BOULDER — In a matter of weeks, Dallan Hayden went from starting running back to standing on the sidelines waiting to have his number called.

The Ohio State transfer appeared set to be Colorado’s starter heading into his second year in the program, but an injury late in fall camp ruled him out for the first few weeks of the season. As newcomers like DeKalon Taylor and Simeon Price emerged in the room, Hayden took a back seat, even when he was ruled available for the Week 3 matchup at Houston.

Since then, both Taylor and Price have suffered injuries and remain out ahead of a game against Iowa State (1:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN) and Hayden has re-emerged and run with his opportunity, leading the team with 61 rushing yards last week at TCU. He’s currently second to Price in yards per attempt.

Here’s what he had to say when meeting with the media ahead of Saturday:

Q: How tough was it to put the preseason injury behind you and regain your spot in the running back rotation?

A: I was hit with some adversity, but I just fought through it, pushed through it, prayed to God, leaned on my support staff — like with my parents — and just made it through.

Q: How big has that chip on your shoulder gotten?

A: I’ve just always had the mentality to stay hungry, never be satisfied (and) just try to execute my assignments to the best of my ability each and every play. 

Q: Do you view this moment as a chance to showcase yourself and seize that top spot back?

A: I never want to see anybody go down, but as a group, we have a job to do. Whoever’s in there, (running backs) coach (Marshall) Faulk always tells us you represent the entire group. That’s just kind of how I think, (too).

Q: One of the big runs you against TCU came in a third-and-long situation, does that serve as a message to the coaching staff that you guys can get chunk runs at any time?

A: I mean, yeah, we’ve done great running the ball this year. The run game has improved tremendously. Any one of us can get the job done, I feel like.

Q: How have you seen the offensive line take a step forward with their run blocking?

A: I would say it’s a pretty big improvement. A lot of movement up front and they get the job done. I trust each and every one of those guys. It’s definitely fun to run behind them.

Q: What’s your relationship been like with Marshall Faulk since he’s taken over your room?

A: Coach Faulk, man, he’s been amazing to our room. I’ve learned so much that I didn’t know. He’s honestly a genius. It’s been great. 

Q: Has the message from the coaching staff changed this week after a few close losses in a row?

A: Just trying to change some habits that we might see in practice because Coach (Prime) always says they show up in the game. We’re right there. 

Q: How close does the locker room feel to that breakthrough?

A: We all know we’re real close. We just gotta finish, at the end of the day.

King’s Players to Watch

Colorado: QB Kaidon Salter, DE Keaten Wade

Could this be it for Salter if he doesn’t improve? The Buffs have a bye week coming up and another loss would drop them to 2-5 with five games remaining. Freshman Julian ‘JuJu’ Lewis has already appeared in one game, but if he and the CU coaching staff don’t care about preserving his redshirt, this season could quickly become about developing Lewis for next season if Salter continues to struggle. Defensively, Wade had a breakout performance last week, getting in the backfield against TCU. The Buffs could use a dominant force on the defensive line to emerge given all of the injuries up front.

Iowa State: WR Chase Sowell, DL Domonique Orange
It will be a homecoming of sorts for Sowell, Iowa State’s second-leading wide receiver who began his career at CU and was a freshman on the team in 2022 before transferring after the arrival of Coach Prime. Sowell would probably love nothing more than to make a big play or two to help the Cyclones win his first game back in Boulder. On defense, no one has a cooler nickname in the Big 12 than Orange, who goes by ‘The Big Citrus.’ He’ll be relied upon to stop a CU rushing attack that will look to replicate what Cincinnati did against ISU.