Tulsa World: Frustrating situation for OSU's Hunter

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Frustrating situation for OSU's Hunter

This season, OSU running back Kendall Hunter has played in only one full game. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World file

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/3/2009 1:39 PM
Last Modified: 11/3/2009 2:53 PM

In his first interview since sustaining an ankle-foot injury on Sept. 12, Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter says he continues to harbor hopes of playing this season.

"It's a frustrating thing, but everything happens for a reason," Hunter said late Monday night, following OSU's practice session at Boone Pickens Stadium. His right ankle and foot were heavily wrapped.

Cowboy coach Mike Gundy has not divulged specifics of Hunter's injury, but it is believed that the junior running back sustained a right-ankle sprain and a hairline fracture of his right foot during OSU's 45-35 home loss to Houston.

At Baylor on Oct. 24, Hunter was in uniform for the first time since being injured, but did not play. Against Texas last week, he carried one time for 1 yard.

"When it first happened, I felt like it was sprained pretty bad," Hunter said. "It's an injury you have to fight through. It hurts not to be out there, but I see my teammates improving and playing good."

Last season, Hunter was the Big 12 rushing leader with 1,555 yards. He was a Football Writers Association of America first-team All-American and an All-Big 12 first-team selection.

This season, having played in only one full game (the opener against Georgia), his rushing total amounts to 105 yards. Senior Keith Toston has been OSU's primary ground-game weapon with 676 yards on 130 carries.

In each of the three previous seasons, OSU led the Big 12 in rushing. This season, Iowa State leads the conference with 200.3 yards per game. OSU is fourth

at 179.1 yards — a 67-yard drop from last season's average.

Cleared by doctors for full-speed participation, Hunter's primary issue is pain tolerance. Whether he plays on Saturday, when the 18th-ranked Cowboys visit Iowa State, probably won't be determined until pregame warm-ups.

"Kendall wants to play," Gundy said on Sunday. "He has continued to get a little better each week. He has practiced. Hopefully, he'll be in less pain this week.

"I don't think he'll play at any time this season without feeling some sort of pain in that foot. That's just my guess. Hopefully, it will lessen as he progresses."

During Hunter's junior season at John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas, he sustained a fractured right foot. In the 11th game of the 2008 season — a 30-17 victory at Colorado — he sustained a left-knee injury that eventually required minor surgery.

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS

Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Hunter still hopes to contribute," which was published on 11/4/2009. So far, 11 comments have been made.

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