Helix’s Adkins surpasses 1,000 career yards at CU
- Updated: September 4, 2015
From staff and wire reports
HONOLULU – Former Helix High standout Michael Adkins went over 1,000 yards for his collegiate career and scored two touchdowns in the first half in Colorado’s loss at Hawaii Thursday night.
Adkins’ second TD of the game cut the Hawaii lead to 15-14 with 4:47 to go in the first half.
Michael Adkins finds the end zone for 2nd time https://t.co/O0b3z8MMwB
— Bodie DeSilva (@SDPreps) September 4, 2015
Earlier, Adkins had a 12-yard TD run as Hawaii led 8-7 with 9:21 left in 2nd Quarter.
RB Michael Adkins (Helix HS/Colorado) runs in the first TD of the season for the Buffaloes. https://t.co/gPGetvB1Ra — Bodie DeSilva (@SDPreps) September 4, 2015
The former Highlanders star had 11 carries for 62 yards in the 1st half, finishing with 90 yards on 21 rushes on the evening. Hawaii won the game, 28-20, in the season opener at Aloha Stadium.
Adkins averaged 5.1 yards per carry for his career entering the season.
After rushing for 535 yards and six touchdowns in his freshman season in 2013, he had just 398 yards and last year and three touchdowns. He entered the season with 22 catches for his career, including a TD in 2013.
Adkins had a pair of 100-yard rushing games last season at home in back-to-back weeks against UCLA and Washington.
Adkins was in and out of the lineup with injuries in 2014, suffering a season ending knee injury early in the game at Arizona following his stellar home games against the Bruins and Huskies.
“It was tough, but I got through it and pushed through it,” Adkins said in the weeks leading up to Thursday night’s season opener. “Just leaning on the word and God allowed me to keep pushing through that. It’s allowed me to be a better player today.
“I’m feeling good. The knee feels good and I’m ready to go for the season.”
CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said he saw a healthy Adkins during training camp.
“Michael a good camp and he stayed fresh,” MacIntyre said. “I’m excited with where Michael is right now.”
Adkins is excited, too, and he’s hoping for his best year yet.
“I worked hard in the offseason to get my knee back to what I wanted it to be at,” he said. “I wanted to come out and get back into the groove and just keep it rolling for the season, for sure.
“I feel like I’ve improved in a lot of areas and made myself more well-rounded.”
Adkins and the Buffaloes host UMass next Saturday at 11 a.m. PDT in a game televised by Pac-12 Network. CU is in an awful rut as a team currently, however, having lost nine-straight games dating back to last season. Their only two wins last season came against the Rainbow Warriors and the Minutemen.
