Chauncey Gooden needed only one game to make his presence felt at Colorado.
Gooden was named the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week after contributing on offense and defense in the Buffaloes’ 14-13 victory over Georgia Tech. The Football Writers Association of America announced the honor, which recognizes the nation’s top-performing interior lineman.
The 6-foot-3, 380-pound sophomore started at guard and helped Colorado establish the physical running game Deion Sanders has wanted since arriving in Boulder. Gooden also entered the game along the defensive front, becoming the fourth Colorado player to play on both sides of the ball under Sanders.
Gooden joined Travis Hunter, Isaiah Hardge and Tyler Brown in that select group. However, Sanders emphasized that the opportunity to play both ways is never given simply because a player asks for it.
“They’ve got to earn it,” Sanders said. “Chauncey’s earned it.”
Gooden helps transform Colorado’s offensive front
Colorado rushed for 183 yards on 49 carries against Georgia Tech, controlling the football for more than 34 minutes and producing 13 first downs on the ground.
It was the Buffaloes’ third-highest rushing total under Sanders.
The offensive line’s defining moment came during a punishing 17-play, 61-yard possession in which Colorado ran the ball 15 consecutive times. According to Pro Football Focus grades included in the FWAA release, the Buffaloes earned a 91.5 mark in pass protection and an 84.5 grade as run blockers.
The performance was a dramatic reversal from the offensive-line struggles that defined much of Sanders’ first three seasons in Boulder. Colorado consistently created movement at the line of scrimmage and stayed committed to the run even while trailing in the fourth quarter.
Gooden was also part of an offensive front that gave Julian Lewis enough time to lead the decisive eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Lewis completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Williams with 37 seconds remaining to give Colorado the lead.
Coach Prime explains Gooden’s two-way opportunity
Gooden’s impact extended beyond the offensive line.
Used along the interior defensive front in goal-line situations, Gooden recorded a tackle for no gain on first-and-goal from the 9-yard line. The stop helped force Georgia Tech to settle for a field goal, keeping Colorado within six points midway through the fourth quarter.
Sanders said Gooden was in rare company nationally because of his responsibilities.
“Chauncey was the only interior lineman in all of Division I football that played both ways,” Sanders said.
Sanders also explained that even Hunter had to establish himself on one side of the ball before receiving a larger role.
“You can’t just approach me and say, ‘I want to play both ways,’” Coach Prime said. “Then I’m going to say, ‘I want to see you play one way really [well]. Let’s do that first.’”
Gooden has now been added to the Outland Trophy watch list. No Colorado player has won the award, although former Buffaloes offensive linemen Joe Garten and Nate Solder were finalists in 1990 and 2010, respectively.
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