Oklahoma State football: All-purpose yardage leaders

I blogged about all-purpose yardage last week and ran the numbers for OU. So this week, let’s talk OSU all-purpose yardage, courtesy of OSU historian Chris Putnam.

The Cowboys have some serious all-purpose numbers. Remember, all-purpose yardage is rushing, receiving, kickoff and punt returns, interception and fumble returns.

Here are the top five Cowboy career leaders in all-purpose yardage:

1. Thurman Thomas 5,571: 4,595 rushing, 598 receiving, 235 on kickoff returns, 143 on punt returns. What a ballplayer. If Pat Jones had it to do over, I think he would utilize Thomas’ receiving skills more.

2. Barry Sanders 5,130: 3,556 rushing; 164 receiving; 1,029 on kickoff returns; 381 on punt returns. I don’t remember Sanders returning punts. I’ll bet that was scary for opponents.

3. Terry Miller 4,888: 4,581 rushing, 9 receiving, 298 on kickoff returns. Nine yards receiving in a four-year career for an every-down tailback. Man, football has changed.

4. Kendall Hunter 4,840: 4,181 rushing, 519 receiving, 140 on kickoff returns. Often overlooked in the discussion off great OSU tailbacks, but Hunter was one.