BOULDER - By the time you read this, Hugh Charles will have answered almost a month's worth of questions about running harder, running inside, running outside, running with more (choose one) passion/aggression/ determination, running 25 times a game . . .Fact is, the University of Colorado tailback has been asked everything about running, except when he might run out of patience with questioners.
That won't happen, mainly because Charles is very aware of where they're coming from and why he's being bombarded.
"I'll answer any questions . . . about whatever people want to judge me on," he said. "Truthfully, I don't read much (of what's written about him). But if I were to read it, I wouldn't think much of it; I'd just come out here with the same attitude."
Questions about Charles' attitude seldom arise. The senior from Keller, Texas, is a soft-spoken workout junkie who, for his size, hoists more poundage and runs faster than most of the other Buffaloes. At 5-foot-8, 190 pounds, he has "heard it all" about being undersized.
"I'm small, but pound for pound, I'm the strongest guy on the team," Charles said. "The strength I have in the weight room gives me confidence on the field.
"I can do whatever people think I should do, even though I'm small. Emmitt Smith wasn't but 5-9. Barry Sanders was small. You can't
really listen to what the public has to say; you just have to believe in yourself and listen to coaches that believe in you."
Running backs coach Darian Hagan strongly believes Charles can be the back the Buffs offense desperately needs - elusive outside the tackles, strong between them, a capable and versatile receiver.
"He wants to be better and have a chance to go to the NFL," Hagan said. "I told him the qualities he needs to have to get a look. And he's doing what he needs to do."
But Charles is being challenged. In the third week of August camp,redshirt freshman Demetrius Sumler made a strong move among Hagan's tailbacks.
Sumler, of San Diego, pulled ahead of senior Byron Ellis and is 1B to Charles' 1A.
Said Hagan of Sumler: "He's just hard for us to keep off the field."
During the offseason, Hagan and Charles were film room addicts, with Hagan showing highlights of former NFL running backs Smith, Walter Payton and former CU player Eric Bieniemy.
Like Charles, none of that trio was physically imposing. But each ran with all the qualities Charles has been questioned about.
"If you want to be the best, you've got to watch the best," he said. "They run hard. That's the one part of my game I want to work on; it's my target. I want to be that every-down back, and (running hard) is a big part of that."
Hagan and Charles "have gotten closer this summer," the player said. And his coach agreed.
"It's all about trust and wanting to get better," Hagan said. "When you trust someone, you'll do anything for them . . . and me and him have that trust factor. I think I have that ability to coach him up hard and he'll respond."
Charles said he appreciates Hagan's knowledge "and how he's trying to lead me in the right direction. I want to make it in the (NFL); I'll take any advice he wants to give me."
Hagan has watched Charles for two seasons, CU's other offensive coaches for one. But their consensus is the same.
"What he's been doing is relying on speed," Hagan said. "Well, in this game in our offense, speed ain't going to get it. You've got to be able to pound it up in there, outrun people on the outside.
"But a lot of our game is inside. If he wants to be that every-down back he thinks he can be, he's got to be aggressive."
To that end, Hagan has tried to break Charles of too often finding the sideline when turning inside might yield another 5 yards. They practice a sideline drill that has Charles attack a tackler at the boundary instead of taking the safe route and slipping out of bounds. Occasionally, Hagan said, Charles will "revert" and skitter to the sideline instead of turning inside and confronting a tackler.
"I'll ask him what he's doing . . . and he says, 'I know, coach,' " Hagan said. "He just needs to hear it, and we're constantly, constantly talking about being physical."
Just as constantly, Hagan has told Charles "every time he gets the ball, he can go the distance - if you think about it, if you have that attitude, that mentality. If you don't have it, you're going to be teasing me like you've been teasing everybody for three years.
"If you have that attitude that you're going to the house every time, you're going to be great."
Charles believes he can be, and that is worth far more than the questions he has asked and the answers he provides. His confidence is at an all-time high, motivating him during every practice.
"I look forward to coming out every day and getting better," he said. "Most of the stuff we're doing now is second nature to me. All I'm doing is just thinking about playing. . . . I know what I'm doing; now, I'm trying to do what people think I can do."
Getting to know Hugh Charles
•Your favorite football moment is . . .
"Against (Oklahoma State) in my sophomore year. Our first drive, I ran 75 yards for a touchdown. I had 134 yards that game and two touchdowns that game."
• The jersey you wore as a kid was . . .
"No. 22, Emmitt Smith's number back in the day. I wore it in our little league. I'm a Cowboys fan. I idolized (Smith) and wanted to be just like him - the speed, strength. He was my idol, and really is to this day."
• When channel surfing, you always stop on . . .
"I'm more of an educational man. . . . I like school to an extent, but I'd rather get my information on TV. I'm more of a Planet Earth, Discovery (Channel) guy. I might stop on a movie channel, but I like to watch Animal Planet."
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• The one song you have to listen to before a game is:
Anything by Lil' Wayne, the rap artist.
• The teammate you've most admired is . . .
"Bobby Purify. He left here with a great record . . . he left here with a great image (and) everybody knew who he was."
• The one thing you'd like to show CU fans in 2007 is . . .
"A more diverse Hugh Charles, the Hugh Charles that scores points and helps CU win a championship."
Buffaloes backs
CU running backs coach Darian Hagan, on top tailback candidates besides Hugh Charles:
•Byron Ellis, 6-0, 215, senior
Hagan's take: "I call him 'Steady Eddie.' He does everything right and is very coachable. He's not the fastest guy in our group, but I can't say enough good things about him. He's just really reliable."
•Demetrius Sumler, 5-10, 215, redshirt freshman
Hagan's take: "He just gives us a lot more - his speed hitting the hole, his vision, his balance. He's done everything right (in camp). It's just hard to keep him off the field. I'd feel comfortable with him in any situation."
•Brian Lockridge, 5-8, 180, freshman
Hagan's take: "He's fast and very, very energetic, but he needs to get into the offense (mentally). He's only been playing football for three years, so his head is swimming now, and he's got some bad habits. But he has the opportunity to be special."
•Kevin Moyd, 5-7, 195, sophomore
Hagan's take: "He just needs to be more consistent. He's shown glimpses of good things; he's got good speed and vision. But he hasn't given me reason to fully trust him yet. He just needs to pay more attention to details."
All he asksFour things Hagan wants from running backs:
• Block like an offensive lineman.
• Catch like a receiver.
• Have the mentality of a linebacker.
• Run like the wind.
Charles' career
• RUSHING
Season G Att Yds Avg TD Long
2004 11 17 49 2.9 0 14
2005 12 176 842 4.8 6 74t
2006 12 139 779 5.6 1 44
Totals 35 332 1,670 5.0 7 74t
• RECEIVING
Season G No. Yds Avg TD Long
2004 11 1 8 8.0 0 8
2005 12 26 226 8.7 1 51t
2006 12 9 85 9.4 0 33
Totals 35 36 319 8.9 1 51tT-Touchdown
brooksb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5466