Through nine games, freshman running back Zach Boden has exceeded expectations, rushing for five touchdowns and 464 yards.

“How good is he really?”

This question, regarding freshman running back Zach Boden, ran through Harvard coach Tim Murphy’s mind before the start of the football season.  Now, the answer seems obvious: he is good—really good.

Coming from the Lovett School, a small independent institution in Atlanta, Ga., it was tough for the Crimson coaching staff to judge Boden’s true potential. Although the coaches had witnessed his talent on film, they couldn’t have predicted the success he’s had thus far.

“We knew he was fast and elusive, but we didn’t know how instinctive he was and how tough he was, both mentally and physically,” Murphy noted. “We have gotten more out of him than we could have expected [from] a freshman.”

Although the Harvard coaches might have been uncertain about the running back’s role on the 2011 team, Boden’s goals were always clear: he wanted to show what he could do out on the field.

“Going into the season, I was expecting to compete for the starting job,” Boden said. “I was never expecting to be low on the depth chart.  I’m a competitor. I want to play.”

In a preseason scrimmage, Boden’s strong performance allowed him to achieve his goal of earning significant playing time for the Crimson.

“The moment that really stands out in my mind is our scrimmage against Dartmouth,” Boden recalled. “I had a pretty good game and did some good things. Afterwards, the coaches asked if I would contribute to varsity.”

Regardless of Boden’s ability and preparation, the adjustment to college play is a hard one for any player to make.

“No matter how hard Zach worked, I’m not sure that anybody is prepared to make that transition easily,” said Lovett School coach Mike Muschamp. “The athleticism on the next level is greater, and the physical demands placed on your body are going to be greater as a result.”

Though Boden was accustomed to playing high-level football in Georgia, he says the detail of the college game has been the biggest change.

“The hardest transition from high school to college for me was learning the playbook and verbiage,” Boden explained.

Boden attributes much of his successful adjustment to the guidance and mentorship of the offensive linemen.  Junior running backs Treavor Scales and Rich Zajeski have been particularly helpful in showing Boden the ropes and passing along their veteran wisdom.

In addition, Boden relied on the network of fellow freshmen on the varsity team to transition successfully.

“Especially at the beginning, when we were all kind of uncomfortable, it was great having other freshmen on the team for support,” Boden said.