Oklahoma State’s backup running back competition is wide open after Week 1. Eric Morris says “may the best man win” after Tre Page and Ayo Adeyi failed to separate themselves against Tulsa, leaving the Cowboys searching for a reliable option behind Caleb Hawkins.
Oklahoma State entered the season with Tre Page III listed as Caleb Hawkins' primary backup. One game into the season, Eric Morris has reopened the competition.
After neither Page nor Ayo Adeyi separated himself during the Cowboys' 24-10 loss to Tulsa, Morris was asked Tuesday where the competition for Oklahoma State's No. 2 running back currently stands. His answer couldn't have been much clearer.
"Yeah, completely open," Morris said. "Completely open. So, may the best man win."
Hawkins remains firmly established atop the depth chart after handling the bulk of Oklahoma State's workload in the opener. He carried 18 times for 79 yards while also catching six passes for 34 yards.
What happens behind him is much less certain. Page entered the opener as OSU's listed RB2 after transferring from Tarleton State, where he rushed for 839 yards and seven touchdowns on 112 carries last season.
His Oklahoma State debut didn't go according to plan. Page carried seven times for 19 yards against Tulsa and lost a fumble on a fourth-and-1 attempt during the second quarter. He didn't receive another carry afterward.
Adeyi received the other significant opportunity behind Hawkins, carrying six times for 24 yards. He also failed to convert a fourth-and-1 opportunity. Morris isn't guaranteeing Adeyi another chance against Oregon, either.
"It depends how he practices this week," Morris said when asked whether Adeyi would continue receiving carries.
That leaves Oklahoma State with an intriguing competition during practice ahead of its matchup with No. 2 Oregon.
Page remains listed as Hawkins' backup on OSU's updated depth chart, but Morris' comments suggest the position on paper doesn't guarantee anything.
There are other possibilities if neither veteran takes control. UCO transfer William Mason played three offensive snaps against Tulsa without receiving a touch, while North Texas transfer Dennis Moody III appeared on special teams.
Then there's freshman KD Jones. The former Jenks standout arrived in Stillwater after becoming the program's all-time leader with 4,742 rushing yards, 5,798 all-purpose yards and 67 rushing touchdowns.
Jones' smaller frame could factor into how quickly Oklahoma State is willing to expand his role, but the freshman gives Morris another option if the competition remains unsettled.
Whoever emerges doesn't necessarily need to replace Hawkins for extended stretches. Oklahoma State simply needs someone capable of taking enough of the workload to keep its starting running back fresh.
Hawkins accounted for 113 yards from scrimmage against Tulsa and was responsible for both missed tackles forced by OSU running backs, according to PFF data cited by Pistols Firing Blog. The Cowboys' backs combined for seven receptions, with Hawkins accounting for six of them.
That makes finding a reliable second option increasingly important as the season progresses.
Page entered Week 1 with the job. Adeyi got his opportunity. Others are waiting behind them.
And as Oklahoma State prepares for Oregon, Morris has made the situation simple. The job belongs to whoever earns it.
