Defending the run

Texas Tech linebacker Brian Duncan tackles Oklahoma State running back Kendall Hunter at Jones AT&T Stadium on Nov. 8, 2008.

Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter, the nation’s seventh-leading rusher a year ago, might be getting up to speed just in time to face Tech.

The 5-foot-8, 197-pound junior missed five games with an ankle injury, played a little two weeks ago against Texas, and then carried nine times for 47 yards in last week’s 34-8 win at Iowa State.

“He’s the old Kendall to me,” Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said. “Quickness. Shifty. Can run. Tough inside. Tough outside.”

Last season, Hunter ran for 1,555 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Keith Toston, the Big 12 Conference’s second-leading rusher with 882 yards, made Hunter’s absence in September and October easier to withstand. Toston, a 6-foot, 214-pound senior, has three 100-yard rushing performances in the last five games, including a career-high 206 with three touchdowns last week.

“If you had to say a difference, 5 (Toston’s uniform number) is probably more of a slasher guy with speed, and Kendall’s a shifty guy with speed,” McNeill said. “But both of them really can run the football, inside the tackles and outside.”

Even without Hunter for much of the season, Oklahoma State still leads the Big 12 and ranks 20th in the nation in rushing. Tech ranks 44th in the nation in rushing defense.

Sheffield’s road back

Texas Tech quarterback Steven Sheffield returned to practice Tuesday, as Tech coach Mike Leach said he would. But Sheffield was hobbling on his surgically repaired left foot as the team left the field at the end of practice.

The Avalanche-Journal later learned Sheffield took a few snaps in the 11-on-11 team period, but the large majority went to Taylor Potts. Seth Doege, who started Tech’s last game but was replaced by Potts at halftime, didn’t get any snaps in team period, the A-J learned.

Sheffield suffered the foot fracture during Tech’s Oct. 17 victory at Nebraska, which was the second straight game Sheffield started and won.

Time set for Tech-OU

The kickoff for Tech’s Nov. 21 regular-season home finale against Oklahoma has been set for 11:30 a.m., Tech officials said Tuesday. The game will be nationally televised on FSN (Suddenlink Cable channel 20).

Compiled by Don Williams