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Former OSU Quarterback Rusty Hilger Dies at 57

Hilger was the QB of OSU’s first ever 10-win team.

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[Credit: OSU Athletics]

Former Oklahoma State quarterback Rusty Hilger, a mainstay of the Cowboy backfield in the early 1980s, has passed away. He was 57 years old.

Hilger was a three-year letterman for Oklahoma State 1981, 1983 and 1984, playing for Pat Jones and Jimmy Johnson. He was the signal-caller of OSU’s first ever 10-win team in 1984.

Hilger set single-season school records for pass completions, pass attempts and passing yards in 1984 and remains in the top 10 in school history for career pass attempts, career pass completions, career passing yards and career completion percentage. He was drafted by the Raiders in 1985.

Hilger passed away in the Los Angeles area, according to his former coach, Pat Jones. His health had been in decline in recent years.

Hilger arrived at OSU as a lightly-recruited Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, but proved to be one of the most monumental OSU recruits of the 80s. In his recruiting class, he was given the 30th and final scholarship — a decision that paid off 10 times over. He threw for nearly 4,000 yards and scored 30 times during his Cowboys tenure before enjoying a professional career from 1985 through 1992 with the Raiders, Lions, Colts and Seahawks.

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