Colorado operating again Isaiah Augustave is now not with this system, in response to DNVR, and his identify has been faraway from the crew’s on-line roster. Augustave led the Buffaloes in dashing in the course of the breakout 2024 marketing campaign and was poised to be a serious offensive contributor.
A request for remark to Colorado has not but been returned.
Augustave rushed for 384 yards and 4 touchdowns on 4.5 yards per carry in 2024, dwarfing the crew mark of two.5 yards per carry pulled down by sacks. Almost 75% of his yards got here after contact because the Buffaloes’ offensive line struggled to create alternatives within the operating sport. The junior transferred to Colorado from Arkansas, the place he was a four-star recruit out of Naples, Florida.
His departure marks the second straight 12 months that coach Deion Sanders has misplaced his prime rusher. Prime 4 rushers Dylan Edwards (Kansas State), Anthony Hankerson (Oregon State), Sy’Veon Wilkerson (Georgia State) and Alton McCaskill (Arizona State) all transferred after the 2023 season. Returners Dallan Hayden, Micah Welch and Charlie Offerdahl are all nonetheless with the Buffaloes in 2025.
Regardless of Augustave’s success, Colorado ranked final nationally in dashing offense at solely 65.2 yards per sport. Colorado ran solely 235 designed runs in comparison with 614 dropbacks in 2024 because the squad leaned on quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a possible first-round decide within the 2025 NFL Draft. No different participant on the roster had greater than 200 yards dashing.
Nonetheless, replicating that mannequin will not come straightforward after shedding Sanders and Heisman winner Travis Hunter to the 2025 NFL Draft. The truth is, the highest 4 receivers — liable for greater than 3,200 yards receiving — are all off to the NFL. With the departures, getting extra out of the operating sport is a necessity.
Welch and Hayden now change into the favorites to beginning for the Buffaloes at operating again. Welch was an underrated highschool recruit who confirmed some spectacular upside as a freshman. Hayden rushed for 553 yards and 5 touchdowns as a freshman at Ohio State earlier than struggling at Colorado. Each ought to profit from one other 12 months within the system behind an offensive line that returns three starters, although the unit will face a 3rd offensive line coach in three years.
Colorado added Liberty switch Kaidon Salter and freshman Julian Lewis at quarterback to introduce an inflow of expertise. Switch Joseph Williams joins Drelon Miller, Omarion Miller and a wave of freshmen to make sure that the passing sport ought to nonetheless be a power. However for Colorado’s offense to once more hit critical highs, extra stability is required.
