Missing Dez but not Hunter
I wrote about Dez Bryant in today’s Oklahoman, and no doubt the Oklahoma State Cowboys miss their all-star receiver. Some say Dez would be a Heisman candidate, had he not missed those three games, and when you look at the lack of contenders for the award, they could be right.
Sam Bradford is out, Colt McCoy has slumped, Tim Tebow is playing OK but not spectacular. Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame might be the favorite. If Dez hadn’t missed those three games and was reeling in touchdown catches and returning punts for touchdowns — and there’s no reason to believe he wouldn’t be — then he would be in the discussion.
And the Cowboys have missed Dez, no doubt. But here’s what’s interesting. They haven’t missed their other all-American, tailback Kendall Hunter. Backup Keith Toston has always been a solid player (well, since that fumble-marred performance at Troy in September 2007 that allowed Hunter to ascend up the depth chart) but has become a force in Hunter’s absence.
Toston is running hard and catching well. Against A&M, Toston had 26 carries for 130 yards and two catches for 74 yards, including a 40-yarder. Against Missouri, Toston had 24 carries for 87 yards, plus seven catches for 54 yards. He was a big-play man vs. the Aggies and a workhorse vs. Mizzou.
Toston does not have the home run ability of Hunter. But Toston is tougher; he can produce the rugged yards in tight games that sometimes are needed.
OSU is best when it has both tailbacks. It would be great for the Cowboys if Hunter can return soon — coach Mike Gundy says Hunter has practiced for two weeks, it’s just a matter of when he can make full cuts and handle the hurt of a sprained ankle — but until he does, the tailback position is in good hands with Toston.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
First of all Deion Sanders knew what he was diong was suspect,but he thought just because he’s Deion Sanders it would not be detected.I am so sick of Deion Sanders claming he’s Mentoring already grown Men that has their Family,University and friends and fans in their corner. He is a fake he is just chasing Jockey Straps and i do not like Deion Sanders.Michael Crabtree realized he was recieving bad advise and got away from these freaks and signed with the team that drafted hime and all is well with him. Dez if you are listening stay away from this pervert Deion Sanders you are doing just fine with the friends you have and the coach you have we love you.
Crazy talk. There was a reason Toston and Johnson were backups. Don’t get me wrong, I am happily surprised and impressed at the small level of drop off that we’ve had platooning Toston and Johnson and I agree with your statement of Toston being a workhorse but give me Hunter any day. He is a difference maker that can change games and carry a team on any given day. Neither of these replacements can say that.
I remember reading where Kendall Hunter had injured his foot so bad in highschool that the Dr. told him he would not play again. I think he had a steel part placed in his foot. He came back and broke Earl Campbell’s rushing records at Tyler, Texas. I think the above is fact.
My question is, is the current injury related to the old surgery?
And what about the injury last year? Are all three injuries to the same foot.
I worry about Kendall and whether he can got back to his old performance level. He has not really been the same since the Colorado game when he got hurt. I hope he makes it back. He is a great talent and a good kid.
Spoken like a journalist that hasn’t spent much time actually watching the OSU games. Toston has done a great job of picking up the slack in Hunter’s absence. And he is definitely a better RB between the tackles than Hunter. However, to say they haven’t missed Hunter is a stretch. There have been several plays over the last two weeks that Hunter would have taken all the way, while Toston just doesn’t have that break-away speed. The big play is what has been lacking from this offense all year, and a healthy Hunter could turn some of those field goals into TD’s. I hope he and Dez are both back on the field very soon.
Agree with B-Webb — need Hunter’s big-play threat that Toston and Johnson don’t provide. That’s been definitely missing. If OSU gets Hunter and Bryant back by the Texas game they have a chance to win the South. Without them they likely lose to Texas and possibly both T-Tech and OU.
Can’t agree with B-Webb entirely–Toston is a harder hitter, but Hunter’s shiftiness helped him slip through where others would simply run into people. I was always amazed that he seemed to disappear into the line, there he goes into and out the other side of the secondary. Other times he looded like he was running along with a bunch of defensive players and just seemed to keep on moving for another 10 yards with a moving pile. He has something extra. That’s why he is an all-american.
Consistency is his trade mark for inaccurate comment about OSU football. Don’t cross over just because you have slow day on the other side.
You people are ridiculous! Put your bias aside and listen to a good journalist. Yes, Kendall was a home run threat last year , but through two games this year his longest run was 12 yards. Keith has carried and unbelievable load and has stepped up tremendously. Tram may not be an OSU writer or fan, but thats not his job. He states facts and gives you people topics to get you riled up. Good blog tram
Tram,
I must disagree. You do mention that Hunter was a home run threat, but down play this ability because of toughness. If Hunter can still run like he did last year, then he is one of the best backs in college football. The home run threat and the routine 8 + yards that he would pick up on first down made our offense roll. Watch the you tube highlight reel.