Replacing a running back whose career accolades include leading the nation in rushing, averaging over 100 yards per game for his career and ranking in the top-10 of every rushing category in the Oklahoma State record book is not easy, but that's the task ahead for the OSU backfield.
Led by senior LD Brown, the running back room at Oklahoma State is talented and deep. Cowboy fans got a glimpse of what is to come late last season when Brown, Dezmon Jackson and Dominic Richardson each took advantage of opportunities to be a workhorse while Chuba Hubbard was sidelined with an injury. Along with Hubbard, the returning trio combined to be the only Power Five team to have four running backs post 100-yard rushing games.
Along with Brown, Jackson and Richardson, the position group features Utah State transfer Jaylen Warren and freshman Zach Middleton who were both impressive during the spring game. Freshman Jaden Nixon joined fold also joined the fold this summer.
"We got a lot of dogs in there and a lot of guys who have the mentality of wanting to compete and do whatever it takes to win," Brown said. "As far as skill set, we all come with something different. I have the speed, but those guys run with power and speed as well. We're deep and that's a good thing to have."
Although he has only made one start, Brown has shown explosive ability with the ball in his hands and is one of the fastest players on the Cowboy roster. His career highlights include three 100-yard rushing games, five 50-plus yard carries, eight rushing touchdowns, more than 1,000 career rushing yards and a career average of 5.7 yards per carry. In the classroom, Brown is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 team member and is working toward a master's degree in recreation and leisure management.
In his sixth year in the program, it is his turn to lead the running backs after being used largely in a backup role behind Justice Hill and Chuba Hubbard. Earlier this summer, Brown was named as a preseason candidate for the 2021 Doak Walker Award.
"I feel like the guy they lean on for stuff," Brown said. "They watch how I do stuff and mimic me and when I talk they listen. It's a good feeling to have and a role I want to take. All of the guys in the room are unselfish so they make my job easy."
Jackson is a JUCO product who had the chance to show what he's capable of in three 2020 starts, including a 235-yard, three-touchdown day in his starting debut against Texas Tech. He finished second on the Cowboys in rushing yards last season with 547 yards.
Richardson, the third-string running back for the majority of 2020, joined in on the action in the regular-season finale, posting the second-highest single-game rushing total for a true freshman in school history with 169 yards at Baylor.
"We have a lot of talent in the backfield," Richardson said. "It's all about doing our jobs, staying focused and learning schemes."
With Warren and other backs also in the mix, Mike Gundy has said the backs will split carries in order to stay fresh for the length of the season.
Replacing the production of Hubbard alone would be difficult, but with a stable of proven backs and a healthier and more experienced offensive line, the Cowboys are ready to revamp their rushing attack.
"We want to be efficient running the football and we want to crease a couple here and there," offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn said. "Our explosive runs were higher two years ago than last year, so that's something we have to address. The tailback room is deep, so we will be fresh, and the offensive line room is deep, so if we have an injury we're not shuffling guys around. I like where we're at with the tailbacks and how they've come together with the offensive line. We've simplified the run game and it has been better for them and I look forward to it."
