Will Toben Opurum Find a Home in Kansas' Record Books Too?

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe catch passes, Jake Sharp runs, and Todd Reesing engineers both. They all score touchdowns and do so at an alarming rate by KU football standards.

Toben Opurum is the newest factor to this equation, and he has proved to be a perfect addition.

Despite playing in an offense dominated by the passing game, playing the first two games of the season behind Sharp, and running behind an offensive line that is as inexperienced as lines come, the true freshman still sits in the top 20 in the NCAA for rushing touchdowns with seven.

Of those leaders, only BYU back Harvey Unga and Pitt's Dion Lewis compete with quarterbacks that score as much as Todd Reesing (Max Hall and Bill Stull, 13 touchdowns each).

Although continuing on such a track is highly unlikely due to the imminent return of Sharp, the increasing continuity of KU's passing offense, and tougher competition on the schedule ahead, it is interesting to see Opurum's body of work so far. 

The most interesting stat is that he is currently scoring at a touchdown pace faster than KU's single-season rushing touchdown leader June Henley. In a perfect world, the current Jayhawk freshman would score at least 18 times this season; Henley scored 17 times as the focal point of KU's offense as a senior (1996).

The best part about Opurum is that he's not just a goal-line bruiser picking up easy stats. The deceptively quick, intelligent college rookie has carried the entire Jayhawk rushing load admirably in Sharp's absence, rushing for 92 yards a game in his three as a starter.

Did I mention that the former fullback excels as a blocker and has really good hands for a man his size (6'2", 230 pounds)? That is if you can call some teenager a man, of course.

Assuming Sharp returns to the lineup at full strength, in a week or two, we're probably looking at the best running back combo in KU's history. 

Clark Green and John Randle, Henley and L.T. Levine, David Winbush and Moran Norris, Gale Sayers/John Riggins/Tony Sands and anyone that lined up with them in the backfield, and even Sharp and Brandon McAnderson could all be considered the best.

None of them, however, mesh as well together or into an unrecognized role in KU's offense while still experiencing vast success like Opurum and Sharp can this year.

No matter how good or bad the current season plays out, Mark Mangino can at least be assured that he won't be left with nothing on the offensive side of the ball next season, even if Briscoe opts out of graduating.

If Kale Pick can manage games, Bradley McDougald can seize a larger role, the line continues its impressive growth, and Mangino can make reliable players out of talented newcomers like Erick McGriff and Deshaun Sands, the pieces will all be in place for Toben Opurum.

He should become the key to this team, driving the Hawks to continued success throughout his tenure.

Let's not look too far ahead, though. Driving KU through Colorado's defense tomorrow in Boulder is still the first order of business.

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