Scott ready to show Longhorns what they missed

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -While waiting for most-wanted recruit Darrell Scott to choose between Colorado and Texas, the Buffaloes landed Rodney Stewart as an insurance policy.

That turned out to be quite a Plan B for the Buffs.

Stewart, not the highly touted Scott, is leading Colorado in rushing going into its home game against No. 5 Texas on Saturday night.

Stewart is averaging 87.3 yards a game and 5.6 yards a carry, compared to Scott's average 36 yards a game and 3.7 yards a carry.

"We know if Darrell Scott is not getting the ball every time, that Stewart must be really good, because we know how good Darrell is," Texas coach Mack Brown said.

At just 5-foot-6, Stewart has become the big man on campus.

"That little Stewart, he can roll," Texas defensive end Lamarr Houston said. "You can't see him when he's got 300-pound guys in front of him."

The Buffs (3-1) believe Scott is ready to show off his stuff, too, just in time for the Longhorns (4-0) to get a firsthand look at the prized recruit who spurned them at the last moment.

There are several reasons for Scott's slow start. They include groin and knee injuries and a late start in camp while he was taking an algebra course to gain eligibility. He showed up overweight and had to catch up on the play book and his footwork.

"Everybody wants the rookie or the freshman to come in and set the place on fire. Sometimes that happens, sometimes it doesn't happen," Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins said. "I'm more concerned with all the intangible things because I know at some point he's going to be a great player."

Scott's position coach, Darian Hagan, said Scott had his best week of practice yet. Scott's teammates said his determination to catch up has him on the verge of a breakout.

The timing is perfect for Scott, who chose the Buffs in part because his uncle, sophomore receiver/returner Josh Smith, plays for Colorado, but also because the Longhorns juggled their coaching staff. Scott has said he might be playing for the Longhorns this weekend had Major Applewhite not succeeded running backs coach Ken Rucker, who moved into an administrative position at Texas.

The Buffs' ground game could prove vital against the Longhorns, who have 14 sacks in their last two games and are facing a Colorado team trying to protect quarterback Cody Hawkins with an offensive line missing star tackle Ryan Miller, who broke his leg last week in a loss to Florida State.