Rodney Stewart runs the ball to the end zone during the Sept. 19 matchup against Wyoming. Stewart rushed for 127 yards. (CU Independent/Molly Maher)
In the Colorado Buffaloes horrific 0-2 start, sophomore running back Rodney “Speedy” Stewart, the team’s leading rusher last season, ran for just 38 yards against Colorado State and didn’t play the following week in Toledo because of a hamstring injury.
Stewart came back Saturday and became the team’s poster child for being pumped and ready to play in the Buffs 24-0 shutout over the Wyoming Cowboys.
However, Stewart started a little slow as he came off the bench, but by halftime he had rushed for 71 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season to give the Buffs a 17-point lead.
“It felt good,” Stewart said. “I couldn’t believe I scored. I didn’t even get to celebrate, I just left the field.”
The third quarter brought more yards for Stewart as he added 37 and his second touchdown of the day to cap the scoring.
Stewart went over the century mark in that quarter, making it his fourth-career game with more than 100 yards rushing.
“I think I really want more,” Stewart said. “So I’m just looking to the future to have more 100-yard games and hopefully I don’t get injured again.”
In the fourth quarter, Stewart ran for 19 more yards and caught a 5-yard pass as well. The Buffs ended up with 151 yards rushing, 127 of which were from Stewart.
Even with these stellar numbers, Stewart seemed to be humbled and modest about his performance and said he’s “not the man…yet.”
The team and the Folsom Field crowd, however, showered Stewart with love for the job he did. Fans were shouting “I love you” as he walked to the locker room and his teammates sang his praises, too.
“Coming out and seeing him have some success today was great because we have a lot of confidence in him and he deserves to get those touches,” said junior quarterback Cody Hawkins. “He’s a great player and he gives a lot to this football team.”
Sophomore right tackle Ryan Miller appreciated Stewart for making him and the offensive line look good even though he says he hardly draws any attention to himself.
“Rodney doesn’t talk much and when he does you can’t hardly understand him,” Miller said. “He just gives a big ol’ smile and takes off running. That’s awesome to see because you think you see him running through a hole but you don’t know, and then you look up and he’s gone. It’s just wonderful to see that.”
The defense, which held Wyoming to 230 total yards, 13 first downs and didn’t allow a third-down conversion until the fourth quarter, drew inspiration from Stewart’s performance.
“It kinda gets everybody fired up watching him and watching the offense move the ball down there,” said senior linebacker Marcus Burton.
After today’s display, it seems Stewart might see the field more for the rest of the season.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Kayla Cornett at Kayla.cornett@colorado.edu.
