Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Spring Preview: Wide Receivers
April 16, 2015 | Cowboy Football
A look at the Cowboy receivers
STILLWATER - Oklahoma State returns a strong pack of wideouts, some of whom have already proven themselves as playmakers on Saturdays. Wide receiver would appear to be one of OSU's greatest positions of strength entering 2015.
Back for the Cowboys are nine of their top 10 receivers from a year ago, highlighted by seniors David Glidden and Brandon Sheperd and sophomore James Washington.
Glidden led the team with 42 receptions a year ago and was OSU's most reliable target throughout the season. A quick twitch-style of player who has a fluent understanding of the offense, Glidden was recognized as the team's offensive MVP in 2014.
Sheperd led the team with 737 receiving yards last season, but while that season total may not look remarkable, it should be noted that when the Cowboys were at their best at the end of the season, Sheperd was the receiver doing the most damage. In OSU's Bedlam win at Oklahoma, Sheperd made seven receptions for 156 yards and had two touchdowns, including a critical 43-yard score in which he fought off double-coverage to make a catch, shoved one Sooner to the ground and spun off a second to march into the end zone with 4:51 left to breathe life into the Cowboys, who went on to win the game. He followed that up with a five-catch, 98-yard performance in the Cactus Bowl win over Washington in which he connected with Rudolph for another long score. Put simply, Sheperd looked every bit the part of a star receiver in OSU's last two games and rides significant positive momentum into 2015.
Though still on the front end of his career, James Washington provided ample reason for optimism as a true freshman in 2014 with 28 catches for 456 yards and a team-best six touchdown receptions. His six touchdown receptions ranked him fourth nationally among true freshmen. He did the bulk of his damage in the vertical passing game and is a good complement to Sheperd in that both have already proven their ability to make big plays on the outside. Washington turned in the most productive receiving day for a Cowboy freshman since Dez Bryant when he made four catches for 114 yards and a touchdown against a Baylor squad that entered the game ranked 14th nationally in total defense. Highlighted by a 68-yard touchdown reception, Washington's 114 receiving yards against the Bears that night were the third-most ever for an OSU freshman, trailing only Bryant's 155 yards vs. Kansas and 117 yards vs. Indiana in 2007. He joined Bryant, Marcellus Rivers and Hart Lee Dykes as the only freshmen in OSU history to post a 100-yard receiving day. Long story short, Washington can play and will likely be an important part of the Cowboy passing attack in 2015.
While Glidden, Sheperd and Washington have already earned the right to be called dangerous playmakers, OSU has a stable of other receivers who could reasonably be expected to join them in 2015, starting with juniors Marcell Ateman, Jhajuan Seales and Austin Hays.
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds with the ability to jump, Ateman has some of the raw tools needed to be a serious problem for opposing defenses on the perimeter and in the red zone, but he hasn't yet had the kind of impact that he is capable of. Now an upperclassman, Ateman is developing in his understanding of how defenses work and some of the tricks of the trade to help himself get open. With continued development in those two areas, it's not a stretch to think he can significantly improve upon his totals of 20 catches and 268 yards from last year. That said, one area where he has demonstrated the ability to be a difference-maker in games is his ability to block down the field.
Seales went into last year as the team's leading returning receiver and shouldered some of the load of expectations that came with that. But in retrospect, perhaps it was premature to heap that kind of weight on him. Seales' productivity was just average in 2014 (18 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns), but similar to Ateman, it isn't a reach to think that he could do much more in 2015. As a freshman in 2013, Seales hauled in 39 receptions for 571 yards and three touchdowns, so he has already shown the ability to make plays. A strong offseason could thrust Seales into more of a leadership role this fall.
Injuries made it so Hays never really got a fair chance to show what he can do in 2014. He played in 10 games and finished with nine receptions for 57 yards, but those numbers don't do justice to the kind of impact that he can have when healthy. Consider that as a true freshman in 2012, Hays made 29 receptions for 394 yards and two touchdowns. He lost almost all of 2013 to injury and was a shadow of himself in 2014. If he can stay healthy, Hays can make a significant difference for the Cowboy receiving corps, not just on the stat sheet, but also because of his ability to block and because of the fact that he can factor prominently into the depth of the position group with his ability to play all of the receiver positions within the framework of OSU's offense.
A player who did not receive much attention last season but who should not be dismissed heading into 2015 is Chris Lacy. Lacy is remarkably smart and has some of the tools needed to be a player. Others who will get some reps in the offseason and have a reasonable chance to warrant some playing time in games include redshirt freshman Keenen Brown, junior C.J. Curry, redshirt freshman Cole Neph and senior Kameron Doolittle.
The Bottom Line
Oklahoma State has plenty of good options at wide receiver and does not want for much in this area. The Cowboys have proven playmakers on the outside and in the slot. As the offensive line and quarterback play improved late last year, the talent of the receivers - most notably Brandon Sheperd - came to the fore. It's reasonable to expect increased production from this group in 2015.
Back for the Cowboys are nine of their top 10 receivers from a year ago, highlighted by seniors David Glidden and Brandon Sheperd and sophomore James Washington.
Glidden led the team with 42 receptions a year ago and was OSU's most reliable target throughout the season. A quick twitch-style of player who has a fluent understanding of the offense, Glidden was recognized as the team's offensive MVP in 2014.
Sheperd led the team with 737 receiving yards last season, but while that season total may not look remarkable, it should be noted that when the Cowboys were at their best at the end of the season, Sheperd was the receiver doing the most damage. In OSU's Bedlam win at Oklahoma, Sheperd made seven receptions for 156 yards and had two touchdowns, including a critical 43-yard score in which he fought off double-coverage to make a catch, shoved one Sooner to the ground and spun off a second to march into the end zone with 4:51 left to breathe life into the Cowboys, who went on to win the game. He followed that up with a five-catch, 98-yard performance in the Cactus Bowl win over Washington in which he connected with Rudolph for another long score. Put simply, Sheperd looked every bit the part of a star receiver in OSU's last two games and rides significant positive momentum into 2015.
Though still on the front end of his career, James Washington provided ample reason for optimism as a true freshman in 2014 with 28 catches for 456 yards and a team-best six touchdown receptions. His six touchdown receptions ranked him fourth nationally among true freshmen. He did the bulk of his damage in the vertical passing game and is a good complement to Sheperd in that both have already proven their ability to make big plays on the outside. Washington turned in the most productive receiving day for a Cowboy freshman since Dez Bryant when he made four catches for 114 yards and a touchdown against a Baylor squad that entered the game ranked 14th nationally in total defense. Highlighted by a 68-yard touchdown reception, Washington's 114 receiving yards against the Bears that night were the third-most ever for an OSU freshman, trailing only Bryant's 155 yards vs. Kansas and 117 yards vs. Indiana in 2007. He joined Bryant, Marcellus Rivers and Hart Lee Dykes as the only freshmen in OSU history to post a 100-yard receiving day. Long story short, Washington can play and will likely be an important part of the Cowboy passing attack in 2015.
While Glidden, Sheperd and Washington have already earned the right to be called dangerous playmakers, OSU has a stable of other receivers who could reasonably be expected to join them in 2015, starting with juniors Marcell Ateman, Jhajuan Seales and Austin Hays.
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds with the ability to jump, Ateman has some of the raw tools needed to be a serious problem for opposing defenses on the perimeter and in the red zone, but he hasn't yet had the kind of impact that he is capable of. Now an upperclassman, Ateman is developing in his understanding of how defenses work and some of the tricks of the trade to help himself get open. With continued development in those two areas, it's not a stretch to think he can significantly improve upon his totals of 20 catches and 268 yards from last year. That said, one area where he has demonstrated the ability to be a difference-maker in games is his ability to block down the field.
Seales went into last year as the team's leading returning receiver and shouldered some of the load of expectations that came with that. But in retrospect, perhaps it was premature to heap that kind of weight on him. Seales' productivity was just average in 2014 (18 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns), but similar to Ateman, it isn't a reach to think that he could do much more in 2015. As a freshman in 2013, Seales hauled in 39 receptions for 571 yards and three touchdowns, so he has already shown the ability to make plays. A strong offseason could thrust Seales into more of a leadership role this fall.
Injuries made it so Hays never really got a fair chance to show what he can do in 2014. He played in 10 games and finished with nine receptions for 57 yards, but those numbers don't do justice to the kind of impact that he can have when healthy. Consider that as a true freshman in 2012, Hays made 29 receptions for 394 yards and two touchdowns. He lost almost all of 2013 to injury and was a shadow of himself in 2014. If he can stay healthy, Hays can make a significant difference for the Cowboy receiving corps, not just on the stat sheet, but also because of his ability to block and because of the fact that he can factor prominently into the depth of the position group with his ability to play all of the receiver positions within the framework of OSU's offense.
A player who did not receive much attention last season but who should not be dismissed heading into 2015 is Chris Lacy. Lacy is remarkably smart and has some of the tools needed to be a player. Others who will get some reps in the offseason and have a reasonable chance to warrant some playing time in games include redshirt freshman Keenen Brown, junior C.J. Curry, redshirt freshman Cole Neph and senior Kameron Doolittle.
The Bottom Line
Oklahoma State has plenty of good options at wide receiver and does not want for much in this area. The Cowboys have proven playmakers on the outside and in the slot. As the offensive line and quarterback play improved late last year, the talent of the receivers - most notably Brandon Sheperd - came to the fore. It's reasonable to expect increased production from this group in 2015.
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