Oklahoma State University Athletics
Spring Preview: Quarterbacks
April 02, 2015 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER-- If improved play from the big men up front wasn't the primary key in Oklahoma State's offensive improvement in the final three games of 2014, then the insertion of Mason Rudolph at quarterback was. Head coach Mike Gundy was forced to pull Rudolph's redshirt leading up to the Cowboys' week-11 battle with Baylor in Waco and from that point on, Oklahoma State's offense started to look like what observers have come to expect during the Gundy era. Rudolph played Baylor's celebrated senior quarterback Bryce Petty to a standstill, then quarterbacked the Cowboys to a Bedlam win over Oklahoma in Norman when nothing short of an upset victory over the Sooners would get the Pokes into a bowl game. Then he went on to lead OSU to victory over Washington in the Cactus Bowl.
His 154.01 efficiency rating was by far the best among Oklahoma State quarterbacks last season, and he turned in an 85.1 QBR in leading the Cowboys to victory over the Huskies in the bowl game, according to ESPN. Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that he did that damage against a Washington defense that finished the season ranked second in the nation in quarterback sacks. Baylor (17th nationally in quarterback sacks) was also one of the better teams in the country at harassing opposing quarterbacks.
So what does that mean for 2015? It means that for the first time since Brandon Weeden was under center for the Cowboys, Mike Gundy has a clear-cut starter at quarterback going into the spring.
But that doesn't mean Rudolph is the only weapon in Gundy's quarterback arsenal, because senior J.W. Walsh also returns after missing most of last season to injury.
At the risk of perhaps oversimplifying things, Walsh's injury had a devastating impact on the Cowboys' offense last year. The areas where Walsh is at his best - running, extending plays and improvising - were a perfect mask to the areas where Oklahoma State's offensive line had its worst struggles. There was no clearer evidence of that than in the season-opener against Florida State. The reigning national champion-Seminoles returned nearly every significant playmaker on defense from their 2013 title team that finished the previous season as the nation's top team in scoring defense and pass defense. Yet the Noles' vaunted pass rush was slowed down dramatically and kept at bay out of respect for Walsh's ability to make plays with his feet. When Walsh was lost for the season in week two, the offensive line began to be exposed for its inability to protect a pure pocket passer in Daxx Garman or generate a straight-ahead running game, thus sending the Cowboy offense on its road to struggles.
All that said, Walsh is back for his senior year and there is perhaps no player on the roster more respected than he in the locker room. With career stats that include a .622 completion percentage, 3,130 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 5.5 yards per rush and 12 rushing touchdowns, Walsh is no charity case or locker room figurehead - he is a proven weapon that is not to be dismissed when discussing the Cowboy offense.
Joining Rudolph and Walsh at quarterback are redshirt freshman walk-on Taylor Cornelius and true freshman early-enrollee John Kolar. A native of Norman, Okla., Kolar enrolled in January and will get valuable reps on the practice field as he learns OSU's system.
The Bottom Line:
Quarterback figures to be an area of strength for Oklahoma State in 2015. Mason Rudolph created significant buzz with his work to cap the 2014 season and has earned the right to be tabbed as the starter entering the spring. Should he falter, however, the Pokes are in the capable hands of a proven playmaker in senior J.W. Walsh.
