Prep star will get his chance in the spotlight

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- In 2000, Damien Nash's road to stardom appeared easy.

As easy as a 10.3-second 100-meter dash.

And what he couldn't outrun, the star running back would dodge with elusive moves.

Now, after four years and three roadblocks he couldn't elude, Nash is finally on the verge of reaching that stardom.

As a high school senior at East St. Louis, Ill., Nash ran for 1,444 yards and 28 touchdowns and was considered one of the top recruits in the country, being chased by Miami and Nebraska.

Even with the opportunity to join the best teams in the country, Nash decided to stay at home and become the man who could turn Missouri back into a winning program.

However, Nash's Columbia arrival was delayed as his career began to steer off its path to glory. He was deemed academically ineligible by the NCAA Initial Clearinghouse. Nash, instead of joining the Tigers, headed to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College for his first two seasons of college football.

At Coffeyville, Nash's career continued to stall instead of accelerate, as he appeared in only one game for the Ravens. After redshirting his freshman year, Nash mangled his right knee while returning the opening kickoff of the season for Coffeyville.

"It made me more a better person, because going through the hard times, you become stronger as a man, and it made me stronger," Nash said. "As an athlete, it just made me learn more. From an athlete aspect, it just made me more educated."

After knee surgery and a year of rehab instead of a year of starring on the football field, Nash finally arrived in Columbia.

But with a sore knee and Zack Abron set as the starter, Nash was unable to become the star that seemed destined for him.

Rather, he slowly worked into the Tigers lineup as a backup.

But he now enters the season expecting to be the No. 1 running back, and he doesn't plan on taking it easy now that he has reached that level.

"I don't think it's any different. You always come in ready to work hard," Nash said. "The only thing different is I'm up front now and there are new people pushing me for the job."

Even though Nash has big shoes to fill, replacing the school's all-time leading rusher in Abron, running backs coach Brian Jones said Nash won't have a problem in adjusting to the main role.

"Damien is his own guy and he does not lack for confidence," Jones said. "So I'm sure he feels comfortable about everything."

One aspect Nash feels more comfortable with is his health. Unlike last season, he said he is now 100 percent.

"My offseason workout proved that my quickness is back, my speed is back and the little pain I felt last year is gone," he said.

Nash still will share carries with redshirt freshman Marcus Woods.

Coach Gary Pinkel says his team will use two backs because injuries are a constant concern for the position.

"Our program, we'll play two tailbacks, and we always have," Pinkel said. "You have to and you have to have four ready to play just because of the nature of the position."

Nash said he has learned a lot about the position after one year with the Tigers.

"Just being in the program a full year has gotten me ahead more than anything," Nash said. "If you know the system and you know what to expect in the offense, then you can go out there and compete at a high level without making mental errors."

Jones said Nash has improved, but he still has room to grow.

"The one thing about Damien, from the first day he got here until now, is that he has steadily gotten better and better and better and better and better," Jones said. "He will continue to get better. But he's not where we need him to be as yet, and I know he's not where he wants to be yet.

"But he has really gotten better, his total game as a player and he is playing the ball harder, being sure with the ball and reading defenses a lot better and we'll see how he does when the season starts."

Missouri fans are hoping he can finally reach the destination that seemed so likely four years ago: greatness.