Excellent news came to Marshall Faulk during the NFL Honors Week. This is someone who is arguably the greatest running back of all time. And he'll now join the coaching ranks at the college level. The Hall of Famer will have an excellent opportunity to pass on his knowledge to the next up-and-coming generation of athletes.
The University of Colorado announced on Thursday, February 6, that Marshall Faulk would be joining the staff as the running backs coach. This will be his first stint on the sidelines since retiring from the Saint Louis Rams. However, there are few who even approach his playing accolades and resume. While managing and helping modern-day college athletes is different from playing, he'll bring a lot of experience and expertise.
Furthermore, Deion Sanders has shown success in bringing former players to help him in Boulder. Warren Sapp has brought a lot of help to the program's trenches defensively. The former lineman's ability to learn on the fly proved itself throughout the year. Also, Coach Prime gives room for members of his staff to grow and learn with ease and comfort.
That being said, Faulk is in a great environment for his first year in his new role. Furthermore, he'll be heavily in the spotlight. There will be a lot of noise if the run game has a slow start. But this will be true regardless. Most importantly, even with potentially low production, the time will be given for that room to figure it out. Either way, coach Sanders has his guy in Marshall Faulk, and CU fans should be excited.
Why adding Marshall Faulk makes sense
Another important aspect to consider is job mobility. Coaching staffs are often purged after successful years. And replacing good fits can often prove to be just as challenging as recruiting the players themselves. While no one would blame Sapp or Faulk for eventually moving on, it's safe to say that they are more likely to stick with Prime Time. At least the immediate concern of them moving on for a lateral job isn't here like it would be with others.
Then there's his playing career. Hard to imagine now, but there's a reason why, as a running back, Marshall Faulk won the NFL MVP in 2000. His consistent level of play at a high level is a mark all RBs strive for. Anything he may currently lack as a coach will be more than made up for through his knowledge base and passion for the game that he'll bring.
Buffaloes faithful should be excited. Bringing in people who have walked the walk at an elite level is irreplaceable. Time will tell how Colorado does without Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. But the offense will have a good chance of being able to make up for their absence through the run game thanks to the latest addition of Marshall Faulk.
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