Most of the running backs Micah Welch expected to compete with when he got to Boulder in January are no longer with the Colorado football team.
The Buffaloes have a whole new set of backs, but the true freshman hasn’t changed his approach.
“I got the same mentally,” Welch told BuffZone. “I came in to dominate, show Coach Prime I can do it all. I can run, I can pass (protect), I can catch, I can do everything you want me to do.”
As head coach Deion Sanders prepares for his second season at CU, there doesn’t appear to be a clear-cut starter at running back, but there is unheralded talent in the room.
“Our backfield, our running backs, I think we’ve got four to five of them that can flat-out go,” Sanders said during CU’s fall sports media day on Friday. “You could use them any way you decide to, because all of them are pretty good out of the backfield, catching the ball. They definitely could run between tackles, outside of the tackles, but also they could pick up the blocks. And they’re smart young men.”
Welch believes he has the versatility to make an impact right away for the Buffaloes, who open the season on Aug. 29 against North Dakota State at Folsom Field (6 p.m., ESPN).
A three-star recruit from Baldwin (Ga.) High School, the 5-foot-9, 205-pound Welch rushed for 3,759 yards and 47 touchdowns during his prep career. Yet, while he’s confident in his all-around skills, he’s also keeping his head down and working at all aspects of the game.
“I’m gonna say everything,” he said when asked about his weaknesses. “I’m gonna just polish everything up. I’m a complete back, so I’m gonna just work on everything every day. So I’m gonna work on running, pass blocking, and be the complete back that I am.”
Running backs coach Gary Harrell recently said pass protection will be the key to any of the backs getting on the field and Welch is confident in that area.
“I’m doing very good with pass protection,” he said. “Trying to protect Shedeur (Sanders) and all the quarterbacks, so I do a good job with that. I’m an aggressive guy, so it’s kind of natural.”
Perhaps Welch’s biggest strength, however, is his humble approach and hard-nosed running style.
“It’s just me, coming from a small city, Milledgeville, Georgia,” he said of his hometown, which has a population of less than 17,000 people. “That’s all I had. That’s all I’ve seen. So keep my head down and keep going.”
While confident in his own ability, Welch is also confident and excited about the entire group. Junior Charlie Offerdahl is currently atop the depth chart, while transfers Isaiah Augustave and Dallan Hayden are competing with Welch and fellow true freshman Brandon Hood. Walk-ons Christian Sarem and Titus Bautista are also competing.
“Everybody pushes each other so there’s no hate going on, and everybody is willing to do what they supposed to do to help the team win,” Welch said. “I can run the ball, everybody can run the ball, and we’ll be a big help this year.”
