BOULDER, Colo. - Cory Nabors found out he was being placed on scholarship the same time as everyone else. The news brought about cheers following the Buffaloes' spring scrimmage last Saturday.

It was a moment that Nabors will never forget.

"It was a big accomplishment for me," said the sophomore running back and special teams performer. "I wanted to accomplish it ever since I got here since graduating from high school. I was happy. My whole family was happy.

Nabors recorded 11 special teams points last season.

"I didn't know [I was going to be placed on scholarship] as soon as this but I felt I would eventually earn it," he added. "I wasn't going to stop until I did.

"Being placed on scholarship lets me know that I am on the right track and doing the right things and getting noticed. I know I need to just keep going in a positive direction and keep improving."

Nabors put together an impressive career at Rangeview High School in Aurora. He led the state in rushing both as a junior and senior, racking up 5,372 rushing yards and 62 touchdowns those two seasons.

"I think I am shiftier than most of the running backs that we have," said Nabors, who hopes to get his first carry in a game this fall. "I definitely think my ability to make people miss and my speed are my best attributes."

Head coach Dan Hawkins has awarded scholarships to a number of former walk-ons. The list includes Jeff Smart, Cody Crawford and Scotty McKnight.

"I always talk about this whole blue collar thing and he played injured last year and tried to get his feet on the ground academically and I just think he has hung in there and really done a nice job," Hawkins said of Nabors. "He showed up last year on special teams and I expect him to be there again. And we'll try to find a role for him offensively.

"But you have to love a guy like that that continues to come out and pour it out. The sad thing is in this day and age people want to bust their fannies for two months and get a raise. 'I did my job for eight months and I should get a promotion'. Well, sometimes it doesn't go like that. But he is basically going on two years here really laying it out there. So I just wanted to reward that type of mentality and effort on our team."

Monday Practice Notes:

*** Defensive tackle George Hypolite, fullback Kai Maiava along linebackers Marcus Burton, Michael Sipili and Nate Vaiomounga all practiced. All five have missed a number of spring practices due to class conflicts.

*** Maiava has lost about 20 pounds for his new role since earning freshman All-American honors as an offensive guard. "I'm not real concerned about him losing a bunch of weight, I am really not," said Hawkins. "I'd rather just have him be an offensive guard in the backfield and be able to pick up blitzes and lead block and be ready to catch the ball three times next year."

*** Redshirt freshman Matthew Bahr worked with the first-team offensive line on Monday at right guard.

*** Former CU offensive lineman Mark Fenton was at practice as an observer. He was on the Denver Broncos' practice squad last fall. 2008 signee Will Pericak was also in attendance at Monday's workout. The Boulder High standout has stopped by nearly every practice this spring.

*** At the end of practice, defensive linemen George Hypolite, Brandon Nicolas, Maurice Lucas and Lagrone Shields along with offensive lineman Devin Head were sent back to try to catch a kickoff. All five were successful in hauling in the kickoff. The reward? No one had to run.

*** The Buffaloes will practice in pads on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. This Saturday's scrimmage will now begin at 10:00 am instead of 1:00 pm.

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