up near Columbus, were the best of friends since the day they met. Something just clicked between them.

Just this year, while attending a cookout together, the talented duo learned from some of Rippy’s extended family members that they were actually second cousins.

So the move to Boulder turned out to be all in the family.

“It really didn’t shock us because we were like family in the first place,” Rippy said. “I’m so happy he’s out here. I don’t know what I’d do if I was by myself. He’s family and also a friend. With him around, whenever I’m down he brings me up and talks to me and gets me straight. It’s good to have him around.”

Stewart also has good hands. Which makes sense as an insurance policy at running back that appears ready to pay off.

“I think it’s great,” Stewart said of joining Scott and Polk in what could be a legendary class of tailbacks four years from now. “A lot of running backs means more competition. We just make each other better.”