Oklahoma State University Athletics
2002 Oklahoma State Football Outlook
July 24, 2002 | Cowboy Football
July 24, 2002
2002 Cowboy Football.......Preseason Outlook
Cowboys Ride Two-Game Winning Streak into New Season
An old friend might be riding with Oklahoma State when the Cowboys open the 2002 season against Louisiana Tech.
That old friend is momentum and it saddled up with the Pokes at the end of the 2001 schedule with back-to-back victories over Baylor and Oklahoma.
So, for the just the second time since 1988, OSU will go into a season riding a two-game winning streak.
But the Pokes have more than just momentum on their side as the 2002 season unfolds. Second-year head coach Les Miles has a stable of talented players on offense, defense and special teams.
After steady and season-long improvement a year ago, OSU went through a tough and productive spring and attacked off-season workout schedule like a team on a mission. That mission is to put Oklahoma State back in a bowl game and compete for the South Division title in the rugged Big 12 Conference.
To say the Cowboys enter the 2002 season battle-tested would be an understatement. The 19 starters and 38 lettermen from 2001 are returning from the demands of one of the toughest schedules in the country.
O-State's 2001 football campaign was one of perseverance.
The Cowboys endured more than their share of trials during the past season but showed a resilience through the tough times and a resolve throughout the season to improve with each game.
OSU's 2001 hardships included a string of tough losses to some of the best teams in the country. An eight point loss on opening day at Southern Miss was followed by a 21-7 loss at nationally ranked Texas A&M, an overtime loss to Missouri and a three-point loss to eventual Big 12 champion Colorado.
Through each disappointment, Les Miles and his troops maintained their focus on the ultimate goal which was to end the season a better team than they were at the start.
Mission accomplished.
Oklahoma State finished the season with back-to-back road games against Baylor and defending national champion Oklahoma and the Cowboys ended the season with back-to-back wins, including a 16-13 victory in Norman.
Riding the momentum of the two-game winning streak and a very successful recruiting season, the Cowboys are set for year number two under Miles, a year they hope is the continuance of a springboard to success for OSU football.
When the Cowboys open fall drills they will do so with 37 returning lettermen from 2001. Included among the 37 lettermen coming back are 18 starters; eight on each side of the football and a pair of specialists.
Consider what is in the OSU arsenal for 2002.
OSU Offense:
Woods and Overall Depth Provide Explosive Look for 2002
On offense, Oklahoma State returns its top eight rushers, top two passers and every player that caught a pass during the 2001 season. In addition, the Cowboys will return the top eight scorers, including kicker Luke Phillips, a preseason All-Big 12 and Lou Groza Award candidate.
The OSU offense must start with wide receiver Rashaun Woods. The best receiver in the Big 12, if not the nation, is a preseason All-America and All-Big 12 candidate and should be considered for the Biletnikoff Award, annually given to the nation's top pass catcher.
All Woods did a year ago was catch 80 passes for 1,023 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 80 receptions is a new OSU single-season record and his 1,023 yards is the second-most single season receiving yards in Cowboy Football history.
Also returning are T.D. Bryant, who had 368 yards and John Lewis, the speedster who had 455 yards and a touchdown last year. In all, Oklahoma State had seven players who caught 12 or more passes last year and all are back for 2002.
Like it always is, a lot of attention will be turned to the quarterback position. Two-year starter Aso Pogi is back as is sophomore Josh Fields who gained valuable and extensive playing time a year ago.
Pogi went through spring drills despite suffering significant injuries in a December automobile accident. While somewhat limited, he was sharp at times and showed he will be up the challenge when two-a-days begin.
Fields answered the bell for the Cowboys in the final two games of the season when Pogi suffered an injury in the Baylor game. All the Stillwater product did was lead OSU to a 38-22 win over the Bears, while also engineering a 16-13 win over the fourth-ranked team in the country in the season finale. He was named to The Sporting News' All Big 12 Freshman squad at the end of the year.
Fields played in six games and finished with 451 passing yards and three touchdowns. Pogi, who played in all 11 games, completed 179 of 296 passes for 1,854 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Oklahoma State's running game returns in tact for 2002. Tailback Tatum Bell led the Cowboys with 197 carries and 776 yards. Bell scored six touchdowns and averaged nearly four yards per carry. Also back are Mike Denard, Tim Burrough and Greg Jones. All are capable ball carriers and will play significant roles this fall. Add sophomore Seymore Shaw to the running back mix and you get talent and depth and that's important as the Cowboys fight through the Big 12 schedule.
The tight end spot is also an important part of the Oklahoma State offense and when preseason practice begins, OSU coaches will welcome a lot of talent to that position. Billy Bajema made an impact last year as a true freshman and will have every opportunity to win that spot in 2002. He played in eight games last year and had four catches. A bigger, stronger Bajema could prove invaluable to an important offensive position. Jesse Jackson is expected to provide depth at the position.
If graduation left a hole in the OSU offense, it will appear on the offensive line. Gone are starters Jeff Machado (LG), Jon Vandrell (C) and Bryan Phillips (RG). The Cowboys will return starters Kyle Eaton (LT) and Jason Russell (RT). Both Eaton and Russell played extensively in 2001. Returning to help fill the vacant spots are Sam Mayes (6-4, 330), Dustin Vanderhoof (6-4, 305) and Jon Hayhurst (6-3, 290).
Junior college transfer Sam Hall appears to have won the job at center during spring drills. Hall is an outstanding player who automatically gives the Cowboy a boost up front.
OSU Defense:
Eight Starters Return to Bolster Cowboy Defense
On defense, OSU loses its top tackler and perhaps most consistent performer in linebacker Dwayne Levels. Returning however, are eight of OSU's top 11 tacklers from a year ago, the top three leaders in quarterback sacks and five defenders who had at least one interception.
Across the front, Oklahoma State returns all four starters. LaWaylon Brown (6-5, 305) returns at noseguard with Kevin Williams (6-5, 290) at tackle and Greg Richmond (6-2, 240) and Khreem Smith (6-3, 245) at the ends.
Brown had 47 tackles for the Pokes last year with six of those coming behind the line of scrimmage and four others quarterback sacks. Kevin Williams had 36 total tackles but led the team with 11 tackles behind the line. Five of Williams' stops were quarterback sacks and he had a team-leading four pass deflections.
Talent also returns along the defensive front with Clay Coe (6-2, 270), Mike Williams (6-0, 280) and Kyle Beck (6-3, 235).
While OSU coaches must fill the void left by the departure of Levels, they must also deal with the loss of Robbie Gillem and Ron Able who were steady performers at linebacker. The lone returning starter at linebacker, however, is a good one. Terrence Robinson (6-1, 230), was the third-leading tackler on the OSU defense a year ago with 75 total stops. He had 10 tackles for losses, two sacks and led the team with five quarterback hurries.
In the secondary, Oklahoma State returns three players who were in the starting lineup in the 2001 finale at Oklahoma. Veteran Chris Massey (WS), talented Elbert Craig (S) and freshman Darrent Williams (LCB) all return for 2002.
Massey is the veteran of the group and one of the most talented and versatile players on the squad. A year ago, he had 46 tackles and an interception. He's a hard worker who is focused on making his senior season a memorable one.
Craig, who has become one of the anchors of the Cowboy secondary in just two seasons, fought through a late-season injury and returns as one of the top young defenders in the Big 12. His 2001 statistics included 98 total tackles and was second only to Levels on the Cowboy defense.
Williams made an impact as a true freshman and should be even better in 2002. He broke into the starting lineup against Texas and finished the season with four starts. He also finished the season with two interceptions, both of which came against Baylor. This young player certainly has the talent to become one of the best players in the league with the majority of his career ahead of him.
OSU must replace the departed Marcus Jones (SS) and Paul Jones who started the final two games of 2001 at right corner as well as Roger Bombach who started five games at weak safety. Ricklan Holmes-Miller, who started seven games at right corner returns and could be a key member of the secondary. Kirk Milligan gained a starting spot against Baylor for an injured Elbert Craig and played well.
OSU Special Teams:
This Unit Could be the Best in the Big 12
One area OSU coaches point to with pride after the 2001 season are the special teams. From kick return to punt return to kick coverage to the kicking game, this unit was very special a year ago and should return to that form in 2002. Consider the following facts:
Chris Massey led the country in kickoff returns with an average of 34.8 yards on 15 returns. He had 15 returns for 522 yards, one touchdown and a long return of 97 yards.
T.D. Bryant was third in the Big 12 and 12th nationally in punt returns with an average of 13.5 yards. His 22 returns netted 296 yards with a long of 53 yards.
Luke Phillips was second in the Big 12 and 17th nationally in field goals. Phillips was 15 of 17 for the season, including a long of 52 and a five-of-six success rate from 40 yards and out.
As a team, Oklahoma State was number two nationally in kick returns with a team average of 26.8 yards on 36 returns.
As a team, Oklahoma State was number three in the Big 12 and 12th nationally in punt returns with an average of 13.3 yards on 23 returns.
The Cowboys were number one in the Big 12 and 12th nationally in net punting with an average of 42.56 yards per punt.
Special numbers by a special unit and they should be even better in 2002.
