Air Force “ground game” leads the way

Led by the Air Force tandem of Liam Szarka and Owen Allen, only 31 players on the rosters of the 10 collegiate football squads at Colorado schools carried the ball during the 2025 season at their Centennial State school.

The top returning rusher from the 2026 season is a quarterback, as Air Force signal-caller Liam Szarka was the Centennial State’s second-leading rusher last season with 922 yards (190 rushes, 4.9 average, 13 touchdowns).  Running back Owen Allen was the Falcons’ next best rusher with 750 yards (132 rushes, 5.7 average, five TDs).

Colorado Mines has three of its top four rushers back, led by Max Barnes, who gained 654 yards (83 rushes, 7.8 average, five TDs.  Braelon Tate gained 579 yards (128 rushes, 4.5 average, four TDs).  Quarterback Joseph Capra had 413 yards rushing (76 rushes, 5.4 average, four TDs) for Mines in 2025.  Barnes was a second-team pick on both the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter postseason squads.

Like Szarka and Barnes, Colorado’s Micah Welch (384 yards, 96 rushes, four TDs), Northern Colorado’s Mathias Price (483 yards, 110 carries, three TDs) and Western Colorado’s Quinn Bailey (572 yards, 124 carries, eight TDs) led their schools in rushing last season.  CSU Pueblo’s Russell Patton was the Pack’s No. 2 rusher (533 yards, 5.8, six TDs).

Here are the running backs listed on Colorado collegiate rosters as of August 1.

Adams State

• Gabe McFarland, 6′ 1”, 200, Soph., Las Vegas, Nev.
• Traven Vigenser, 6′ 2”, 205, Jun., Phoenix, Ariz.

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  Andre Branch, 5′ 10”, 190, Jun., Phoenix, Ariz. – A transfer from Texas A&M Kingsville, Branch was the team’s No. 2 rusher last season with 337 (79 carries, 4.3 average, four TDs).  He also caught 10 passes for 92 yards and one score.

• Ali Collier, Jun., California
• James Coby, Frosh, Concord, Calif
• Achilles Evans, 5′ 10”, Frosh, Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Jaiden Green, Frosh, Denver, Colo.
• Luis Santana, Frosh, Denver, Colo.
• Devon Baker, Frosh, Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Deven Brady, Frosh, La Jara, Colo.
• Logan Posey, Frosh, Aurora, Colo.
• Cody West, 5′ 11, Frosh, Lander, Wyo.

Air Force

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  Owen Allen, Air Force, 5′ 11, 215, Sen., Southlake, Texas – In 12 games, Allen rushed 132 times for 750 yards and five TDs.

• Rocco Conti, Air Force, 5′ 8, 190, Sen., Olmsted Falls, Ohio – In 12 games, Conti rushed four times for 24 yards. He caught one pass for four yards.
• Gage LaDue, Air Force, 5′ 10, 215, Jun., Maryville, Tenn. – In 12 games, he rushed five times for 19 yards.
• Jalen Rashad Turner, Air Force, 5′ 10, 185, Sen., Columbus, Ga.
• Chase Ferrell, Air Force, 5′ 6, 170, Soph., Houston, Texas
• Oswaldo Morales, Air Force, 5′ 9, 210, Soph., Tomball, Texas
• Cade Palmer, Air Force, 6′ 1, 220, Sen., Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Jacob Doyle, Air Force, 6′ 1, 215, Soph., Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Price Davis, Air Force, 6′ 0, 195, Soph., Maryville, Tenn.
• Travis Wood, Air Force, 5′ 10, 225, Jun., Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
• Omari Elias, Air Force, 5′ 9, 205, Jun., Wichita, Kan.
• Luke Rauh, Air Force, 6′ 0, 210, Jun., Enid, Okla.

NOTE – Returning Falcon quarterbacks Liam Szarka (922 yards) and Josh Johnson (71 yards) combined for 993 rushing yards last season.

Colorado

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  Micah Welch, Colorado, 5′ 9, 215, Jun., Milledgeville, Ga. – In 12 games, he rushed 96 times for 384 yards and four scores. He caught 11 passes for 37 yards.

• DeKalon Taylor, Colorado, 5′ 9, 165, Sen., Longview, Texas – In four games, Taylor rushed 19 times for 83 yards. He caught 10 passes for 106 yards and two scores.
• JaQuail Smith, Colorado, 5′ 11, 170, Soph., Orlando, Fla.
• Bryce Hicks, Colorado, 5′ 9, 185, Soph., Atlanta, Ga.
• Titus Bautista, Colorado, 5′ 10, 185, Soph., Chicago, Ill.
• Damian Henderson II, Colorado, 6′ 2, 205, Jun., Los Alamitos, Calif.
• Richard Young, Colorado, 5′ 11, 210, Jun., Lehigh Acres, Fla.
• Leonardo Valle, Colorado, 6′ 1, 210, Frosh, Richmond Hill, Ga.

NOTE – Returning Buff quarterback Julian Lewis had -35 yards rushing last season.

Colorado Mesa

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  Xavier Ramirez, Colorado Mesa, 5’ 11, 195, Soph., Milliken, Colo. – In four games, he rushed four times for 35 yards.

• Jaden Thermidor, Colorado Mesa, 6’ 1, 200, Soph., Aurora, Colo.
• Aiden Olshan, Colorado Mesa, 5’ 10, 195, Jun., Highlands Ranch, Colo.
• Marvin Jones, Colorado Mesa, 5’ 9, 185, Jun., Aurora, Colo.
• Exander Carroll, Colorado Mesa, 5’ 8, 185, Jun., Aurora, Colo.
• Tyler Anderson, Colorado Mesa, 5’ 11, 200, Frosh, Westminster, Colo.
• Amari Brown, Colorado Mesa, 5’ 8, 200, Frosh, Pueblo, Colo.
• Sean Campbell, Colorado Mesa, 5’ 8, 190, Frosh, Denver, Colo.
• Noah Collins, Colorado Mesa, 5’ 9, 195, Frosh, Parker, Colo.
• Kaiden Wyatt, Colorado Mesa, 6’ 1, 240, Frosh, Cortez, Colo.
• Drew Contreras, Colorado Mesa, 6’ 1, 225, Frosh, Lakewood, Colo.
• Moses Thenell, Colorado Mesa, 5’ 10, 220, Frosh, Littleton, Colo.
• Harrison Chambers, Colorado Mesa, 5’ 7, 170, Frosh, Phoenix, Ariz.

NOTE – Returning Maverick quarterbacks Cole Hansen (139 yards) and Liu Aumavae (7 yards) combined for 146 rushing yards last season.

Colorado Mines

• Max Barnes, Colorado Mines, 5’ 9, 210, Jun., Austin, Texas – In six games, he rushed for 654 yards on 83 carries with five TDs to lead the Orediggers. He caught seven passes for 46 yards.

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  Braelon Tate, Colorado Mines, 5’ 10, 195, Sen., Broomfield, Colo. – In 10 games, he rushed 128 times for 579 yards and four TDs. He caught 17 passes for 169 yards and one score.

• Connor Cade, Colorado Mines, 5’ 9, 195, Frosh, Lakeville, Minn. – In two games, he rushed 12 times for 75 yards and one score.  He caught one pass for 15 yards and one TD
• Mitch Jensen, Colorado Mines, 5’ 11, 215, Frosh, Gilbert, Ariz. – In two games, he rushed five times for 36 yards.
• Apollo Lema, Colorado Mines, 5’ 10, 195, Frosh, Katy, Texas
• Channing Fox, Colorado Mines, 5’ 11, 200, Frosh, Parker, Colo.
• Sam Hogue, Colorado Mines, 5’ 11, 185, Frosh, Oologah, Okla.
• Atticus Sage, Colorado Mines, 6’ 1, 200, Frosh, Edmond, Okla.
• Wesley Glass, Colorado Mines, 5’ 9, 195, Frosh, Austin, Texas

NOTE – Returning Oredigger quarterback Joseph Capra had 413 yards rushing last season.

Colorado State

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  Oliver Lundberg, Colorado State, Gothenburg, Sweden

• Amare Gomez, Colorado State, San Diego, Calif.
• Damian Moore Jr., Colorado State, West Orlando, Fla.
• Mel Brown, Colorado State, Stone Mountain, Ga.
• Durell Robinson, Colorado State, Seat Pleasant, Md. – He is playing at his fourth school in four years after starting at Charlotte (20023, 166 yards rushing, 1 TD), UConn (2024, 731 yards rushing, 8 TDs, 14 pass catches for 75 yards), and Auburn (2025, injuries, 57 yards rushing, 1 TD).
• Malichi Greaves, Colorado State, Queens, N.Y.
• Cedric Ross, Colorado State, Lubbock, Texas

NOTE – Returning Ram quarterback Darius Curry had 25 yards rushing last season.

Colorado State Pueblo

• 

  Russell Patton, CSU Pueblo, 6’ 1, 225, Soph., Denver, Colo. – In 11 games, he rushed for 533 yards and six touchdowns. He caught 15 passes for 77 yards.

• Moosah Alsaffar, CSU Pueblo, 5’ 8, 190, Sen., Aurora, Colo. – In 12 games, he rushed 39 times for 198 yards and two scores.
• Ahmare Merrida, CSU Pueblo, 5’ 10, 180, Soph., Houston, Texas – For Adams State in three games, he rushed for 198 yards on 41 carries with one TD. He caught four passes for 40 yards.
• Jaedon Matthews, CSU Pueblo, 5’ 11, 185, Frosh, Goodyear, Ariz.
• Caleb Llamas, CSU Pueblo, 6’1, 215, Frosh, Centennial, Colo.
• Patrick Noga, Jr., CSU Pueblo, 5’ 11, 215, Frosh, Avondale, Colo.
• Jarrius Ward, CSU Pueblo, 5’ 11, 205, Frosh, Aurora, Colo.
• Brayden Henry, CSU Pueblo, 5’ 8, 155, Frosh, Abilene, Texas
• McKenzie Rogers, CSU Pueblo, 6’ 1, 187, Frosh, Midland, Texas

NOTE – Returning ThunderWolves quarterback Cam McGuire had 91 yards rushing last season.

Fort Lewis

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  Malakhi Espinosa, Fort Lewis, 5’ 6, 180, Soph., Palisade, Colo. – In two games, he rushed once for no yards.

• Brennen Hills, Fort Lewis, 5’ 7, 200, Sen., Gilbert, Ariz.
• Baylor Seabolt, Fort Lewis, 5’ 11, 212, Soph., Aztec, N.M.
• Samuel Cooper, Fort Lewis, 5’ 8, 188, Frosh, Windsor, Colo.
• Jacob Brown, Fort Lewis, 5’ 11, 205, Frosh, Laveen, Ariz.
• Kyler Drunasky, Fort Lewis, 5’ 10, 200, Frosh, Phoenix, Ariz.
• KhaVontae Paul, Fort Lewis, 5’ 9, 175, Frosh, Glendale, Ariz.
• Colton Lucero, Fort Lewis, 5’ 7, 165, Frosh, Pagosa Springs, Colo.

NOTE – Returning Skyhawk quarterback Jacob Morrius had -39 yards rushing last season.

Northern Colorado

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  Mathias Price, Northern Colorado, 6′ 2, 215, Jun., Colorado Springs, Colo. – In 11 games, he rushed for 483 yards on 110 carries with three touchdowns to lead the Bears. He caught 16 passes for 133 yards and one score.

• Kieryus Boone, Northern Colorado, 6′ 0, 185, Sen., Saginaw, Mich. – In nine games, he rushed 29 times for 128 yards and two scores.
• Brandon Lambert Jr., Northern Colorado, 5′ 11, 190, Soph., Sacramento, Calif. – In three games, he rushed five times for eight yards. He caught one pass for eight yards.
• Justin Guin, Northern Colorado, 5′ 10, 195, Grad, Novato, Calif. -In 10 games, he rushed 54 times for 288 yards and one score. He caught 13 passes for 72 yards.
• Jordan Herron, Northern Colorado, 5′ 10, 160, Soph., Aurora, Colo.
• Zach Pekarek, Northern Colorado, 6′ 1, 205, R-Sen., Burlington, Colo.
• Jaden Thomas, Northern Colorado, 5′ 7, 185, Jun., Windsor, Colo.
• James Strong, Northern Colorado, 5′ 11, 180, Frosh, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
• Tyrone Smiley, Northern Colorado, 5′ 9, 180, Frosh, Aurora, Colo.

Western Colorado

• Quinn Bailey, Western Colorado, 5’ 9, 185, Soph., Chadron, Neb. – In 11 games, he rushed for 572 yards on 124 carries with eight TDs to lead the Mountaineers. He caught 26 passes for 341 yards and three scores.

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  Isaiah Jones, Western Colorado, 5’ 10, 210, Soph., Colorado Springs, Colo. – In four games, he rushed 60 times for 307 yards and one score. He caught two passes for 44 yards.

• Gabe Schubarth, Western Colorado, 6’ 2, 210, Jun., Limon, Colo. – In 12 games, he rushed 38 times for 198 yards and one TD. He caught three passes for 21 yards.
• Damien Nevil, Western Colorado, 5’ 11, 190, Soph., Las Vegas, Nev. – In nine games, he rushed 38 times for 120 yards and one score. He caught two passes for two yards.
• Lamonte James, Western Colorado, 5’ 9, 180, Sen., Woodbridge, Va.
• Elijah Womack, Western Colorado, 6’ 1, 215, Frosh, Montrose, Colo.
• Braylon Beckworth, Western Colorado, 5’ 8, 175, Frosh, Palestine, Texas
• Cam’Ron Johnson, Western Colorado, Frosh, El Paso, Texas

NOTE – Returning Mountaineer quarterback Josiah Roy had 63 yards rushing last season.