Callen, the comeback kid

Katherine K. Gardiner Arizona Daily Wildcat UA sophomore tailback Leon Callen (29) carries the ball through the Iowa defensive line as junior backup tight end Ash Burrows (81) blocks for him. Callen rushed for 107 yards and scored one touchdown in the 28-7 win over Oregon State Saturday.

Callen, a sophomore tailback for the Wildcats, tore the ligament in spring practice and was forced to sit out the entire 1997 season.

"It was real difficult to sit and watch," Callen said. "But it made me get more of a hunger for the game and I learned not to take it for granted."

On the opposite end of the scope, October 17, 1998 was a day the future of Leon Callen saw promise and potential.

At Oregon State Saturday afternoon, Callen led an Arizona rushing attack which tore up the Beaver defense for 228 yards. Callen led all tailbacks with 107 yards on 16 carries, including his 36-yard touchdown run which ended the scoring.

"I was real happy to see Leon do what he did," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "He worked real hard in practice and his legs were fresh. He adds a new dimension with his quickness because his legs can make a difference in a game."

Callen, who suits up in the fall for football, can be seen sprinting by Pacific 10 Conference foes on the track in the spring as he is one of the few two-sport stars at Arizona.

"Track keeps my speed right for football, because it helps you maintain what you have and gain what you lost in the offseason," Callen said.

Although he was a medical redshirt in 1997, Callen did see considerable action behind former UA running back Gary Taylor in 1996 as he ran the ball 59 times for 275 yards and a touchdown.

This year, Callen has the likes of junior Trung Canidate and senior Kelvin Eafon in front of him on the depth chart, but he has still rushed the ball 53 times for 248 yards and a touchdown.

"I was heartbroken when I didn't start, but I look at the situation the same way I did in high school because as a sophomore, I had two guys in front of me," Callen said. "It will just make me better for next year because I can see what they do wrong and correct it for myself."

High school was a time Callen will never forget as his team at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., went undefeated during his three years on varsity.

He rushed for 2,022 yards and 30 touchdowns as he earned Parade All-American honors.

"I expect nothing else but to win," Callen said. "I was 39-0 coming out of high school and I see our team going in that direction."

While Callen is only a sophomore, he still looks to the future to see where he will be when he can no longer play football.

"My ultimate goal is to get to the NFL because no one in my family has done that yet," he said. "But I don't want to play football for the rest of my life. I want to sit behind a desk and have my own business, and being here and getting a degree is helping my cause."

While a desk job after his football career looks nice to Callen for his future, he and the Wildcats have something different to think about in the present.

With the Northeast Louisiana Indians coming into Tucson Saturday and the nationally-ranked Oregon Ducks the following week, he could be looked to for considerable action as the offense tries to establish a running game.

"I think it is a three running back situation until one of them flat out jumps up and says 'I am the guy,'" UA offensive coordinator Dino Babers said. "If they are all good enough to play, then we will play them all."

Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.