If the dour assumptions about Dan Hawkins' future are any indication, Colorado can expect a wave of turmoil and departures over the next few months, beginning today with the exit of the most highly-sought recruit of the Hawkins' era:

BOULDER — Sophomore running back Darrell Scott informed his coaches Tuesday afternoon of his intent to leave the University of Colorado football program.

Head coach Dan Hawkins said Scott, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound tailback from Ventura, Calif., is leaving for assorted personal reasons and assumed he would be transferring closer to his Southern California home.

Scott is expected to follow his uncle and fellow Colorado exile Josh Smith to UCLA, where the former phenom's demand for a fresh start will find a team in desperate need of a productive workhorse in the backfield. Physically, Scott obviously first that bill: He was the top-ranked running back and one of the highest-rated incoming players at any position in the class of 2008, coveted by USC and Texas and everyone else, and despite his burgeoning "bust" status represents almost as much of a coup for Rick Neuheisel (if Scott in fact lands at UCLA) as he did for Hawkins two years ago.

Scott is emblematic of Colorado under Hawkins: Lots of hype, but only the exceedingly rare flash of promise amid an expanding desert of disappointment. He was reportedly out of shape as a freshman and spent essentially all of his CU career battling injuries and a losing battle with the depth chart behind solid but unspectacular classmate Rodney Stewart. Scott leaves with 459 yards and one touchdown, scored in his first game as a Buff, and as a walking emblem for a program that hasn't been able to meet expectations in years.