Deion Sanders discusses timetable for Alton McCaskill’s return
Colorado coach Deion Sanders provided an update on running back Alton McCaskill on Tuesday ahead of the season opener against TCU. A transfer from Houston, McCaskill missed all of the 2022 season after tearing his ACL last spring.
He has been seen wearing a no-contact jersey throughout fall camp, putting his status for Week 1 in question. Sanders didn’t definitively say whether McCaskill will play against the Horned Frogs on Saturday, but seemed to indicate he is trending toward sitting out.
“He tried to fight me the other day to get that jersey off of him,” the coach said. “But he just started hitting it like Alton can hit it. He just started moving and cutting and the body lean. You can see a tremendous difference in week-to-week. I told him personally, ‘We’re in it for the long haul. We’re not in it for the spring.’
“…We just want to make sure he’s OK and not just throw him out there in the fire and he’s not prepared. When he plays, we want him to be the guy that he was.”
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McCaskill committed to Colorado this offseason as the No. 16 running back according to On3’s Transfer Portal Player Rankings. As a true freshman for the Cougars in 2021, he finished with 961 yards rushing and a program freshman record 16 touchdowns while being named AAC Rookie of the Year.
The Buffaloes have yet to release a depth chart for the game against TCU. However, they have a few other running backs who could fill McCaskill’s role if he can’t go.
Kentucky transfer Kavosiey Smoke (The No. 31 transfer RB) is one after totaling 277 yards and a touchdown on 59 carries with the Wildcats this past season. They also have true freshman Dylan Edwards, the No. 11 running back in the 2023 cycle according to the On3 Industry Rating, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
The Buffaloes also have a couple of running backs who survived the offseason roster turnover in Anthony Hankerson and walk-on Charlie Offerdahl. Sanders also brought Sy’Veon Wilkerson with him from Jackson State.
Expect Smoke and Edwards to be the prime candidates to see the bulk of the carries if McCaskill is out with the others working in intermittingly. Colorado is set to kick off against TCU at noon ET on Saturday in Fort Worth.