J.D. King Will Do ‘Whatever It Takes’ to Improve

J.D. King announced his presence at OSU with a bang, or rather with a dash.

He broke through a single level of Tulsa defenders and gassed it 71 yards for his first collegiate score in his first collegiate game. But since then, Justice Hill’s backup has made a name more for running over would-be tacklers than past them.

J.D. King doesn't subtweet. pic.twitter.com/w9Ib8RCVtD

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King finished his premiere season with a respectable 469 yards on 99 carries and four scores, behind only OU’s Trey Sermon and Baylor’s John Lovett among Big 12 freshmen — both of which started multiple games last year. King played second fiddle to the Big 12’s leading rusher Hill all 13 games.

But with an even deeper and more talented running back rotation in 2018, King hasn’t done as much truck-sticking thus far. He is still second among Cowboy tailbacks in carries but only fourth in total rushing yards with some chunk plays from Chuba Hubbard and LD Brown placing them ahead of the true sophomore.

In the last two games King has totaled just six carries for 10 yards. His three rushes against Kansas represented 1/10 of Hill’s workload, who turned in the second-highest rushing output of his career.

But King understands that touches may be sporadic when you’re biding your time behind one of the all-timers at your position in school history.

“I just get to play with and behind one of the greatest running backs in the game every time I step on the field,” King said.

Down the stretch last year his workload dwindled as the gavel fell. Over the last five games of 2017, King only carried the rock 10 times for 24 yards, including an 0-for while Justice took on the entire Sooner defensive front in Bedlam.

But watching Hill, who may very well be halfway through his swan song in Stillwater, has helped prepare King for a time when he might be handed the keys to OSU’s ground game.

“He motivates me, and the rest of the young running backs to try to be as good as him,” King said of Hill. “He has so much character about him. He doesn’t just walk the walk, but he talks the talk.”

There’s still plenty of football to be played and King is staying ready. Whether its power cleaning the weight equivalent of one side of his offense line during the offeseason or expanding his repertoire to an able receiver — he leads the RB group with 82 receiving yards and two scores through the air — King says he just wants to get better.

“If you’re strong in the weight room, you are strong on the field,” King said. “I want to be a good football player, so I do whatever it takes to be a good football player.”