Oklahoma State football: RB Joseph Randle carrying the load for the Cowboys

On the season, Randle ranks eighth nationally with 127.50 rushing yards per game.

So what's the key to being a durable running back? Singleton first points to fundamentals like running with toughness, balance and good pad level, so defenders bounce off the upper part of the body rather than getting to the legs. And then some runners just have an innate ability to torque their body the right way before sustaining a blow or going to the ground — that saying that a player “never takes a clean hit.”

There are plenty of looming questions surrounding the OSU offense heading into Saturday's game against the Horned Frogs. Will Wes Lunt or Clint Chelf play quarterback? And who will he throw it to?

But there is no doubt about who will spend the majority of the game in the backfield, as Randle has become Mr. Dependable in a Cowboy season marred with injuries.

“There's just those guys that don't get injured and take care of their bodies,” Singleton said. “We've been fortunate enough that Joe's been that type of guy. Knock on wood, but he's been a guy we can count on and rely on.”