Breaking Down Oklahoma State’s Running Back Rotation in 2018

The Oklahoma State Cowboys head into 2018 with tremendous depth at the skill positions on offense. Although most people acknowledge OSU’s seemingly constant wide receiver depth, the running back stable has multiple competent players who will likely contribute this coming season. Although no one can know for sure, there seem to be some certainties regarding reps and player rotation.

Justice Hill will undoubtedly be the main back. After yet another solid year, Hill will likely be relied upon more in 2018. Whether OSU will run the ball more next season is unknown, but Hill will be a major part of the offense regardless of who’s at quarterback.

The remaining backs will play, although how much, and in what order, is unclear. J.D. King had an excellent freshman campaign, as did LD Brown, and Chuba Hubbard is ready to play following a redshirt year. Ja’Ron Wilson, the freshman who carried the rock 17 times for 49 yards in 2017, is not on the 2018 spring roster.

In 2017, Hill took 64 percent of the running back carries and the number will likely be similar this coming season. King proved as an excellent change-of-pace player, à la Chris Carson lite, and carved out a role as a freshman.

Brown showed the same type of skill that King did, albeit in a small sample size, but his highest attainable number of carries is lower at OSU than it would be at most other schools. Even though Hubbard didn’t play last year, most are aware of his straight-line speed, and he will likely rack up total yardage as a returner, scat back and rotational player.

What will likely happen is Justice will get the bulk of the snaps with King and Hubbard splitting backup duty in their respective roles. The former will be the short-yardage back and the latter the speedster.

Adam Lunt and I have already talked about the possibilities Hubbard brings, which don’t necessarily take away from any of the other backs. Brown will likely find a role on special teams as a returner, as he did last year, and can also get snaps as a rotational back and in blowout situations.

There are also a number of variables that could affect the rotation. An increase in two-back personnel, for example, could get guys like King and Hubbard more involved with Hill on the field. It’s also very possible that King could contribute on the goal line and end up with a relatively small amount of yards but four or five touchdowns. Hubbard could fulfill his role with a high amount of receptions and high yards-per-touch number. We will likely know more about how the offensive coaching staff will split up reps after the spring game, but it’s still one of the more intriguing storylines for the Cowboys in 2018.