Luper can commiserate with Johnson
By Scott Wright
Oklahoma State running back Kendall Hunter was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award Tuesday, which isn’t unexpected based on the sophomore’s performance this season.
The 5-foot-8, 195-pound scatback ranks fourth nationally in total rushing yards and yards per game at 1,332 in 10 games for a 133.2-yard average.
But Hunter’s inclusion on the Walker list wasn’t so expected in August, when the OSU running back situation appeared to be more of a committee job.
Keith Toston was expected to be the No. 3 back, coming off ACL surgery, then undergoing another minor knee surgery in August. But Toston has come back as strong as ever, leaving Beau Johnson to the No. 3 spot, which results in little action for the junior-college transfer.
But running backs coach Curtis Luper knows his pain.
“I’d like to get Beau more carries. He’s deserving,” said Luper, who was a running back at OSU in the mid-1980s. “He just happens to be sitting behind an All-American right now. I can empathize with that, because I sat behind a couple.
“We need Beau on this team and we need Beau to contribute. We’ll need him to win a game at some point. But Kendall Hunter, I think, is the best running back in the country and he’s earned his touches.”
Next season will be even more interesting.
Hunter will be a junior. Toston and Johnson will be seniors. Current redshirts Travis Miller and Kye Staley will be in the mix as well, along with incoming freshman Jeremy Smith from Tulsa Union.
There’s been some speculation around message boards about the strength of Smith’s commitment, but he doesn’t appear to be wavering, despite taking a couple of other visits. And there’s been some talk that the Cowboys might take another running back in the 2009 class. But don’t expect that, either. It’ll be tough enough to keep all six of those guys happy.
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