Sat August 25, 2007 OSU's Secret Weapon: Savage isn't on anyone's Top 10 list, but his coaches think he's special By Mike Baldwin, Staff Writer STILLWATER — Sports Illustrated listed the top 20 college running backs in the nation. Oklahoma State senior Dantrell Savage didn't make the list. OSU running backs coach Curtis Luper scoffed. "Not in the top 20?” Luper said. "He's one of the top 10 backs in the country. Historically, we know who the best backs are here — Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders. Dantrell is not far from being something like that.” That's quite an endorsement. But keep in mind Luper, a running back himself at OSU in the mid-1980s, played with Thomas and Sanders. Savage's stats (820 yards) won't dazzle anyone. But the Columbus, Ga., product didn't get to pad stats against non-conference opponents. Hampered by a sprained knee suffered early in fall camp, Savage compiled only 22 carries — total — in OSU's first six games. The reason Luper and offensive coordinator Larry Fedora believe Savage is poised for a big season is his biggest games were against OSU's toughest opponents. "I'm extremely excited to see Dantrell over an entire season,” Fedora said. "Think about who he was rushing against when he got all those yards. In big games, he excelled.” Savage ran for 112 or more yards in five of OSU's final seven games. Four of his top five games were against Texas A&M, Nebraska, Texas Tech and Alabama. Savage made the most of 126 carries, which is the equivalent of half a season. Savage finished sixth in the country in yards per carry (6.51) and was third in the Big 12 in yards per game (74.5), despite missing two games and having eight carries or less in five other games. "Dantrell is unique because he can make people miss and break tackles,” Luper said. "Most backs can do one or the other. Barry and Thurman could do both. Dantrell is like that. He's explosive and is a lot stronger than people think.” Coach Mike Gundy compared Savage to two other former OSU standouts. "He's a lot like (Vernand) Morency, the way he jumps around, but Dantrell runs a 4.5, while Morency was a 6.62 guy,” Gundy said. "Morency never really ran away from anybody. He also has some similarities to Gerald Hudson. But Gerald wasn't a burner. "All I know I wouldn't trade him for anybody.” Some might think Savage is at a disadvantage playing in a spread offense, but Luper said it's actually an advantage. "Fans, even opposing teams, hear the term spread offense, and they think pass,” Luper said. "That's a misnomer. Spread is more about spreading a defense, spreading the ball around, creating multiple seams. "This offense is perfect for a back if he has great feet and great vision, because the lanes will be there. People generally take a linebacker off the field so you get less hits on the body.” Fedora's defining moment wasn't Savage's 60-yard touchdown run against A&M or a 26-yard reception off a screen pass that set up the game-winning field goal against Alabama. "A run he had on third-and-2 against Nebraska stands out,” Fedora said. "It was an iso (isolation) play. We didn't block it correctly. He got hit in the backfield three times and still picked up the first down. I knew from that point on how special he was. He can do it inside or outside.” Savage won't have to carry the load by himself. The Cowboys will rotate two, possibly three backs. Sophomore Keith Toston ran for 631 yards last season, and true freshman Kendall Hunter is expected to receive some carries. "To get 800-some yards with only 120 carries, I thought, was a pretty good accomplishment,” Savage said. "When I was hurt, a lot of people didn't think I'd make it back 100 percent, but I finished off the season great. I'm ready to go.” Neither Savage nor Luper have set goals, but it's feasible Savage could rush for more than 1,300 yards. "I see him getting 20 to 25 touches a game,” Luper said. "That's not necessarily 20 to 25 carries, that's touches, which includes receptions. That would be the perfect scenario. Give him 20 to 25 touches, and the stats will speak for themselves.” Savage is only 5-foot-9 but is a compact 190 pounds. "He's a Warrick Dunn type,” Luper said. "He's stronger than you think. He's an every-down back. If you're an every-down back in the Big 12 you can do it at the next level.” Fedora agrees. "Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars) is shorter than Dantrell,” Fedora said. "Height has nothing to do with it. Tony Dorsett played at around 175 pounds for a long time with the Dallas Cowboys. Dantrell is solid and is so shifty he rarely takes a direct hit.”