Hmm… what if I told you that Isaiah Augustave might be coming back to Boulder?
The same Isaiah Augustave who led us in rushing yards last season. The same dude who transferred to Virginia on April 20—and now just un-committed. As of Wednesday, Augustave is officially back in the portal and possibly back on Coach Prime’s radar.
And whether you're skeptical, hopeful, or somewhere in between, you can't deny one thing: this backfield would love to have him back.
The Buffs RB situation: not great
Colorado has been bleeding depth at running back. Between Isaiah bouncing, Brandon Hood heading to UMass, and the staff only bringing in one RB transfer in DeKalon Taylor, the room is looking light. Sure, we’ve got some talent returning in Charlie Offerdahl, Dallan Hayden, and Micah Welch—but none of those guys have truly taken the reins.
Augustave? He already has.
Last season, the sophomore from Naples, Florida, started six games and racked up 394 yards and four touchdowns. He was physical, fast, and flashed a ceiling we didn’t get to fully see thanks to the Buffs constantly shifting offensive identity.
Coach Prime's no second chances
Coach Prime isn’t exactly known for giving second chances to players who leave. His stance has been pretty simple: you hit the portal, you're gone for good.
But… there's always an exception.
Earlier this offseason, linebacker Jeremiah Brown pulled a surprise comeback after a short stint in the portal. That cracked the door open just enough. Add in the fact that Marshall Faulk, literal Hall of Famer and Colorado’s new RB coach, is in the mix now. Suddenly, it’s not totally insane to think Augustave could be back in black and gold this fall.
Virginia drama
Let’s not forget the drama.
When Isaiah initially committed to Virginia, Coach Prime went off—accusing the Cavaliers of straight-up tampering and offering both Augustave and safety Carter Stoutmire “a bag” to leave Boulder.
“Virginia, you got to stop,” Sanders said on Well Off Media. “We let you have one. I ain't say nothing about it.”
Yikes.
Now we don’t know exactly what went sideways with Virginia. NIL money falling through? Depth chart concerns? Culture fit? But whatever it was, it was enough to pull the plug after less than a month.
And now? Coach Prime holds all the cards.
The Case for bringing Isaiah back
From a football standpoint, it’s a no-brainer.
Colorado wants to run the ball more. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has said as much, and Buffs fans are begging for a more balanced attack after last season’s rollercoaster.
Bringing Isaiah back would instantly boost the running back room. His 22 carries for 91 yards against Cincinnati proved he can handle a big workload. He earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for a reason. He also racked up touchdowns against Arizona, Utah, and K-State.
Bottom line: he’s proven. He’s productive. He knows the system.
What happens next?
I wouldn't expect a decision overnight.
Coach Prime isn’t just going to roll out the red carpet. This has to go through Marshall Faulk, the rest of the offensive staff, and maybe even the locker room. But, if there’s one thing we know by now, it’s that anything is possible in Boulder under Deion Sanders.
And if Isaiah Augustave is truly serious about coming home?
Well… we're down to take him back.
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