Colorado football running back Jaquail Smith is not short on confidence as he prepares for his first season at the Power Four level.
“I don’t allow the first guy to tackle me, and I like to score touchdowns,” Smith said at his Thursday media availability.
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That mindset helped Smith make an early impression at Sacramento State last season. As a true freshman, he ran for 511 yards and five touchdowns on 76 carries, averaging 6.7 yards per attempt. Now the sophomore transfer wants to show he can produce at an even higher level.
Smith followed offensive coordinator Brennan Marion to Boulder, giving him an advantage as Colorado installs the Go-Go offense. He already understands the system’s shifting formations and tempo, and has helped teammates learn the details. His first-step burst makes him a natural big-play threat, but Smith also believes his balance and willingness to finish runs through contact separate him from a pure speed back.
The running back also had a memorable description for one of the defenders he faces every day. Smith called transfer defensive back Randon Fontenette the “biggest safety he has ever seen.”
Fontenette stands 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds and arrives from Vanderbilt after recording 125 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 15 passes defended over two seasons. He gives Colorado a physical presence in the box and should provide a demanding test for Smith and the rest of the backfield.
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Smith’s familiarity with Marion’s offense could help him earn a prominent role in a crowded running back room. The Buffs are set to play Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Jaquail Smith brings confidence, elite speed to Colorado’s backfield
