Oklahoma State spring football preview: Running backs and fullbacks

In Sunday’s Oklahoman, I broke down what’s sure to be another intriguing spring quarterback competition.

That piece is going to serve as the first of a position-by-position look at the 2013 Cowboys. The series will lead right up to the start of practice on Monday.

Next up? Running backs and fullbacks.

Running backs

Who’s gone

Joseph Randle, declared following junior season for the NFL Draft
2012 stats: 274 carries, 1,417 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 28 catches, 224 yards

Who’s back

Jeremy Smith, senior
2012 stats: 70 carries, 371 rushing yards, eight touchdowns

Desmond Roland, junior
2012 stats: 46 carries, 301 yards, four touchdowns

Caleb Muncrief, sophomore
2012 stats: 14 carries, 57 yards

Who arrives for fall camp

Rennie Childs, freshman
Corion Webster, freshman

The skinny

Randle’s early departure for the NFL leaves OSU without one of its most reliable, versatile and explosive offensive weapons. But it’s long been regarded that Smith would have started on most Big 12 squads the past two seasons, and he’ll finally get his big shot as a senior. Smith is a tough, downhill runner with more speed that he gets credit for, but he must work on his pass-catching out of the backfield. Additionally, health is a concern as Smith moves into the every-down back role, as he’s missed stretches of the 2011 and 2012 season with various minor-but-nagging injuries.

The spring is also big for Roland and Muncrief, who both got spotty playing time last season but are in contention for more carries. If they don’t produce, they run the risk of being passed over by a pair of incoming freshmen in Childs and Webster.