Hunter's 2010 statement: When healthy, he's the Big 12's best back
Published: 12/28/2010 1:50 PM
Last Modified: 12/28/2010 1:50 PM
SAN ANTONIO -- An excerpt from a Kendall Hunter feature to be published in Wednesday's Tulsa World:
Hunter’s junior seasons at John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas, and OSU were similar in that each was shortened by a foot injury. During a 2005 high school game against North Mesquite, he sustained a gruesome injury. His foot was broken so badly and was so misshapen that the sight of it, Wickline says, caused one of the officials to become ill.
Keeath Magee, who then was John Tyler's running backs coach, remembers Hunter being in a bit of panic, demanding that the foot be taped up so that he could continue to play. Instead, Hunter was taken by ambulance to a hospital. A plate was inserted into the foot. His junior season was finished.
“After looking at the X-rays, there were questions – can we get this kid back?” Magee said. “The way Kendall came back the next year, to have a great senior season, was a testament to everything he’s about.”
When Hunter was injured during OSU's 2009 season (during the second game, a loss to Houston), it was initially believed that he had sustained a sprained ankle. As it turned out, Magee says, the John Tyler foot injury had been aggravated to the extent that Hunter would be sidelined or diminished for the rest of the season. His rushing total amounted to only 382 yards. He scored only once all season.
Hunter made a statement during in 2010 – a statement that when healthy, he was still the Big 12’s best back.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
