Eric Morris Wants Less Caleb Hawkins— That Might Make Oklahoma State More Dangerous

Sometimes the smartest way to maximize your best player is to use him less.

That sounds backward.

Especially when that player is Caleb Hawkins.

Oklahoma State's star running back enters 2026 as one of the most exciting weapons in Eric Morris' offense. He's explosive, physical and already proved last season at North Texas that he can handle an enormous workload.

Maybe too enormous.

Hawkins carried the ball 231 times last season, far exceeding what Morris typically asks from his lead running back. And after watching that workload eventually take its toll, Morris wants to approach things differently at Oklahoma State.

That's not taking the ball away from Hawkins.

It's protecting Oklahoma State's most valuable weapon.

Here's what makes Hawkins so interesting.

Morris has produced elite offenses almost everywhere he's been.

Yet his system hasn't traditionally required one running back to carry the offense.

Ignoring shortened seasons, Morris' No. 1 running back has averaged 147 carries per year.

Hawkins had 231 last season.

Only DeAndre Washington, who had 233 carries at Texas Tech in 2015, received a larger workload among Morris' previous backs. Everyone else finished below 200.

Hawkins breaks the mold.

That's a compliment.

It also creates a challenge.

Just because a player can handle 20-plus touches every Saturday doesn't mean he should have to.

This is where last season matters.

Hawkins wasn't even North Texas' unquestioned starter immediately.

He had only 31 total snaps through the first two games before eventually exploding for 140 rushing yards, 78 receiving yards and three total touchdowns against South Alabama.

From there, Morris increasingly leaned on him.

And leaned on him.

And leaned on him some more.

Over one six-game stretch late in the season, Hawkins accumulated 155 touches.

Against Navy alone?

36 touches.

Eventually, the punishment added up.

Morris acknowledged that he probably put too much on Hawkins.

Then came the American Conference Championship Game.

Hawkins was injured early, continued battling through it and eventually fumbled while dealing with an injured arm.

Morris now looks back at that situation and recognizes his role in it.

That's important.

Good coaches don't simply remember what worked.

They remember what they should've done differently.

Morris knows Hawkins is tough enough to keep asking for the football.

His job is knowing when not to give it to him.

I loved one detail from Morris' comments.

Hawkins isn't going to tell his coach he can't go.

That's exactly what you want from your star running back.

It's also exactly why the coaching staff has to protect him.

Competitors don't voluntarily take themselves off the field.

They believe they can handle one more carry.

One more hit.

One more drive.

That's admirable.

It isn't always smart.

Sometimes the coach has to make that decision for them.

This is why the backup running back competition suddenly matters much more.

Nobody is taking Hawkins' starting job.

That's not the conversation.

Oklahoma State needs somebody capable of taking enough snaps that Morris doesn't feel compelled to ride Hawkins every possession.

Last season, North Texas' No. 2 running back finished 161 carries behind Hawkins. Morris has made clear he'd like to shrink that gap this fall.

Not because Hawkins can't handle the workload.

Because Oklahoma State shouldn't need him to.

Hawkins isn't exactly avoiding contact.

Morris specifically pointed toward his running style when discussing why Oklahoma State needs a rotation.

There are only so many collisions a running back can absorb.

And the more physical the runner, the more important workload management becomes.

You want Hawkins attacking defenders in November the same way he attacks them in September.

That becomes much harder if he's already absorbed 200 touches.

Imagine the alternative.

Instead of Hawkins entering late-season games carrying the cumulative punishment of 25-plus touches every week, Oklahoma State keeps him closer to optimal health.

Instead of using him because the Cowboys have to, Morris can deploy him strategically.

Fresh legs.

Explosive touches.

Important situations.

Then when Oklahoma State absolutely needs Hawkins to carry the offense?

Turn him loose.

That's a much better scenario.

Caleb Hawkins proved last season that he can carry a massive workload.

He doesn't need to prove it again.

Now Oklahoma State needs to prove it can win without asking him to do everything.

Finding a reliable second running back isn't about reducing Hawkins' importance.

It's about preserving it.

Because Oklahoma State doesn't need Caleb Hawkins to have 30 touches every Saturday.

It needs him healthy when the biggest Saturdays arrive.

Less Caleb Hawkins in September might mean a much more dangerous Caleb Hawkins in November.

And after what Eric Morris learned last season, that's a trade Oklahoma State should gladly make.