Kelly Lyell

kellylyell@coloradoan.com

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Marvin Kinsey isn’t coming to CSU to stand on the sidelines next fall.

The speedster from Atlanta, one of three running backs in the Rams’ 2016 signing class, expects to play right away.

Same with Darius May, a versatile back out of New Orleans, and Rashaad Boddie, a powerful runner from suburban Seattle.

They’re well aware of the presence of Dalyn Dawkins, a junior who led the Rams in rushing last season with 867 yards and two touchdowns on 170 carries, and Izzy Matthews, who was in their shoes last year as a true freshman, running for 590 yards and five TDs on 97 carries for the season.

They also know second-year coach Mike Bobo has a tendency to work at least one true freshman into what usually is a three-man rotation at running back. Todd Gurley ran for 1,385 yards as a true freshman at Georgia, where Bobo was the offensive coordinator, in 2012, and Nick Chubb ran for 1,547 yards for the Bulldogs as a true freshman in 2014.

Running back is one of the easiest spots to insert a freshman in the lineup, Bobo said, because they don’t need to know all the nuances of the offense to be successful. Find a few plays they’re good at and let them do their thing, he said.

For Kinsey, one of the top sprinters in Georgia this spring with bests of 10.84 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.82 in the 200, that would be toss sweeps — getting the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder outside quickly and letting him use his speed to do the rest.

“Give me the edge and a couple inches, and that’s the ballgame. I’m gone,” Kinsey said.

He ran for 1,468 yards and 14 touchdowns last fall at Riverwood High School while earning a Georgia Class 5A regional player of the year award.

May, 6-foot and 190 pounds, believes his biggest strength is his versatility. He’s got 4.49-second speed in the 40-yard dash and can run inside or outside with equal effectiveness, he said, running right through defenders when needed or running away from them when he can. He’s also an effective receiver out of the backfield.

He ran for 351 yards and six touchdowns in one game last fall for McDonogh 35 High School and finished the season with 1,552 yards and 15 TDs. He’s also running track this spring, competing in the long and triple jumps and sprinting on relay teams.

Boddie, 6-foot and 226 pounds, will run people over at the line of scrimmage, then outrun their teammates to the end zone, his high school coach said. Boddie had touchdown runs of 85 and 60 yards for his team’s only scores in a first-round playoff win last fall, Skyline High School coach Mat Taylor said.

“He can really punish people with his running style, and I think that’s going to be scary,” Taylor said.

Boddie didn’t start playing football until eighth or ninth grade, Taylor said. So he’s still improving with every carry while learning the intricacies of reading blocks and defenses to find the best route.

Last fall, Boddie ran for 1,739 yards and 19 touchdowns while helping his team advance to Washington’s Class 4A state title game. He once ran for 256 yards in a single game and set career records at his high school for rushing yards (3,334) and touchdowns (48).

All three running backs are capable of earning playing time this fall, Bobo said. But there aren’t enough carries to accommodate all three, as well as Dawkins, Matthews and possibly junior Bryce Peters, who has been a standout this spring.

That’s OK, the new guys said.

“Me, Marvin and the other guy, Rashaad, we contacted each other and said when we get out there, we can make each other better,” May said. “Compete for the spot as true freshmen, and we can all get better.

“Competition improves the program. That’s what counts.”