 "Photo: The Associated Press")
The big three. The triplets. Quarterback, running back, wide receiver. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. A nightmare for opposing defenses.
Oklahoma State hopes their big three — quarterback Zac Robinson, running back Kendall Hunter and receiver Dez Bryant — add up to a first place atop the big three in the Big 12 South this season.
Tough Texas Tech was apart of the big three-way tie atop the Big 12 South last season, the Cowboys figure to ride their trio of offensive standouts to a strong finish this year. But somewhere in the equation to win a share of the Big 12 South title, the Cowboys must find a way to beat either Oklahoma or Texas — something they haven’t done since coach Mike Gundy took over the Oklahoma State program.
The last time triplets talk took over Stillwater, Gundy was the Cowboy’s quarterback, the running back was Barry Sanders, and the receiver, Hartley Dykes, rounded out the Cowboy’s offensive triumvirate.
“We’re very excited about our group of triplets,” Gundy said.
Hunter may not be Sanders, but he was the Big 12’s leading rusher last season, averaging 119.6 yards a game and out rushing his nearest competitor by nearly 30 yards a game. In his short two-season career, Hunter has made his name as a quick, explosive back averaging 6.5 yards-per-carry.
“It’s hard to compare anybody to Barry Sanders,” Gundy said. “Kendall Hunter is very good. It’s hard to get anybody in the country like him. But a future hall of famer is difficult to compare to.”
At receiver, Dez Bryant was dominant in 2008, catching 87 passes for 1480 yards and averaging 17 yards per reception. His 19 touchdown receptions last season ranked him second in the nation.
And he doesn’t limit his explosive speed to receiver, Bryant is also a special teams wiz, returning two punts for touchdowns last season while ranking third in the nation in average yards per return.
“Hartley Dykes, Don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone like him at this level,” Gundy said. “Dez Bryant is special, tremendous strength, great hands, great leaping ability. Fearless. Great competitor.”
And while Gundy may not take Robinson’s favorite target over his favorite, he has zero doubt about who is the better quarterback.
“The quarterback spot, I’m not sure there’s much of a comparison. If I could go back and recruit, I’d recruit Zac Robinson, and I wouldn’t recruit Mike Gundy,” Gundy said. “His ability to make a play running the football is tremendous. His durability, much bigger and stronger.”
The only thing holding the three back is the Cowboys’ much maligned defense. But Gundy is working to improve that, hiring Bill Young to take over the defense. Young, a Oklahoma State graduate, made his name coordinating defenses at Ohio State, Oklahoma and USC.
“We’ve got a number of players on the offensive side of the ball that everybody’s aware of, that we’re really excited about what they’ll do this fall,” Gundy said, “Even more so on the defensive side of the ball. Our new coordinator Bill Young and our defensive players Andre Sexton and Perrish Cox and Derek Burton and Pat Lavine and those guys are excited to improve defensively and play better football.”
If Oklahoma State can win at home — eight of their 12 games are at T. Boone Pickens Stadium — the triplets might nab a BCS bowl berth. But in a loaded division, it won’t be as easy as 1, 2, 3.
“Unfortunately, we’re one of the few teams that can be in the top ten in most polls across the country and be third in our division,” Gundy said.
Team name: Oklahoma State Cowboys
Head coach: Mike Gundy
Conference: Big 12
2008 record: 9-4
Key Players:
- Zac Robinson —Senior — QB
2008: 3,064 yards passing, 25 touchdowns passing, 166.84 rating
This talented signal caller can run the option with Kendall Hunter, or find and hit the speedy Dez Bryant on the run. - Kendall Hunter — Junior — RB
2008: 1555 yards rushing, 17 touchdowns, 6.5 yards-per-carry
The Big 12’s best running back uses explosive speed to break open games.
Game to watch: Sept. 5 v. Georgia in Stillwater, Okla. (ABC)
The word on Oklahoma State: The triplets are good, but the question again is their defense. Will it be good enough to finally stop Oklahoma and Texas’ dominance of the Big 12 South?
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