Published: September 30, 2008 09:48 am            

Hunter and Toston lead conference

Sophomore rushing star Kendall Hunter has to share the spotlight with another Cowboy now.

Hunter is representing Oklahoma State as No. 1 player in the Big 12 in rushing, and after his 114-yard game against Troy University, junior Keith Toston sits in the second slot for running yards in the league.

Toston said the achievement was news to him as late as Monday about noon.

"I didn't know it until I went down to eat and somebody asked me how it feels to be No. 1 (Hunter) and No. 2 in Big 12 rushing, but before then I didn't really know," he said.

Not only do Hunter and Toston sit atop the Big 12 rushing list together, but also they have a relationship off the football field.

"We go places together most of the time and joke around with each other," Hunter said.

Toston said the running back trio — himself, Hunter and junior Beau Johnson — have a great connection in the game, which he appreciates.

"We're real close, all three of us, and with the type of offense that we run, it's more fast-paced, so it's real hard to actually have just one running back," he said. "I don't know how it would work out if we had just one, but we have the pleasure of having three running backs that could be starting at another school."

Hunter said the three of them have a good time running the ball.

"It really is fun because we play around a lot, but we also take care of our business and know what we have to do," he said.

Junior wide receiver DeMarcus Conner said it's exciting to work with the talented running backs.

"He's just coming back from a knee injury from last year, so it's great to see Toston come back out there and play like he is, run the ball like he does, running people over, making people miss, and to see Kendall in there too at the same time, we've got some great running backs," Conner said.

Coach Mike Gundy said Toston learned a good life lesson from his knee injury.

"It can become kind of a downer for an athlete," he said. "It's almost like a birddog. If you never take him hunting, they just mope around all the time because they like to hunt. It's the same thing for an athlete because they like to play, and he lost that for a while, but he's really reached down deep and done a nice job. I think he learned a good lesson in life there."

Conner added that, although Hunter is the quiet guy on the team, Toston is "the laugh of the day" and is always joking with his teammates.

Gundy said he's seen Toston's loose side as well.

"Keith has always got something to say," he said. "He's a ladies man, and that's his deal."



OSU-MU picked up by ESPN

Oklahoma State's Oct. 11 game against the Missouri Tigers will be nationally televised, the Big 12 Conference announced.

The Columbia, Mo., match-up between the undefeated teams will be broadcast at 7 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2. An official announcement about which network will televise the game will be made Sunday.

OSU's most recent TV appearance was its season-opening victory against Washington State on Fox Sports Net. The Cowboys' previous ESPN appearance was in 2006 in the PetroSun Independence Bowl when Oklahoma State defeated Alabama.

        

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