Gundy comfortable with workload for Hubbard
STILL WATER—At this time a year ago, Mike Gundy talked about keeping Oklahoma State's star running back limited to about 15 touches per game.
Fans cringed, knowing Justice Hill's ability could be a make-or-break factor in some Cowboy games. Gundy's goal was to have Hill healthy toward the end of the season, which ultimately backfired when Hill — averaging 17.1 touches over 10 games — was lost for the season to injury.
With Hill off to the NFL, and Chuba Hubbard set to fill his shoes, Gundy doesn't see as much concern with Hubbard's workload.
“It's a little different. Chuba's hopefully got a little more meat on him, and might be able to get a few more carries during the game,” Gundy said of his 6-foot-1, 207-pound sophomore speedster.
Of course, Gundy would prefer to not test his theory this week, when the Cowboys open the season at Oregon State at 9: 30 p.m. Friday in Corvallis, televised by FS1.
And he surely hopes he doesn't have to use his budding star the two weeks after — against McNeese State and Tulsa.
“If we play teams that we' re way ahead, I' m gonna take the starting running back out,” Gundy said. “Plus, the other guys need to play. If we're ahead
by 21 points, why would I put the best running back in there and take a chance of getting hit from the side, when the other guys need to play? I just don't believe in that.”
But the latter weeks of September bring games against Texas and Kansas State, where Hubbard's physicality will be tested.
That was t he biggest question about Hubbard when he arrived from Sherwood Park in Alberta, Canada. Back then, he was a lean, 190-pound track star with blinding speed on wide-open Canadian football fields.
He spent his redshirt year bulking up and disproving the stereotype that a sprinter couldn't take the between-the-tackles banging.
“I think he proved to us last year at the end of the year that he could be a pretty physical football player, because he played against good teams late and he did a nice j ob,” Gundy said of Hubbard's 100-yard games against Oklahoma, West Virginia and Missouri over the final four games.
During that stretch, Hubbard had 76 carries — of his 128 for the season — and 13 receptions for an average of 22.3 touches per game. The result was 535 yards from scrimmage.
Running backs coach John Wozniak is excited about what he's got in his position group, with Hubbard at the front.
“It's hard to lose Justice Hill and f eel awesome, but that considered, I feel pretty good,” Wozniak said. “Chuba would be the first one to tell you he's got a lot of work to do. He's started three games.
“But he's got the right mix of size, speed and toughness.”