Run game key factor as No. 21 CU Buffs visit Texas Tech
One is on the verge of breaking a record, while the other is simply looking to keep some momentum going.
Regardless of their career accomplishments to this point, Colorado's Isaiah Augustave and Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks will play critical roles on Saturday when the No. 21 Buffs (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) visit the Red Raiders (6-3, 4-2) in Lubbock, Texas (2 p.m. MT, Fox).
Brooks is the latest in a line of talented running backs on the Buffs' schedule, and he might be the best they've seen.
A 5-foot-10, 230-pound senior, Brooks is fifth in the country in rushing, with 130.88 yards per game. He comes into Saturday with 4,099 yards in his career, needing just 121 to break Texas Tech's career record (Byron Hanspard had 4,219 from 1994-96).
"Tahj is a really good back, man," CU linebackers coach Andre Hart said. "You watch the film on him, you see how patient he is. We compare him a lot to (former NFL Pro Bowler Le'Veon Bell) from the league, how he presses the hole. And then he has some very similar footwork to (DJ Giddens) from Kansas State."
Brooks is bigger than Giddens, but both are difficult to bring down. Giddens rushed for 182 yards against the Buffs on Oct. 12.
"You have to make sure you get there, gang tackle, wrap up and try to get them knocked back at the line of scrimmage," Hart said. "We think how 28 (Brooks) goes is how their offense goes."
Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire agrees, and the numbers back that up. Brooks leads the nation with 25.5 attempts per game.
"Tahj Brooks is just a different dude," McGuire said. "I've never been around a guy like him, more of a complete running back, more of a complete teammate, more of a leader.
"(Breaking Hanspard's record) means a lot to him, but ... it means a lot to me and it means a lot to this offensive line. When Tahj is in a good spot and playing well, the Red Raiders usually play well. That's going to be a big part of the game plan of what we do."
The Buffs are only 10th in the Big 12 against the run (allowing 155.4 yards per game), but they've done a solid job against top running backs, other than Giddens.
UCF's RJ Harvey (16 carries for 77 yards), Cincinnati's Corey Kiner (17 for 94), Baylor's Bryson Washington (10 for 21), Arizona's Quali Conley (11 for 42) and Colorado State's Justin Marshall (14 for 54) all found yards tough to come by against CU.
"(Brooks) gets the ball and we've got to go attack the ball," Buffs linebacker LaVonta Bentley said. "So that's what it is. He's pretty patient when he runs, like (Giddens), but we just got to do our job at the end of the day."
CU's dependence on the run isn't the same, ranking last in the Big 12 with 80.6 rushing yards per game. The Buffs clearly go as quarterback Shedeur Sanders goes. However, they are at their best when they can generate some momentum on the ground and Augustave has been the hot hand of late.
The Buffs have used several different backs, but Augustave has started two games in a row and posted the most carries (22) and rushing yards (91) in head coach Deion Sanders' tenure during CU's 34-23 win against Cincinnati on Oct. 26.
"I just go in every game saying I'm going to have the best game I've ever had," said Augustave, who leads CU with 271 yards. "Last week just happened to be a good game for me."
Augustave had a productive 14 carries for 53 yards a week earlier at Arizona and he's scored touchdowns in three consecutive games.
Dallan Hayden, Micah Welch and Charlie Offerdahl have had their opportunities, too, but Augustave is likely to get the start in Lubbock.
"I would think so," Coach Prime said. "But we have several backs that can do the job. It's who has the hot hand."
Augustave, though, has led the way for CU to average 135.5 yards in the last two games. This season, CU is 5-0 when rushing for at least 90 yards as a team and 1-2 when falling below that number.
"We all just stick together," Augustave said of the running back group. "Even when the run game's not working, we all just stick together. I just go over there and encourage the guys. Even though we had a bad drive, we're gonna pick it up next drive. We just stay together and if we stay together the run game's gonna keep working."
