Oklahoma State University Athletics
Up Close: RBs With Dana Holgorsen
May 27, 2010 | Cowboy Football
May 27, 2010
By Stefan Nolet
Since he became an offensive coordinator in 2005, Dana Holgorsen has coached five units to at least sixth in the nation in total offense.
Texas Tech named Holgorsen offensive coordinator in 2005 after he had coached the Red Raider inside receivers since 2000. He served as Tech's offensive coordinator from 2005-07 before leaving for Houston, where he held the same title but added primary play-calling responsibilities.
In his first two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Tech, the Red Raiders were sixth in the nation in total offense. In 2007, they were the second-best offense in the country.
When Holgorsen took the job at Houston, he inherited an already-potent offense but made it even more explosive. In 2008, the Cougars had the second-ranked offense in college football. Last season, they were No. 1 in total offense.
As has been well-documented, offensive success under Holgorsen has come primarily through the passing game. In five seasons as an offensive coordinator, Holgorsen's passing attacks have never ranked lower than third in the nation. In 2005, 2007 and 2009, he oversaw the nation's top-ranked aerial game.
Even with an offense that relies primarily on the pass, running backs in Holgorsen's stable have still found success, both rushing and receiving.
One thing that Holgorsen has made clear since arriving in Stillwater is that his offense is about moving the chains consistently and getting the ball in the hands of his best playmakers.
Under Holgorsen at Texas Tech in 2005, Taurean Henderson rushed for 872 yards and 17 touchdowns. He finished tied for first on the team with 67 receptions for 528 yards and five touchdowns. In 2006, Shannon Woods rushed for 926 yards and 10 touchdowns, was third on the team with 75 receptions. He added 572 receiving yards and had two touchdowns through the air.
During an injury-plagued 2007 season for Texas Tech running backs, Woods, Aaron Crawford and Kobey Lewis combined for 780 yards and 13 touchdowns. They combined for 86 catches, 523 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
In 2008, Holgorsen's first year at Houston, Conference USA named Bryce Beall freshman of the year after he rushed for 1,272 yards with 13 touchdowns. He also caught 34 passes for 496 yards and four touchdowns.
Beall's backup, Andre Kohn, rushed for 257 yards and three touchdowns. He also snagged 25 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns.
Last season, Houston used a two-back system, with Beall splitting carries with Charles Sims. Sims rushed for 698 yards and nine touchdowns while Beall finished with 670 yards and seven touchdowns.
Through the air, Sims had 70 grabs for 759 yards and a touchdown and Beall caught 32 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns. Overall in 2009, the two backs combined for an impressive 2,438 yards of total offense and 20 total touchdowns.
At OSU, Holgorsen will have first-team All-America running back Kendall Hunter in his arsenal. After being around Hunter during the spring, Holgorsen was not shy about calling Hunter the best running back he has ever been around.
As a true freshman in 2007, Hunter was a productive backup to Big 12 rushing leader Dantrell Savage, rushing for 696 yards and four touchdowns. Hunter was named a first team All-American after a sensational sophomore season that saw him rack up 1,555 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He was the Big 12 rushing champion.
Last season, Hunter suffered through an injury and played in only seven games, with much of his action coming in a reserve role to Keith Toston. He carried the ball only 89 times in 2009 for 382 yards and one touchdown.
Hunter is dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield, but has never been asked to catch passes at the rate expected under Holgorsen in 2010. Hunter's career receiving totals are 43 catches for 418 yards and two touchdowns. In Holgorsen's system, it's not unreasonable to think he could match or exceed those numbers in 2010 alone.
Hunter will be joined in the backfield by sophomore Travis Miller and redshirt freshman Jeremy Smith.
OSU has led the Big 12 in rushing each of the past four seasons and produced a 1,000 yard rusher each of the past three seasons. With Dana Holgorsen coming on board to join Hunter and the rest of the Cowboys, 2010 figures to be a banner year for total offense from the OSU backs.
