Handicapping the Colorado Running Back Battle Heading into the Spring Game

The running back spot is the most wide-open competition there is for the 2019 Colorado Buffaloes, and probably the most important. The way Mel Tucker wants to play, CU will need at least two productive running backs, yet as the Buffs head into their spring game, they have virtually no idea what they've got in the backfield.

At this point, there are six candidates: Alex Fontenot, Chase Sanders, Deion Smith, Jarek Broussard, Joe Davis and Jaren Mangham.

Reading the tea leaves, this is a rough estimate of where they stand heading into the spring game.

1. Alex Fontenot

If this unit has a "grizzled vet," Fontenot (6-0, 195) is him. His 11 carries for 43 yards as a freshman in 2018 make him CU's leading returning rusher, and he's getting a lot of reps in spring ball. Hagan says he's the leader, that he's put on some good weight, and that he's running very physically, which is what they're looking for.

If the season started today, Fontenot would be the starting running back, and I see no real reason to think that won't be the case in September.

2. Joe Davis

Davis (5-11, 210), a freshman from Littleton, led the Buffaloes with 49 rushing yards on eight carries in their second scrimmage of spring ball. He was a three-star recruit at Valor Christian who got a lot of interest from major schools, but according to Rivals only had offers from CU and Colorado State.

He wouldn't have been considered a frontrunner heading into spring ball, but he's been productive as a runner and he's impressed running backs coach Darian Hagan with his intelligence.

"Joe is really, really smart," Hagan told the Boulder Daily Camera. "He understands what we're doing in pass protection. In the run game, he misses things because he starts guessing and starts dancing his feet. But, he's going to be a good player. I'm pleasantly surprised with how advanced Josiah is."

Freshman running backs usually have the opposite problem. Davis' dancing feet will work themselves out soon enough, at which point CU will have a complete back to work with.

3. Jaren Mangham

Another true freshman, Mangham, (6-2, 215) is probably CU's most physical runner.

"In the run game, he's just physical as all be-out," Hagan told the Daily Camera. "He knows what he's doing and he knows how to get up field and run behind his pads. The sky is the limit for that dude."

It wouldn't be a surprise to see Mangham pass Davis or even Fontenot at some point. Playing in Detroit, he got offers from Alabama,Michigan State, Arkansas and Arizona, among others. He was the highest-rated of the three as a recruit and possibly has the highest upside.

4-5. Deion Smith, Jarek Broussard

Both of these redshirt freshmen continue to get reps in the scrimmages. Smith (6-0, 185) had an 18-yard TD run in the first one and had another TD in the second one. Broussard (5-9, 180) had seven carries (for 32 yards) in the first one, but by the sounds of things is a little on teh small side for what Mel Tucker and Hagan are looking for.

6. Chase Sanders

Sanders (6-0, 190) is the only CU running back other than Fontenot who has game experience, but he's a walkon who won't be carrying it a lot this year.