For the next couple weeks we will be counting down the top 15 Colorado football players since the 2005-2006 season. Of course, it’s not the most fun decade to be looking at, but I think the down period created an interesting challenge when creating this list.
As it always goes with these lists, there is not an exact formula to determine the top 15, I tried to weigh a player’s success at CU over all other factors, but of course things like NFL success and fan favorite status creeped into the decision making process.
I’m sure people will disagree with placement, or certain players being left off, but that’s part of the fun of these, so as we work down the list, let me know where you disagree!
#4 – Lawrence Vickers
Remember when I said fan favoritism may sneak its way into the decision making process? Well here you go. In a decade like this one, theres plenty of room for an all around badass in the top 5. Being a great Buff doesn’t necessarily mean you had to score a ton of touchdowns, in this case it had to do with being the spirit of the team, the enforcer, the voice on the sidelines, the guy who was out there to send a message to the opponent that the Buffs weren’t going to be pushed around. In all honesty, Colorado has lacked a player like Vickers since the day he graduated.
LV’s greatness can’t be summed up in words as well as it can with videos and pictures.
https://vine.co/v/hi6tWibQpEO
https://vimeo.com/111076222
To put it simply, Vickers captured what every coach wishes they had out of every player. Passion, aggression, leadership, etc. Opponents did not want to see his 6-foot-2, 235 pound frame him coming at them.
Vickers didn’t see much action as a freshman or sophomore, but as a junior, he bagan to show off his versatility, which eventually got him his own position name, the V-back. He finished second on the team in rushing (248 yards), fourth in receptions (27), sixth in receiving yards (274) and tied for third in special team points (9, including five tackle points, and one each for a knockdown block, fumble recovery, recovered blocked kick and a first down field). Against Oklahoma State, he caught nine passes (for 96 yards), the most receptions by a running back in a single game in Colorado history. He was the conference’s top fullback that season by most accounts, but the all-conference team didn’t have a spot for a fullback. He won Colorado’s Tom McMahon Award for dedication and work ethic.
As a senior he was Second-Team All-Big VII at fullback, and won two team awards, the Derek Singleton Award for spirit, dedication and enthusiasm, and the Best Interview as selected by local media. He lived up to the V-back name, which debuted that year, rushing for 243 yards (second on the team), catching 25 passes for 142 yards, scoring 11 touchdowns overall (9 rushing, 2 receiving) in finishing second in scoring behind placekicker Mason Crosby, and earned 23 first downs (17 via rushing).He became just the 10th player in school history to record 500 career yards in both rushing and receiving.
After Colorado, Vickers was a sixth round pick of the Cleveland Browns, and enjoyed a nice six year career in the NFL, including four years with the Browns, and one with both the Texans and the Cowboys. He was the primary blockers for Jamaal Lewis of the Browns, when Lewis ran for more than 1,300 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2007.
Lawrence Vickers, beast.
