Ever since Shedeur hit the green a record number of times in 2023, the pressure is high on the team’s running backs to perform better. The Colorado Buffaloes have a new and revamped squad this season, with special emphasis on their O-line which will be adorned with strong players like Jordan Seaton. As such, the Buffaloes are ensuring a dense layer of defense around Shedeur Sanders while the RBs are encouraged to step up.

The Colorado Buffaloes witnessed a mass exodus of players hitting the transfer portal this season when 23 big names decided to jump ship. Among them, the Buffs’ top leading rushers like Dylan Edwards, Anthony Hankerson, Sy’veon Wilkerson, and Alton McCaskill also chose to leave the program. Additionally, Charlie Offerdahl is the only returning RB this season, which has made Gary Harrell’s job a lot harder with an empty locker room. But the RB coach is employing strict measures in place for the players who fail to protect Shedeur after last year’s fiasco, making it out to be a do-or-die situation.

Gary Harrell puts an ultimatum in front of his running backs

Deion Sanders and the team began their fall camp yesterday and during the post-game conference, the coaches took to the mic to talk about what the fans can expect from this season. Gary Harrell made the threat that if his running backs fail to protect their star quarterback, they might not get to play and witness the game unfold from the bench. Plus, seeing how Shedeur was sacked a record time of 52 times last season, the RBs will need to make sure nobody touches their star QB this year.

Harrell made the case that the ball will make its way across the field but protecting Shedeur should be their number 1 priority. He said, “If you can’t protect with the O-line and fit in where you need to fit in if you’re blowing assignments where your guy is making a sack on the Most Valuable Player, you won’t be in the game. So that’s where it starts. We’re runners, we’re gonna be running the football, we’re going to know our assignments but protection, in ball, security is top-2 things.” The players will need to know their positions by heart and make sure that the opposition’s offense doesn’t get to Shedeur before the QB can throw out the pass, which if last season is any proof of, the Buffaloes are lousy at. Moreover, Harrell had a lot of enthusiasm while he was talking about the new transfers that have come into the team after the dreadful exodus.

“I feel good”, Harrell assures fans of a strong RB lineup

The Buffs had the worst rushing attack in the Pac-12 last season with only 68.9 yards per game. Now, the RB coach has brought in a new row of talent which will supposedly result in better results for the team that won only 1 game in the conference last year. Harrell talked about how the team has more depth this season and invoked the names of the two new transfers, Dallan Hayden and Isaiah Augustave.

While Offerdahl is the only returning RB from last season, Harrell clarified that he will join as a walk-on, while Dallan and Isaiah will receive more attention. He said, “The two transfers, Dallan and Isaiah, add some different things to the room. A guy like Micah, even though he was here in the spring, he’s still fresh out of high school and did some good things in the spring.” Furthermore, Harrell also stated that he feels “good” about the current state of the squad and since Coach Prime’s main goal this season is “the physicality in being able to run the football,” the fans might just get to witness a mighty Buffaloes’ team this year.