Oklahoma State University Athletics
Justice Hill Ready to Lead Cowboy Offense on the Ground
March 29, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State has built a reputation for deep passes and national award winning receivers, but for the first time in years, OSU's headline player heading into the season is not a quarterback or wide receiver.
That role now belongs to junior running back Justice Hill.
Fresh off a season where he led the Big 12 in rushing with 1,467 yards, Hill was a national semifinalists for the 2017 Doak Walker Award and a first team All-Big 12 selection on the A.P. and coaches teams. Even more impressive, he did all that while playing on the nation's No. 1 passing offense.
However, Hill's outstanding season was almost overshadowed by a Heisman candidate quarterback and Biletnikoff-winning wide receiver.
Heading into 2018, Hill takes the reins as the face of the Cowboy football team and his list of accolades places him among a select few of running backs in the country.
His 2,609 career rushing yards rank seventh among all active players in the nation and are first among juniors who play in Power Five conferences. His 14 career 100-yard rushing games ties for third among all active FBS players returning in 2018 and rank second among running backs from the Power Five conferences.
On top of that, Hill is one of only seven players in Oklahoma State history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons and is one of only four OSU running backs – the others being Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas and Terry Miller – to average at least 100 rushing yards per game in their respective careers (minimum 20 games).
Add it all together and Hill is an early strong candidate to win the 2018 Doak Walker Award, as well as the best returning running back in the conference and maybe the biggest key in the Oklahoma State offense.
Not just OSU fans think highly of Hill, though. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg recently polled Power Five coaches from around the country on the offenses in college football, and one anonymous coach said, "He's the best running back in the country coming back. Dude is a freak show."
It's probably not a stretch to say that there are more than just one coach who shares those thoughts, too.
Besides his own ability and skillset, Hill's season has even more promise considering the depth in the Cowboy backfield. Hill will lead a group that includes the powerful J.D. King, the quick-footed LD Brown and Canadian speedster Chuba Hubbard, who are all special talents in their own right.
With a supporting cast like that, Hill should have the chance to stay fresh most of the season and share the workload. The spring practice session will be the first place to explore what that looks like before the first game.
If the past has been any indicator though, 2018 could be a special season for the junior out of Tulsa. We'll find out in the fall, as the Cowboys open the season Sept. 1 against Missouri State in Boone Pickens Stadium.
That role now belongs to junior running back Justice Hill.
Fresh off a season where he led the Big 12 in rushing with 1,467 yards, Hill was a national semifinalists for the 2017 Doak Walker Award and a first team All-Big 12 selection on the A.P. and coaches teams. Even more impressive, he did all that while playing on the nation's No. 1 passing offense.
However, Hill's outstanding season was almost overshadowed by a Heisman candidate quarterback and Biletnikoff-winning wide receiver.
Heading into 2018, Hill takes the reins as the face of the Cowboy football team and his list of accolades places him among a select few of running backs in the country.
His 2,609 career rushing yards rank seventh among all active players in the nation and are first among juniors who play in Power Five conferences. His 14 career 100-yard rushing games ties for third among all active FBS players returning in 2018 and rank second among running backs from the Power Five conferences.
On top of that, Hill is one of only seven players in Oklahoma State history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons and is one of only four OSU running backs – the others being Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas and Terry Miller – to average at least 100 rushing yards per game in their respective careers (minimum 20 games).
Add it all together and Hill is an early strong candidate to win the 2018 Doak Walker Award, as well as the best returning running back in the conference and maybe the biggest key in the Oklahoma State offense.
Not just OSU fans think highly of Hill, though. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg recently polled Power Five coaches from around the country on the offenses in college football, and one anonymous coach said, "He's the best running back in the country coming back. Dude is a freak show."
It's probably not a stretch to say that there are more than just one coach who shares those thoughts, too.
Besides his own ability and skillset, Hill's season has even more promise considering the depth in the Cowboy backfield. Hill will lead a group that includes the powerful J.D. King, the quick-footed LD Brown and Canadian speedster Chuba Hubbard, who are all special talents in their own right.
With a supporting cast like that, Hill should have the chance to stay fresh most of the season and share the workload. The spring practice session will be the first place to explore what that looks like before the first game.
If the past has been any indicator though, 2018 could be a special season for the junior out of Tulsa. We'll find out in the fall, as the Cowboys open the season Sept. 1 against Missouri State in Boone Pickens Stadium.
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
