By Michael Doutey
There are questions surrounding some key positions for Oklahoma State ahead of the 2018 season. We know the questions all too well. Questions about the quarterbacks. There are questions about who will fill the James Washington and Marcell Ateman roles. The defense is typically always in questions, but the defense has more questions due to new defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles.
But one position group there are no questions over are the running backs. Back is Justice Hill, the Big 12’s leading rusher. JD King is coming off a solid freshman season. LD Brown is another talented back who is back. Now, highly touted redshirt freshman Chuba Hubbard joins the backfield.
The only question I have surrounding the running backs is how will Mike Gundy and Mike Yurcich will deploy all these backs. The Cowboys have possibly the most depth at this position since the Pokes had Dantrell Savage, Keith Toston and Kendall Hunter back in 2007. All those backs had a cup of tea in the NFL.
OSU has had tremendous running back duos over Gundy’s tenure. But it has been a few seasons since OSU has had a real successful duo or trio at running back. For the first time in a number of years, it looks like OSU has the backs and the offensive line to have the rushing attack fans grew accustomed to in the early Gundy years.
Starting back in 2006, Savage and Toston started the trend. Savage rushed for 820 yards on just 126 carries, an average of 6.5 yards per carry. Toston rushed for 631 yards on just 106 carries, good for six yards per rush.
In 2007, the three-headed monster of Savage, Toston and Hunter combined for 2,815 yards with an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Savage lead the way with 1,272 yards with a 5.7 yard per carry average. Toston went for 847 yards and Hunter rushed for 696 yards as a true freshman.
In 2008, Hunter took over as the lead back with Toston as his right hand man. Hunter had a monster season with 1,555 yards and an average of 6.5 yards per carry. Toston ended that season with 686 yards and a 6.7 yard per carry average. Zac Robinson chipped in with 562 yards rushing that season.
2009 could have been a lost season. Kendall Hunter was essentially lost for the season with an ankle injury early to Houston. Dez Bryant had his trouble with the NCAA. Zac Robinson was beaten up, but Mike Gundy had one of his best seasons coaching and mustered up nine wins. Toston still had a nice season as the feature back with 1,218 yards and an 5.4 yard per carry average.
2010 was another good season for OSU in terms of running the football. Hunter had a phenomenal senior season, rushing for 1,548 yards, 16 touchdowns and a 5.7 yard per carry average. Joe Randle entered the mix, rushing for 452 yards as a true freshman.
In the historic 2011 season, Randle took over as the lead back. He rushed for 1,216 yards and an impressive 24 touchdowns. Jeremy Smith was a very nice compliment to Randle, who rushed for 646 yards on a 7.1 yards per carry average.
The 2012 season is one that could shake out a lot like 2018. Randle took over as the face of OSU football for his junior season before exiting for the NFL. Randle rushed for 1,417 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith’s role took a dip, rushing just 70 times for 371 yards. Desmond Roland got into the mix, rushing for 301 yards and an average of 6.5 yards per carry.
2013 was a season where OSU had no real superstar on offense. It was the first year since 2006 that the Cowboys didn’t have a 1,000 yard rusher. Des Roland took the reigns from Jeremy Smith midway through the season. Roland rushed for 811 yards and 13 touchdowns. Smith rushed for 485 yards. Clint Chelf went for 373 yards rushing while JW Walsh added 294. That season was the start of the dip in rushing success for OSU.
2014 was an awful season rushing the football. Roland rushed for just 770 yards on a putrid 3.8 yards per carry. Tyreek Hill was miscast as a running back in his lone season in Stillwater, but found a way to rush for 534 yards on a average of 5.2 yards per carry. 2015 was even worse. Chris Carson lead the Pokes in rushing with just 517 yards. JW Walsh and the “Walshing Machine” was the second leading rusher with 359 yards and 13 touchdowns.
2016 was a step in the right direction. Justice Hill took over as a true freshman in the Baylor game. With Carson out with an injury, Hill seized the lead back role and ran with it. He rushed for 1,142 yards with a 5.5 yard per carry average. Once Carson came back from injury, he played the best in his OSU career. He was the perfect thunder to Hill’s lightning. Carson rushed for 559 yards on 6.8 yards per carry and 9 touchdowns, most of which took place over the final six games of the season. That duo could have been lethal if Carson had been healthy all season long.
Last season was the Justice Hill show. JD King was good in spurts, but the coaching staff wasn’t ready for him to take on a huge role as a true freshman. Hill exploded for 1,467 yards on 5.5 yards per rush and 15 touchdowns. King rushed for 469 yards. He had a superb 36 carry, 142 yard day in Morgantown as Hill went down with an early injury.
Looking to 2018, Hill, King, Hubbard and Brown all have serious playmaking abilities. In a season where there is a big question at quarterback, the Cowboys could depend on the run game more than they have since 2009. For the first time in many years, OSU has the talent and depth to do it.
Justice Hill – Junior – 5-foot-10 – 190 pounds
What is there to say about Justice Hill that you don’t already know? Hill has continually added muscle and speed. Gundy has said that he wants Hill to touch the ball 15 to 18 times a game, which seems low to me. Hill averaged 20.6 rushes per game in 2017. With Washington, Ateman and the explosive passing offensive OSU had, Hill’s production demanded more touches. Hill may have been OSU’s most reliable player from last season, even with some of the other playmakers who were on roster.
From watching Hill warm up in practice, he was working with the receivers. It leads one to believe that Hill could be used more in the passing game than in the past. If Hill gets a few less rushing attempts but is made up with more touches in the passing game, that could lead to an explosive season for the face of Cowboy football in 2018.
JD King – Sophomore – 5-foot-11 – 210 pounds
King is developing into the new Chris Carson. King is an absolute beast in the weight room. Even as a freshman, you could see the physicality and strength in his running. Now with a whole year with #BodybyGlass, King is improving. He also has the speed to go with the strength, which he showed in his first game ever as a collegiate player.
King is what he is. He is going to be a workhorse and a tremendous short yardage and goal line back. He isn’t just a banger though. He has a really good feel for a back. He has nice patience and vision. He will be the second back to spell Hill.
Built different #405 pic.twitter.com/dOIbDWjgvh
— Jd King (@18_JDK) July 23, 2018
Patience, nice open field cut from freshman RB JD King pic.twitter.com/m01T3nf4vu
— Brad McDaniel (@DFF_BMack) October 28, 2017
This kid can run #JDKing pic.twitter.com/Cu8fjMEcg1
— Boone Pickens State (@BP_State) September 1, 2017
Chuba Hubbard – Redshirt Freshman – 6-foot-1 – 207 pounds
The Canadian speedster showed up to Stillwater with the body of a sprinter. Now with a with year with Rob Glass, Hubbard has taken on the body of a Big 12 running back with the same speed he’s always had.
Before and After Rob Glass. #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/viSl1AoLHP
— Boone Pickens State (@BP_State) August 3, 2018
Hubbard is an x-factor in this seasons offense. He is a home run threat every time he touches the ball. But how many times will he touch the ball? Where will his touches come from? Hill is a star. King is more proven. But Hubbard is a talent that demands playing time and touches. Hubbard could be used like Tyreek Hill back in 2014. OSU can move him around to get his explosiveness into the open field.
Chuba Hubbard is on the loose! #okstate pic.twitter.com/meU7QOsqCj
— Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) April 28, 2018
LD Brown – Redshirt Sophomore – 5-foot-9 – 191 pounds
Brown feels like the odd-man out. He might be the most elusive of the backs. He has great lateral speed and is quick in and out of cuts. But with Hubbard coming into the mix, it feels like Brown will be relegated to time as a returner or will fill in if one of the other three are injured or banged up. But he has great speed and explosiveness.
Jahmyl Jeter – Freshman – 6-foot – 210 pounds
Jeter is going to redshirt this season with the talent above him. He was committed to SMU before flipping to Oklahoma State. Texas A&M was in on him as well with an offer and Iowa State had an offer out to him as well. He is a big, physical back that reminds me more of a JD King.
Prediction
Justice Hill – 1,300 rushing yards. 5.5 yards per carry. 45 catches for 325 yards. 18 total touchdowns.
JD King – 550 rushing yards. 8 touchdowns.
Chuba Hubbard – 400 rushing yards. 300 receiving yards. 3 touchdowns.
LD Brown – 200 rush yards. Will be one of the better returners in the kick return game.
Jahmyl Jeter – Redshirt.
