Not many major college football players redshirt their senior season, but that is what Colorado running back Donovan Lee did last year. Now he and his coaches are counting on Lee to deliver big time in take two of his senior campaign.

An injury just days before the 2017 Spring Game made the decision a little easier for Lee, but it definitely was not an easy one by any means.

"It was for sure hard in the moment," said Lee. "Just thinking back to those games and watching in the stands. Couldn't even be on the field. It was rough, but I'm here now. Definitely a humbling experience to see my brothers out there fighting without me. Every part of me wanted to be there so it drove me to keep working.

"It was hard for him. You go from traveling and playing to not traveling," added running backs coach Darian Hagan. "Everybody is gone and you're here with the freshman and you're an upperclassmen. Yeah, it was hard for him. But he knew in the long run it would be better for him."