STILLWATER -- Barry Sanders was among the 40,108 spectators in attendance at Boone Pickens Stadium for Oklahoma State's 41-29 victory over Nebraska on Saturday.
Among the many highlights the former Heisman Trophy winner and OSU fans witnessed was the emergence of the latest entry at the school dubbed "Tailback U."
Dantrell Savage provided the stadium audience, and ABC regional television audience, little doses of Sanders and previous high-caliber OSU tailbacks. The junior-college transfer displayed speed, power, shiftiness and change-of-direction ability in gaining 117 yards on 17 carries against the Cornhuskers.
"He did a nice little spin move there like 21 (Sanders). Heck, he's actually taller than 21," OSU coach Mike Gundy said of the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Savage. "He is doing a nice job for us. He makes the big plays, but he also gives you the ability to make something when the play is not blocked right. He is giving us that. Those things he is doing, you cannot coach."
Those qualities have separated Savage from his tailback colleagues, freshman Keith Toston and sophomore Mike Hamilton, in recent weeks.
Hamilton has started seven of OSU's eight games and Toston has been a nice addition to the tailback mix. But Savage has been the closer the past few games. Savage gained 134 yards last week against Texas A&M and had a 60-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
This week against Nebraska, Savage had 64 yards on seven attempts in the fourth quarter. His 20-yard scoring run on the second play of the final quarter put OSU ahead for good at 27-23.
"It feels great," Savage said. "Now we've proven ourselves to everybody in the Big 12."
Savage still may not have proven if he's capable of being OSU's starting tailback.
The philosophy of Gundy and offensive coordinator Larry Fedora this season has been to rotate the three backs into the game and find the hot hand. Toston, after not playing last week, had 68 yards on eight carries and Hamilton only had 16 yards on five attempts.
Who opens the game is not as important as who finishes the game, in the coaches' estimation.
"He has great feet, great balance and does a good job with his vision. I can't say enough about the spark he gave us today," Fedora said. "I don't why we shouldn't continue with the hot hand."
Matt Doyle 581-8316
matt.doyle@tulsaworld.com
Online: Read other stories about OSU football and the OSU blog by writers Bill Haisten and Matt Doyle at www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra.
