Caleb Hawkins didn’t waste much time making his mark on Oklahoma State history.
By the end of the first quarter against Kansas State on Saturday, the sophomore running back had already piled up 97 rushing yards and two touchdowns, pushing him past 1,000 yards for the season in his first year with the Cowboys. Hawkins, who played at North Texas last season, reached 1,003 yards on the day and became Oklahoma State’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Ollie Gordon II in 2023.
The Owasso, Okla., native did plenty of damage early against a Kansas State defense that came in ranked No. 103 against the run, allowing 166 yards per game. The Wildcats had also struggled to hold up against inside runs, and Hawkins and Oklahoma State’s offensive line took advantage right away.
His first-quarter burst included scoring runs of 21 and 37 yards. The second touchdown needed a replay review before it was confirmed that Hawkins had broken the plane as he went to the ground. He also ripped off a 31-yard run that set up the game’s first touchdown, a pass from quarterback Drew Mestemaker to wide receiver Justin Bowick.
Hawkins’ impact has gone beyond the ground game over the past three weeks. Coming into the matchup, he was one of four FBS players and one of two power conference players - along with Duke’s Nate Sheppard - who had reached 100 yards from scrimmage in seven games this season. He cleared that mark again in the first quarter, adding one catch for 10 yards.
That versatility has fueled a massive stretch. Over his last three games, Hawkins has totaled 600 yards rushing and receiving, with 378 on the ground and 278 through the air. He’s also found the end zone four times in that span.
With his latest milestone, Hawkins joined a long line of Oklahoma State backs who have topped 1,000 rushing yards in a season, a group that includes Thurman Thomas, Barry Sanders, Terry Miller, David Thompson, Tatum Bell, Kendall Hunter, Justice Hill and Ollie Gordon II.
He also moved up the Cowboys’ career rushing chart. Hawkins is now the 47th player in program history to reach 1,000 career rushing yards, and his 1,003 yards moved him past Rennie Childs for No. 46 on the all-time list. Childs finished with 1,001 career rushing yards from 2013-16.
Four Oklahoma State backs have gone over 4,000 career rushing yards: Thomas with 4,595, Miller with 4,582, Thompson with 4,318 and Hunter with 4,181.
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