Senior Spotlight: Cal RB Daniel Lasco Playing Key Role In Bears Offense
By Kevin McGuire
Cal senior running back Daniel Lasco tends to be a bit overshadowed in the Bears offense. With quarterback Jared Goff putting up big numbers with some talented receivers hauling in passes, it can often be too easy to forget the value of the running game at Cal. That may not matter all that much to players like senior running back Daniel Lasco, because he knows head coach Sonny Dykes respects his role on the team just as much as the next player's.
Following a victory over San Diego State, Dykes complimented Lasco and the rest of the running backs' play in the winning effort.
"It was not a really flashy performance but kind of more work-man like, which is a fun way to win," Dykes said after Cal's 35-7 triumph over San Diego State. "Almost like old fashion football."
Lasco had a significant role in the old-fashion football win. The senior rushed for a game-high 123 yards and a touchdown, outperforming San Diego State's talented running back Donnel Pumphrey (86 yards, zero touchdowns). His late third-quarter touchdown run was the 17th of his career, moving him into 10th all-time in the Cal record books for most career touchdown runs. He has now scored a touchdown in nine of his last 10 games for the Bears, proving to be a consistent runner for the Bears.
It was the first of what should be a good handful of 100-yard rushing performances for Lasco this season, after he carried the football just five times for 14 yards in Cal's season opener against Grambling State. There was not much need to wear Lasco down in the blowout win. He has already proven his value for Cal after rushing for 1,115 yards and 12 touchdowns as a nice complimentary piece of the offensive puzzle for Cal in 2014.
Last season, Lasco rushed for over 100 yards in a game five different times, including a career-high 188 yards against Oregon State. He also rushed for a career-high three touchdowns in the same game to help Cal nudge past the Beavers, 45-31, to move Cal one win shy of bowl eligibility. This season, Lasco will do his part to ensure Cal does not come up one win shy of the postseason before wrapping up his collegiate career.
Lasco came to Cal with great expectations. The former four-star recruit out of Texas was a nice recruiting pick-up for the program. It has taken some time to get to the point where he is worthy of leading the rushing attack though, as he moved up from playing a key role on special teams units early on in his Cal career. Rather than be discouraged, Lasco made the most of it and put in the work over time. Now he is a key to the success at Cal and a team leader on and off the field.
Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
