BOULDER — The Buffs’ revived run game could be adding another option back into the fold.
CU football coach Deion Sanders said Tuesday that tailback and Ohio State transfer Dallan Hayden “looked good” during practice earlier in the day and is expected to play on Saturday against UCF.
The sophomore from Memphis, Tenn., hadn’t played since CU’s loss at Nebraska with what ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported was a high ankle sprain. Meanwhile, the Buffs’ run game has picked up considerably with the 1-2 punch of freshman Micah Welch and sophomore Isaiah Augustave. CU rushed for 109 yards on 19 carries in a win at CSU and ran it 42 times for 91 yards and three scores vs. Baylor this past weekend.
Related Articles
Keeler: Was CU Buffs QB Shedeur Sanders’ Hail Mary “better” than Kordell Stewart’s “Miracle at Michigan?”
Four-star DB Antonio Branch flips commitment from Penn State to CU Buffs
Former student sues CU Boulder alleging she was unfairly expelled after accidentally stabbing football player
LaJohntay Wester etches name in CU Buffs football history with Hail Mary from Shedeur Sanders: “There’s nothing like it.”
PHOTOS: CU Buffs come back to beat Baylor 38-31 in overtime
Sanders said the Buffs’ run defense should expect a boost in Orlando, too, with the likely return of defensive tackle Chidozie Nwankwo, who injured his AC joint against the Cornhuskers.
While the Buffs have held up at safety without Shilo Sanders (arm/forearm), Coach Prime said his son “is on pace to be back … I’m not going to count him out this week, but if he holds off, that would give him two more weeks, which is smart.”
CU (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) has a bye after this weekend’s visit to unbeaten Central Florida (3-0, 1-0), then host Kansas State (3-1, 1-1) on Oct. 12.
The elder Sanders said CU plans to leave for Florida on Wednesday, a day earlier than planned, to avoid the risk of any travel delays caused by Tropical Storm Helene, which is expected to make landfall on Thursday.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.