It finally happened, Buffs Nation. Marshall Faulk is in the building. When Colorado announced the NFL Hall of Famer as its new running backs coach, it sent shockwaves through Boulder, Colorado. Now, after months of anticipation, we got our first real glimpse of Faulk addressing the team – and let’s just say, he’s got that presence.
In a video posted by Deion Sanders Jr., Faulk wasted no time letting the team know exactly who he is.
"I’m new. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Marshall Faulk. I don’t want to get into stats. If you want those, I’m Google-able."CU running back coach Marshall Faulk
First off, let’s be real – there better not have been one young man in that Colorado meeting room who actually had to Google Marshall Faulk. We're not getting that old are we?
If they did, they’ve got some serious homework to do. We’re talking about a man who revolutionized the running back position, a Super Bowl champion, an MVP, and one of the most dynamic dual-threat backs the game has ever seen. If you know, you know.
During the press conference this afternoon, Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur acknowledged what we all saw last season – the running backs were criminally underutilized. He’s determined to change that, and having a guy like Faulk leading the charge makes all the difference.
"“I think it’s a really good group. They were underutilized to some degree last year. Some of it was by design.”"CU offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur
That’s the mindset this team needs. Colorado’s offensive line was shaky at best in 2024, but a great run game isn’t just about the big men up front – it’s about vision, toughness, and playmakers who refuse to go down. Who better to instill that mentality than Marshall Faulk?
Faulk echoed a similar sentiment to the team, driving home a message that should resonate with every player in the locker room:
""How you do one thing, is how you do everything.""Marshall Faulk
That’s the culture Coach Prime has been preaching since day one, and now it’s extending to the running back room. With talent like Micah Welch and Dallan Hayden in the mix, there’s no excuse for the Buffs not to establish a legitimate ground attack this season.
We're excited to see coach Marshall Faulk finally at work, and he’s setting a new standard. If this team embraces it, the Buffs might just have a running game worth fearing in 2025.