But two backs, or even three? That's the plan.
Seemingly a very doable plan, if Saturday is any indication.
Kendall Hunter and Beau Johnson spent the spring easing any concerns of filling the void left by Savage's departure. Saturday served as punctuation — an exclamation mark.
Johnson, the junior college transfer from Butler Community College, ran for 60 yards on 10 carries and added a 16-yard scoring reception for the White team.
Hunter, who ran for 696 yards as a true freshman last fall, went for 69 yards on 11 carries for the Orange.
"You saw both guys are big-play backs,” said Cowboys quarterback Zac Robinson. "Kendall Hunter can break it at any moment. Beau Johnson breaks a lot of tackles.
"And once we get Keith (Toston) back in the mix, with those three, it should be just what it was last year.”
Toston offers a third option, once he's healthy from offseason knee surgery.
Savage was a first-team All-Big 12 pick as a senior after rushing for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns. As a team, the Cowboys were the Big 12 rushing leaders.
None of the backs in OSU's tandem approach may hit the 1,000-yard mark. Still, the total could be just as productive and potent.
While neither OSU offense burned up the Pickens Stadium turf Saturday, Johnson and Hunter showed what they can do early, before taking a back seat for the rest of the evening.
On the game's opening possession, a 42-yard scoring drive for the White, Johnson accounted for 46 yards (offsetting a 4-yard loss by a receiver). Johnson ran three times for 30 yards and hauled in the TD pass from backup quarterback Alex Cate, dancing his way after taking a short toss, before bulling over defenders the final two yards into the end zone.
Johnson has drawn praise for his quick study of OSU's complicated offense. And while coaches have liked what they've seen all along, Saturday offered something extra.
"I saw a side of him today that I was excited to see,” Mike Gundy said. "He really stepped up on the showcase, out there in front of everybody and made some plays.”
So did Hunter, beginning with the following series in which he ran four times for 32 yards and added a 10-yard reception.
Hunter, exciting as a freshman, has added nine pounds of bulk this offseason.
"He'll develop more this summer,” Gundy said. "I'm expecting him the next 18 months to look a lot more like Savage. Savage was muscled up.”
Mostly, the Cowboys want Hunter and Johnson and, in time, Toston to produce like Savage.
Saturday was a start.
"And they did it with a split line, half starters and half backups,” co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer pointed out. "When you've got a team of horses, like Clydesdales, all the guys need to be pulling each other in the right direction.
"I thought the line did a tremendous job today of opening holes, but they did a better job in making people miss and getting the extra yardage and holding on to the football.”
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