On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and RK break down their summer starting lineup projections for Colorado’s offense and defense for the 2023 season. We also give our picks for the next man up at premium positions and more. Score the best seats in the house at Gametime: https://gametime.hnyj8s.net/c/3442941/1441541/10874 Visit https://dkng.co/DNVR to sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook using the code “DNVR” When…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, RK and Jake Schwanitz discuss the Pac-12’s latest financial issue, the latest recruiting and portal news, where in the world is Coach Brew, the guys play Buy or Sell and then answer viewer questions. Score the best seats in the house at Gametime: https://gametime.hnyj8s.net/c/3442941/1441541/10874 Visit https://dkng.co/DNVR to sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook using the code “DNVR” When you…
The first phase of Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and Colorado’s roster rebuild has been completed. 56 Colorado football players entered the portal from the initial coaching change in October 2022 through the 2023 spring transfer portal window. Below you’ll find all transfer portal and recruit commitments to Colorado for the 2023 roster and beyond as well as key players who…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and RK break down the latest realignment news relation to the Big 12, if CU will be the next team to make the jump and what’s going on from the Pac-12 side of things. A recruiting update including news from two blue-chip recruits, some breaking news on this year’s schedule and some basketball…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and RK discuss Shilo Sanders finally committing to Colorado, the rest of Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ team arrives in Boulder, Colorado AD Rick George speaks on conference realignment and more. Score the best seats in the house at Gametime: https://gametime.hnyj8s.net/c/3442941/1441541/10874 Visit https://dkng.co/DNVR to sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook using the code “DNVR” When you shop through…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and RK are joined by Uncle Neely of Thee Pregame Show. The guys discuss all the players moving in today, what it’s like at Boulder right now, how Coach Prime is preparing for next Tuesday’s camp and the camps he will be hosting in Georgia and Texas, expectations for 2023 and much more. Score the best seats…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, we are officially 100 days away from the TCU game and Jake Schwanitz and RK have you covered with the latest news on Nebraska tickets, the newest portal entry that the Buffs and Coach Prime should target, finally the guys draft their dark horse contributors for Colorado during the 2023 season. Score the best seats…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and RK discuss yesterday’s Well Off video with Coach Prime’s expectations for this year, what’s going on at Folsom Field, updates on Shone Washington and Myles Rowser, where the players who have left Colorado are now and much more. Score the best seats in the house at Gametime: https://gametime.hnyj8s.net/c/3442941/1441541/10874 Visit https://dkng.co/DNVR to sign up for DraftKings…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, RK and Jake Schwanitz get into Khairi Manns committing to CU and Coach Prime’s rebuilt defensive line and pass-rushing corps. Jordan Johnson-Rubell posts a top 5 schools without CU. Travis Hunter is earning pre-season All-American honors and more. Score the best seats in the house at Gametime: https://gametime.hnyj8s.net/c/3442941/1441541/10874 Visit https://dkng.co/DNVR to sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook using the…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, RK and Jake Schwanitz discuss Montana Lemonious-Craig committing to Arizona and Shane Hooks committing to Auburn. Mike Bohn, USC’s athletic director has resigned. Dan Patrick has some choice words on Coach Prime and Colorado. A recruiting update and more. Score the best seats in the house at Gametime: https://gametime.hnyj8s.net/c/3442941/1441541/10874 Visit https://dkng.co/DNVR to sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook using…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and RK break down Alton McCaskill, the rest of Colorado’s running backs room and where it ranks amongst the other teams in the Pac-12. Some more details emerge on the new NCAA Football video game, Pac-12 media deal update, a recruiting update and more. Score the best seats in the house at Gametime: https://gametime.hnyj8s.net/c/3442941/1441541/10874…
Rashaan Salaam, Eric Bieniemy, Chris Brown and Phillip Lindsay headline a long list of Colorado running back greats.
The Buffs may have their next in Alton McCaskill.
The former Houston Cougar was one of the best true freshmen in the country during the 2021 season as he produced 1074 all-purpose yards on 210 touches for 18 touchdowns. While he was only ranked the 27th best running back according to 247Sports 2021 Composite rankings, it took him two games before he took over as Houston's starting running back.
McCaskill sat out the 2022 season after suffering a torn ACL during spring practice before entering the transfer portal and committing to Colorado. How he's fully healthy and adding him to Coach Prime's roster gives Colorado one of the best running back rooms in the Pac-12 coming into the 2023 season.
Ironman
From the moment McCaskill committed to Colorado, he became the Buffs' lead back ready to contribute in every facet of the offense.
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds on Houston's 2022 roster, McCaskill was also a track star at Oak Ridge High School running a 10.91s 100-meter dash. He has a special combination of size, speed and strength that not only make him a force when running or catching the ball but also when asked to block in the pass or run game.
This is Alton McCaskill. Patience to hit the hole, a burst to daylight while breaking arm tackles along the way and forcing the defense to tackle him with multiple players.
While he is a disciplined, patient runner who allows plays to develop, McCaskill also has great vision and instincts to bounce runs outside the intended hole instantly.
Houston had a great team in 2021. Their offensive line does the majority of the work on this play but McCaskill has the ability to rip off large chunks of yardage on any given play. In 2021, he had 29 explosive runs (runs of 10+ yards).
This was McCaskill's first career touchdown. I've got to mention the great play design by Shannon Dawson who is now Miami's offensive coordinator. Colorado's newest running back shows a great play fake and then natural hands down the field to stroll into the end zone untouched.
Want him to be your lead blocker on a jet sweep or end around for Dylan Edwards or Jimmy Horn? McCaskill can do that for offensive coordinator Sean Lewis with no problem.
How about staying in the backfield to protect Sheduer Sanders against the blitz so the offense can go downfield? He checks that box as well.
Colorado fans would like to see McCaskill keep his head up if he's going to block faceup, but when you're a 215-pound back you're used to absorbing contact with ease.
Whatever the situation or play call may ask for, Alton McCaskill can be relied on to be on the field for Colorado at any point in 2023. He is a true, complete three-down back.
"McCaskill breaks free!"
Watching McCaskill run the football makes you hold your breath, waiting to see what else he is capable of and if the next play is when he is let loose.
2021 was Houston's best season since 2015 and McCaskill's playmaking ability was a huge reason why. That year McCaskill set a Houston freshman record for touchdowns in a season with 16.
The stop-start ability and patience McCaskill displays behind the line of scrimmage is not only a prime showcase of #22's discipline and natural ability, but it's also how he can turn a short gain into a touchdown. The left side of Houston's offensive line flat-out loses at the line of scrimmage but it gives McCaskill a crease to slam on the gas and score.
Houston is just trying to keep the clock running so they can get out of Louisiana and on their way back to Texas but McCaskill's strength and contact balance keep him upright to allow his speed to take another run to paydirt.
This play probably results in a negative gain for most freshman running backs. McCaskill finds the hole regardless and sprints through multiple arm tackles for a house call against Tulsa.
East Carolina already knows another McCaskill run is coming on first down as they commit hard to the top of the screen off of Houston's inside zone action. But McCaskill immediately diagnoses the flow of the defense and cuts back before bulldozing his way into the end zone in what would be the game-winning touchdown.
He may not be as fast as Dylan Edwards or Jimmy Horn, but if you give the former Cougar an alley to run through, McCaskill can turn on the burners and erase angles.
Long story short for these two teams in 2021; UConn was awful and Houston was pretty good. That McCaskill kid is pretty good too.
The latest starting offensive player added to Colorado's roster is a game-changer. The pieces are there for Sean Lewis to create and lead one of the Pac-12's most lethal offenses this fall. Now that Colorado has a dynamic, all-conference running back in McCaskill along with the threat of the passing game with Sheduer Sanders, Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn, Xavier Weaver and company; the improvement in the Buffs' offensive talent this upcoming season compared to last year's is astronomical.
Short yardage monster
At this point, it goes without saying, McCaskill will lead the way for Colorado's power run game moving forward.
It's not just his size, strength and burst but his patience, vision and football intelligence that makes him so reliable. Sure, he could be a very good short-yardage back by utilizing his size and bowling ahead for as many yards as he can physically get. But watch how deliberate he is when he breaks for the line of scrimmage in the cut-up below.
It's evident in all the runs above, but the final run of the cut-up proves how smart and natural of a football player McCaskill is.
Colorado has a trio of hardnosed running backs who will scratch and claw for every yard in McCaskill, Kavosiey Smoke and Anthony Hankerson. It's worth noting that despite his stature, Charlie Offerdahl also fits this bill. Those three backs all could provide short yardage and goal-line duties for Colorado's running game but the Houston native is clearly different.
How does McCaskill change things on offense for Colorado?
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, RK and Jake Schwanitz are joined by Colorado EDGE and Denver native Arden Walker. The guys then discuss former UTSA WR Zakhari Franklin, Aaron Butler, the Pac-12 will be slightly changing their broadcasts for this year, the recent news about EA’s NCAA football game returning next year, five-star CB Charles Lester III and more. Score the best seats in…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and RK discuss Colorado’s huge day yesterday when former Houston RB Alton McCaskill and 2024 four-star ATH Aaron Butler committed to Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and Colorado. The guys discuss the impact of those two commitments, Butler’s film and discuss who could be next to commit. Score the best seats in the house…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and RK get into FOX picking CU @ TCU for Big Noon Saturday Week One. Brett McMurphy has reported that the ACC’s “Magnificent Seven” may be trying to leave the conference, Nebraska fans lose it over Dylan Raiola and more. Score the best seats in the house at Gametime: https://gametime.hnyj8s.net/c/3442941/1441541/10874 Visit https://dkng.co/DNVR to sign up for…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and RK break down Travis Jay and Javon Antonio’s commitment to Colorado. Former Houston RB Alton McCaskill is in Boulder visiting Colorado. Former Marshall WR EJ Horton has flipped from Colorado to West Virginia. Xavier Weaver’s tweet, Travis Hunter earns another NIL deal and more. Score the best seats in the house at…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and Andre Simone break down the recommitment of Chance Main to Colorado and Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. The guys also discuss Travis Hunter’s two-way ability and other historic two-way college football players, Travis Hunter’s new NIL deal, Brett McMurphy’s words on 365 Sports about the Pac-12 media deal and realignment, the latest recruiting…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and RK discuss the chances of Montana Lemonious-Craig withdrawing from the portal and returning to Colorado. Travis Hunter, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ relationship with CU alums, the latest Athletic article on Colorado and Coach Prime’s roster rebuild, a recruiting update and DraftKings has released season win total over unders. Score the best seats…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, RK and Jake Schwanitz discuss the latest addition to Colorado’s front seven, JUCO transfer Zach Blackwood. Jordyn Tyson finds a new home and Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and his staff offer a handful of 2025 and 2026 recruits. The guys then break down film of some of Colorado’s latest commitments. Score the best seats in…
On today’s DNVR Buffs Podcast, Jake Schwanitz and RK speak with former Alabama CB and one of the newest Buffs, Jahquez Robinson. The guys also discuss the latest round of commitments, who has been offered and where Shedeur Sanders ranks among the best QBs in the country. Score the best seats in the house at Gametime: https://gametime.hnyj8s.net/c/3442941/1441541/10874 Visit https://dkng.co/DNVR to sign up for…