Sports

McElwain Rooting For Bibbs To Make It As A Bronco

May 19, 2014 / 1:41 PM MDT / CBS Colorado

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) - If Kapri Bibbs is going to make the Denver Broncos final roster at the end of training camp this summer he's likely going to have to beat out some stiff competition.

Someone who will be rooting for the running back in his journey is his former coach -- CSU Rams head coach Jim McElwain.

McElwain has seen his fair share of college running backs going through his programs and turning pro. He says he sees a little bit of each of them in Bibbs, who just completed Broncos rookie minicamp along with 36 other players.

"There's a lot of comparisons of guys," "He's got a lot of a Eddie Lacy that obviously I was with at Alabama. He reminds me a little bit of Mark Ingram and a little bit of Trent Richardson in that some of that versatilities in how he doesn't take that direct hit. He does a great job of really not taking those big blows, which is going to be good for him as the longevity of that running back position."

Bibbs had a brief but stellar career at CSU. The junior college transfer only played one season but rushed for 1,741 yards, including the single game school record of 312 against Nevada.

He left school early for the NFL Draft, but no teams picked him. Now he's using that to drive him as he tries to become a Denver Bronco.

"He's a guy that has better speed than maybe what he times out at," CSU coach Jim McElwain said. "In other words, he's one of those guys that when you see his runs even guys that had angles on him he found the juice to get it in the endzone. He's a guy that does a great job of running behind his pads."

McElwain says he's excited that Bibbs, who had interest from several teams after the conclusion of the draft, chose to sign with Denver.

"I'm excited that he's going to have the opportunity with the Broncos and obviously selfishly as a Broncos fan I'm excited about him getting an opportunity to show what he can do," McElwain said. "He's got his work cut out for him but if there's a guy that will make that team, I think Kapri is one of those type of guys."

Bibbs is only one of three rookie running backs currently on the Broncos roster. If one of them is going to secure a spot on the final squad he may have to beat out Ronnie Hillman or C.J. Anderson.