BOULDER — Alex Fontenot did everything right.
He was a three-star running back out of Texas in 2017, who redshirted his freshman year behind future NFL Pro Bowler Phillip Lindsay. When Travon McMillan took over the job the next season, Fontenot saw a handful of touches, and turned one of them into a touchdown. He became the bell-cow back when McMillan graduated and he turned 185 carries into 874 yards.
In 2020, it was Fontenot’s time to shine. He was the second-leading returning rusher in the Pac-12 and he appeared poised to build on a good sophomore season.
But Fontenot tore his ACL before the season began and Jarek Broussard, a sophomore, was one of the nation’s statistical leaders in his absence.
“I can tell you this,” CU running backs coach Darian Hagan told reporters last Wednesday. “For a guy who would have been a 1000-yard rusher if not for a concussion in 2019, for this guy to go out and had to miss all season and to watch Broussard have the type of season he had, he has a fire in his belly.”
Fontenot usually isn’t the type to have fire in his belly. He’s laid back and prefers to chat about traveling or food. But maybe that’s the old Fontenot.
“His speed is back,” Hagan said. “He looks really, really fast. He’s always been good at protections and he’s excelled at that this spring. I’m really, really excited for him.”
But Fontenot won’t have the same role that he did in 2019. Despite Fontenot’s successes, Broussard managed to put up more yardage in a six-game season. He did so while averaging 1.2 yards more per carry.
That isn’t to say that Fontenot can’t win back the starting job, but the days of one back owning Colorado’s backfield seem to be over.
Hagan says everybody will get their turn.
“You just roll the dice,” he said. “Whoever plays the best is going to get the most reps.”
Broussard, who has recovered from two torn ACLs himself, has dealt with a lingering ankle sprain during spring camp. When he’s been able to play, he’s looked as polished as ever. Head coach Karl Dorrell went so far as to say he looked faster than he did in 2020, due to his decision not wear a knee brace.
And former 4-star recruit Ashaad Clayton has received praise from coaches this spring, as well. According to the staff, his growing knowledge of CU’s playbook has helped him to play faster and the results are clear.
Joe Davis, who served as the No. 3 last season but was the first to play in CU’s spring showcase, has received praise for his work, as well. So has Deion Smith, who is returning from an ACL of his own. He hasn’t participated in full-contact drills yet, but he’s full-go in individual work.
“He’s fired up,” Hagan said of Smith. “When we come back in June I think he’s going to be cut loose. He’ll be ready to go.”
Even Jayle Stacks, the redshirt freshman from Cherry Creek High School will factor in this fall.
“He’s gonna be doing a lot of different things for us,” Hagan said. “He won’t get a lot, but he’ll get some carries. When he is running behind his pads—he has his pads down—he’s a bruiser. Nobody wants to get in his way.”
Maybe the Buffs will just go five-deep at running back this year.
