Hill gets back on track against Jayhawks
Recognizing that the workload Justice Hill had been given through the first quarter of the season was not nearly enough, Oklahoma State got its lead rusher cranking.
The shifty junior entered the Sept. 29 game at Kansas averaging just 11 carries per game, but against the Jayhawks, Hill gained 189 yards on 31 attempts in a 48-28 win as the Cowboys climbed to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the Big 12 and back into the rankings at No. 25. Oklahoma State plays host to Iowa State (1-3, 0-2) on Saturday.
“Rhythm is important to a running back,” said Hill, who cracked the 3,000-yard mark for his career with his 18th 100-yard game. “Not every run is going to break out as a big run, so you’ve got to keep pounding it down there. The more you run it, you get a rhythm and you get a good feel for it.”
Hill’s lack of touches in a lopsided loss to Texas Tech to begin Big 12 play was understandable since the Cowboys were playing catch-up. Also, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy stressed the need to keep Hill from wearing down with less of a workload.
Still, it became obvious after the Texas Tech defeat that Hill needed to factor more into the Oklahoma State attack, in part to make the Cowboys more diverse while breaking in a first-year starter at quarterback, fifth-year senior Taylor Cornelius.
The Cowboys mounted touchdown marches on their first three possessions at Kansas and Cornelius passed just six times. Three of his throws, however, resulted in touchdowns.
Balance is also an ingredient Gundy often stresses and the Cowboys typically achieve. Comment all you want about how they rolled against a conference doormat, but Kansas leads the nation in turnover margin and had displayed considerable promise and progress on defense.
“(Hill) was hard to tackle,” said Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. “A lot of times, the safety was in the box and sometimes … we’re going to give it to a guy whose probably better than the guy who’s coming down in the box. That’s what he is.”
Hill also happens to be the reigning Big 12 rushing king. Despite limited touches, he leads the Big 12 with 577 rushing yards and six touchdowns, averaging 7.5 yards per carry.
Just as encouraging for the Cowboys was the response of sophomore Landon Wolf as an inside receiver after senior Jalen McCleskey told the Oklahoma State staff of his intentions to transfer after four games, capitalizing on a new redshirt rule imposed by the NCAA.
Wolf led the Cowboys with six receptions for 116 yards against Kansas, the best performance by an Oklahoma State inside receiver this season.
Cornelius fired for 312 yards while attempting just 20 passes and completing 15. The run game added 256 yards, a necessary boost considering Iowa State allows just 3.2 yards per rush, second in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma State (3.1). The Cowboys lead the nation with a whopping 24 sacks.
That pressure, led by end Jordan Brailford, is sometimes achieved with blitzes as Oklahoma State and first-year coordinator Jim Knowles is willing to take chances with its inexperienced back end.