CU Football: Scott ready to show his stuff

BOULDER • While waiting for most-wanted recruit Darrell Scott to choose between Colorado and Texas, the Buffaloes landed Rodney Stewart as an insurance policy.

That turned out to be quite a Plan B for the Buffaloes.

Stewart, not the touted Scott, is leading Colorado in rushing going into its home game against No. 5 Texas tonight.

Stewart is averaging 87.3 yards a game and 5.6 yards a carry, compared to Scott's average of 36 yards a game and 3.7 yards a carry.

"We know if Darrell Scott is not getting the ball every time, that Stewart must be really good, because we know how good Darrell is," Texas coach Mack Brown said.

At just 5-foot-6, Stewart has become the big man on campus.

"That little Stewart, he can roll," said Texas defensive end Lamarr Houston, who is a Doherty graduate. "You can't see him when he's got 300-pound guys in front of him."

The Buffaloes (3-1) believe Scott is ready to show off his stuff, too, just in time for the Longhorns (4-0) to get a firsthand look at the prized recruit who spurned them at the last moment.

There are several reasons for Scott's slow start. They include groin and knee injuries and a late start in camp while he was taking an algebra course to gain eligibility. He showed up overweight and had to catch up on the play book and his footwork.

"Everybody wants the rookie or the freshman to come in and set the place on fire.

Sometimes that happens, sometimes it doesn't happen," Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins said. "I'm more concerned with all the intangible things because I know at some point he's going to be a great player."

Scott's position coach, Darian Hagan, said Scott had his best week of practice yet. Scott's teammates said his determination to catch up has him on the verge of a breakout.

The timing is perfect for Scott, who chose the Buffaloes in part because his uncle, sophomore receiver/returner Josh Smith, plays for Colorado, but also because the Longhorns juggled their coaching staff. Scott has said he might be playing for the Longhorns this weekend had Major Applewhite not succeeded running backs coach Ken Rucker, who moved into an administrative position at Texas.

The Buffaloes' ground game could prove vital against the Longhorns, who have 14 sacks in their last two games and are facing a Colorado team trying to protect quarterback Cody Hawkins with an offensive line missing star tackle Ryan Miller, who broke his leg last week in a loss to Florida State.

Replacing Miller is redshirt freshman Matt Bahr, who will be making his first start.

Bahr figures to see more of Henry Melton than Brian Orakpo, Texas' best pass rusher, although the Longhorns might flip their senior defensive ends if they think Orakpo, who has six sacks already, can exploit the freshman.

With a healthier Scott and Texas' pass rush, the Buffaloes might turn more to their ground game.

"Both of those guys are a step away from taking it to the house on every play," Bahr said.

"Speedy's so shifty and Darrell's more of a power back. Both of those guys have unbelievable ability. Just got to open a couple of holes for them and they'll go."

However, they'll be running behind a line that lost guards Mike Iltis (knee) and Erick Faatagi (academics) before the season and didn't make it through September with Miller and freshman guard Max Tuioti-Mariner (knee).

The probable starters against the Longhorns are senior center Daniel Sanders, junior Devin Head, redshirt freshman Blake Behrens, Bahr and sophomore Nate Solder.

"You have speed, talent and strength on one side, youth on the other," Hawkins said.

The Longhorns have outscored their opponents 198-43 overall.