The West Virginia Mountaineers have struggled a bit on defense this year.
After such an impressive start to the season, the team has faltered and now will have another big test on its hands with Joseph Randle and the Oklahoma State Cowboys coming up on Saturday.
Randle has been terrific this season, racking up 934 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on only 175 carries. He's also proven to be a duel-threat, with 21 catches on the year.
Some have starting comparing the star to another Oklahoma State great, NFL Hall-of-Famer Thurman Thomas.
Head coach Mike Gundy feels those people aren't too far off base, according to the Charleston Daily Mail.
"I think it's fair," said Cowboys Coach Mike Gundy, who played quarterback at the school when Thomas starred in the backfield. "I don't know if it's ever fair to compare a guy to a NFL Hall of Famer. That could be a little unjust. But at this point in his career, Thurman was effective in the same areas Joseph Randle is."
The junior is leading the Big 12 in rushing with an astonishing 116.75 yards per game. It will be an intriguing match-up to watch because despite West Virginia's poor defensive play, it actually ranks 32nd in the country.
Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen knows all about Randle's talents, having coached him as a coordinator in 2010.
"Joseph Randle is a fantastic football player," Holgorsen sad. "He's one of my favorite kids I've ever coached even though I only had him one year as a true freshman. It means a lot to him. He lives it."