McCa≠rey status uncertain; Bu≠s ready for Stanford star
boulder» There was nothing Christian McCaffrey had left to prove on a chilly day at Folsom Field in November.
Having already rushed for 151 yards while staking Stanford to a 35-10 lead over Colorado, the former Valor Christian star had wrapped up another sterling individual performance in a sophomore season full of them.
But a Heisman Trophy campaign calls for big moments, savory highlight clips that leave voters shaking their heads. So McCaffrey lined up in the wildcat formation and took a direct snap. He rolled to his right and unleashed a beautiful touch pass to tight end Austin Hooper, who fell across the goal line for a 28-yard touchdown. McCaffrey, of course, ultimately finished second in the Heisman race behind Alabama’s Derrick Henry, but the fling at Folsom provided further proof that McCaffrey’s bag of tools runs deep.
The Buffs are aware of McCaffrey’s otherworldly talents, with a number of CU players having competed against him in high school. But the question heading into Saturday’s crucial Pac-12 showdown between CU
Heisman hit
Christian McCaffrey’s Heisman hopes took a major hit during consecutive blowout losses against the Washington schools, and he missed Saturday’s game against Notre Dame with an injury. A closer look at how the season breaks down for the former Valor Christian star: Rush yards Avg./game Total TDs First 3 436 145.3 4 Last 2 84 42 0 (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) and Stanford (4-2, 2-2) is whether McCaffrey will have the chance to put those talents on display.
“We’re definitely preparing for Christian to be there, for sure,” CU coach Mike MacIntyre said.
McCaffrey’s status, though, isn’t a sure thing.
The junior missed Stanford’s 17-10 victory at Notre Dame last week with an undisclosed injury he suffered one week earlier against Washington State. McCaffrey reportedly did some running during a light workout Wednesday, but his availability for Saturday’s game could be a game-time decision.
For their part, the Buffs are fully preparing to see No. 5 in the backfield, and they are aware of the challenges he presents.
McCaffrey had a strong start toward another Heisman surge. He averaged 145 yards rushing and had four total touchdowns in his first three games before being relatively limited during back-to-back losses to Washington and Washington State.
“His O-line does a great job blocking for him, and he’s a patient back,” CU safety Tedric Thompson said. “So he finds those little creases that normal backs won’t find. It’s no wonder he’s up for the Heisman. He’s a great running back.”
The Buffs clearly have respect for McCaffrey. Phillip Lindsay, CU’s junior running back from Denver, has known McCaffrey for years and said he was glad to see the Stanford star represent the state throughout his breakout campaign last season.
The admiration, though, ends at kickoff.
“He had a great year last year, and it’s hard to duplicate what that man did, especially with how healthy he stayed,” Lindsay said. “So I really respect him for that. Going into this game, I’m just focusing on Colorado football. At the end of the day, we’re going to have to play ball.”