Demetrius Sumler will not play for CU next season as he will be looking for a school that will offer him more playing time. (CU Independent file/Lee Pruitt)
Junior running back Demetrius Sumler is scheduled to graduate in May. However, Sumler won’t return to play his senior season with the Colorado Buffaloes when he gets his diploma, the school announced Wednesday.
Sumler, 21, informed head coach Dan Hawkins on Monday that he won’t be coming back this fall, according to CU sports information director Dave Plati. Instead, he plans to enroll in a graduate program at another school.
The 5-foot-10, 215 pounder from San Diego will look for a school that might need an experienced running back without having to sit out a transfer year. Though this process is odd, it is allowed under NCAA rules because Sumler still has a year of eligibility left.
Recently, former Duke basketball player Greg Paulus enrolled in a graduate program at Syracuse after earning his degree and was the starting quarterback for the Orange last fall. Like Paulus, Sumler will look for a school where he can garner immediate playing time next fall.
“Demetrius is a great kid,” Hawkins said in a news release. “We wish him luck in whatever he pursues.”
Sumler declined comment when reached.
Sumler ends his CU career with 244 touches for 1,047 yards and 10 total touchdowns. His only touchdown this past season helped CU upset Texas A&M at Folsom Field.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Michael Krumholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu.
