Kendall Hunter provided a quick burst of speed off the bench last year for the Cowboys, who led the Big 12 in rushing with 243 yards per game. Hunter will start in his sophomore season, with juniors Beau Johnson and Keith Toston getting carries, too.
The Cowboy backfield lost one of its stars from last season, but young talent and returning experience leave coaches with options.
“We feel we’ve got three guys that bring something a little different to the table,” co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer said. “Kendall Hunter’s personality is a lot like Dantrell Savage in the way he runs and the things he does.
“We can also put Beau Johnson in, slide in a Keith Toston and then go from shifty speed, to a combination, to a power guy.”
Hunter, a sophomore, came to OSU last season as a highly-touted prospect and rushed for 696 yards, averaging 6.5. Coach Mike Gundy said he sees promise in Hunter’s ability and expects a strong showing this season.
“Kendall’s got two things that I think are very important in playing at this level,” Gundy said. “He’s very durable, and he’s not really concerned with his personal statistics. He’s more concerned with the team.”
Johnson, a junior, transferred to Stillwater from Butler County Community College in Kansas.
He was one of the nation’s top-rated junior college backs last season, rushing for more than 1,700 yards.
He’ll add power to a backfield built on speed and finesse.
“Beau’s going to lower his shoulder and drag a guy over 10 yards on his back,” junior lineman Russell Okung said. “He’s just that type of player.”
Okung said he enjoys when Cowboy running backs break a play open for a big run.
“It feels great,” he said. “That just makes it less plays out there that we actually have to run.”
Not to be forgotten, Toston is entering his junior season, and he knows what he wants to accomplish.
“Personally, I’m trying to do whatever I can to put the team in a position to win,” Toston said. “But that’s the main goal: We need to get to a BCS bowl game.”
The Cowboy backfield also welcomes three freshme n to the position — Travis Miller, Taylor Sokolosky and Kye Staley, but one or more of them could be redshirted.
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