BOULDER — There were times when Simeon Price thought his football career was over.

In the transfer portal for the second time this offseason, Price waited and waited for the phone to ring — and it finally did when Colorado called offering him a spot in a talented running backs room.

Price, a Pensacola, Fla., native who began his career at Mississippi State before spending last season at Coastal Carolina, is off to a hot start with the Buffaloes, leading the team in rushing yards through two games.

Here’s what Price said in advance of Friday’s game at Houston:

Q: How would you describe your first two games in a Buffs uniform?

A: They were solid. I’m always tough on myself, so there are a lot of areas I can improve in. Obviously, it’s a deep running back room, so anytime you get in there, you have to take advantage of your opportunities. We’re just looking to take that next step.

Q: Take us through your 360 (degree) hurdle along the sideline, a highlight from the Delaware game.

A: You just have to react. That’s what it comes down to. Being here, it’s always a blessing that you have coaches that let you play football. At the end of the day, I just go out there, react to what I see and I play hard.

Q: How would you describe your journey as a fifth-year college player with three stops?

A: There was two separate times I was in the portal for six months. I was at home training, thinking I was never gonna be able to play football again. So, when I got the call (to come) here, it was a no-brainer to walk into this type of environment with these coaches and (their) knowledge. I feel like I was sent here. God gave me an opportunity and I don’t take it for granted. I was in a dark place, but He pulled me out of that pit and I will forever talk about how Christ is the reason that I’m here and he’s my foundation.

Q: Were you starting to think about your post-football plans while you were in the portal for several months?

A: Absolutely; you have to. In my family, you can’t sit around and be a bum. I was thinking about things off the field. My sister’s a licensed athletic trainer at FC Dallas (an MLS team) right now, so I was thinking about going that route, learning about the body. I always like to help (people), so if I wasn’t playing football, I want to help guys get there if I’m not able to play anymore. I was thinking about a lot of different routes, but again, I can’t thank the Lord enough for getting that phone call that one day and landing me here. 

Q: Because of all of that, do you think you’re more determined or energized this season?

A: Absolutely. It’s a brand-new perspective. I wake up every morning and the first thing I do is thank the Lord for this opportunity. These mountains are beautiful out here (and) I’m getting coached by Hall of Famers. I don’t take anything for granted. Also, knowing this is my last year, I still have goals and aspirations of going to the next level. It’s the reason I came here. Every day at practice, meetings or lifts, I always give my all for myself and for my teammates because I know they have the same dreams.

Q: What has it been like to learn under Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk?

A: I call (his advice) ‘gold nuggets.’ Every time we get in the meeting room, it’s just something I have to write down, whether it’s concerning football or concerning anything off the field. Just as much as he wants us to be great football players, he wants us to be great young men and I really take that to heart because that’s something that, throughout my journey with the ups and downs of football (and) sitting in the portal for six months, I had to do some real soul searching and look at myself as a man and clean up some things that I knew wasn’t really of my character. Anytime I step in that meeting room, I always ask questions, make sure I’m sitting up straight and letting him know that I’m paying attention.

Q: How do you handle competing in a deep running back room?

A: Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. We all know it’s a deep room, we all know we’re competing, but the thing that’s making our running back room click right now is we’re not selfish. We’re not an arrogant group of guys. We all want to see each other win, we all want to see each other succeed, so whether it be any two-back sets or (if) Coach Faulk calls us out there to start a drive, we’re out there playing for the group.

King’s players to watch

Colorado: WR Sincere Brown, S Carter Stoutmire

After racking up over 100 receiving yards on just two of his four catches last week, Brown has established himself as a big play waiting to happen on the perimeter for the Buffs. He seemingly has a good rapport with Ryan Staub, the likely starting quarterback this week, and could be his go-to target once again. Defensively, Stoutmire will play an important role in both stopping Houston’s solid rushing attack, as well as a 6-foot-7 tight end Tanner Koziol, a matchup nightmare who leads the Cougars in receptions and yards.

Houston: RB Dean Connors, DL Eddie Walls III
Connors torched his former team, Rice, last week while rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries, establishing himself as the focal point of the Houston offense. Houston could rely on him should it try to exploit the CU’s weaknesses against the run. On defense, Walls had seven tackles and a sack last week and is proving to be an instant contributor up front after transferring in from Florida International.