1 day Ago
When he didn’t get an opportunity to play on offense in either of Colorado’s first two games, freshman running back Micah Welch didn’t worry. “I wanted to get out there, but I knew it’s a process,” Welch said. “I’m a freshman, so I had to look at all the other backs, learn from them, and my time came Saturday.
” In Saturday’s 28-9 win at Colorado State, Welch rushed for 65 yards on nine carries. It was the second-best single game rushing total for a Buff since head coach Deion Sanders was hired in December of 2022. Going into Saturday’s Big 12 Conference opener against Baylor at Folsom Field (6 p.
m., Fox), Welch is now CU’s leading rusher on the season and hopes to take momentum from that performance. “It was great.
I was waiting to do it since the spring,” said Welch, who was an early enrollee in January from Milledgeville, Ga. “I had good practices since the spring, summer, fall. So I’ve been waiting on to do it.
” CU hasn’t had much of a running attack during the 15-game Coach Prime era, netting just 67.4 yards per game, but the win against CSU could mark somewhat of a turning point. Recognizing the need to get a ground game going, the Buffs finished with 109 rushing yards against CSU, marking just the third time they’ve hit the 100-yard mark under Sanders.
“We knew at some point that it would hit,” running backs coach Gary Harrell said. “The line is doing a good job, coach Phil (Loadholt) is doing a great job, as far as sticking with his guys and continue to coach them on things that we’re trying to get accomplished. And (offensive coordinator Pat) Shurmur does a great job understanding what we can do and sticking with the game plan and the scheme to give us that advantage.
“I think last week was the opportunity to showcase that, and it’s a great timing going into conference play.” Led by star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the Buffs will always be a pass-oriented offense, but Welch and sophomore Isaiah Augustave (six carries for 31 yards) brought a new dynamic to the field. They did so in place of Dallan Hayden, who missed the CSU game with a high ankle sprain.
Augustave got the start, but it was Welch getting the first carries vs. CSU. “I think it’s the case of when preparation meets opportunity, and he prepared himself for that moment,” Harrell said.
“When his moment came, he was able to perform. “We felt like it was time for him to go out and showcase. .
.. We knew leading up to the game that he was ready for the moment.
He has a different mindset. I say that all the time. He’s a different type of kid.
” Hayden is still nursing his injury and it’s uncertain if he’ll play Saturday against Baylor. But the Buffs now have confidence in Augustave, Welch and junior Charlie Offerdahl. “We have a great group of guys, we feel like by committee, that can get it done,” Harrell said.
“We’re always trying to find out a way to get better. And I think the staff did a good job for us incorporating more run periods (in practice), so that builds a little bit toughness within practice.” Welch’s strong debut was a boost a confidence not only for him but for the offensive line and the coaches who know he can perform on game day.
At one point during the game, Welch ran to the sidelines and received a hug from Coach Prime. “He said he knew I can do it,” Welch, who also caught two passes for nine yards, said with a smile. “He knew I was a great back and said keep doing it.
That’s what he said. It felt great coming from Coach Prime.”.
