OSU: Hill must work on ball security as he steadily improves

hurt following OSU’s Big 12 opening loss. Hill’s teammates provided comfort in the visiting locker room.

Quarterback Mason Rudolph: “I told him he put us in position to win and without him, that long run, who knows if we continue the drive.”

Running back Rennie Childs: “It’s a long season ahead of us. You just have to forget about it and just keep playing the game.”

In a five-man race through fall camp to become the Cowboys’ starting tailback, Hill’s talent was undeniable. His measurables tested through the roof — a 38.5inch vertical and 4.43-second 40-yard dash — and his body of work at Tulsa Washington — 3,374 yards and 54 touchdowns his final two seasons — showed promise of things to come.

Hill carried seven times for 30 yards in the opener against Southeastern Louisiana. Five for 31 against Central Michigan. And 12 for 28 against Pittsburgh. Chris Carson’s hand injury and a run-first game plan at Baylor opened the door for big-time production. Hill capitalized with 20 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown.

“Gosh,” Rudolph said, “the runs that Justice made tonight were incredible.”

But the 18-year-old learned an important lesson Saturday.

The Cowboys work on ball security throughout practice in various forms. In team scrimmage periods, defenders are instructed to bat and scrape at the ball even after the whistle. In position work, running backs coach Marcus Arroyo breaks out a football attached to a rope. Tailbacks secure the ball and run through footwork drills while Arroyo yanks that rope mercilessly.

“We practice ball security every day,” offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said. “We’ll just practice it harder.”

Gundy hardly cushioned his critique of Hill in postgame.

“He’s a freshman, so people say, ‘Give him a break,’” Gundy said. “Well, I don’t believe in that. I believe in taking care of the ball.”

But no one in the program, Gundy included, has given up on Hill’s potential. With Childs’ 102yard rushing total Sept. 17 against Pittsburgh, Hill’s century mark gave OSU its first consecutive 100-yard rushers since Joseph Randle did it twice in 2012.

The Cowboys will need more of the same to keep their Big 12 championship hopes from dissolving altogether.

“He just needs to keep his head up,” receiver Jalen McCleskey said. “I felt like he had a pretty good game besides those two things. But he’s a great running back. I have faith in him. So if we get in the same situation, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the backfield, and I wouldn’t mind if he’s in the backfield.”