For all intents and purposes, 2009 has been a wasted year for Kendall Hunter.
Hampered by a foot injury throughout, the Oklahoma State running back has rushed for just 288 yards a year after rushing for over 1,500 yards and earning first-team All-Big 12 honors.
The end of the regular season has been a blessing for Hunter, though, as it allowed the back to rest the injured foot. The rest has apparently worked wonders as one source told Tulsa World that Hunter is “close to the old Kendall.”
Head coach Mike Gundy seems to agree.
“I feel like Kendall is close to 100 percent now,” Gundy said. “Just watching him in the last couple of practices, I feel like he’s more confident than he’s been in the last 2 1/2 months.”
A healthy Hunter would help immensely in OSU’s bowl game against Ole Miss, and Gundy is hoping a strong performance from the young back will be a springboard to a return to his 2008 form in 2010.
“I’d like to see him play well in this game,” Gundy said. “And then have a good start to the off-season.”
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