Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football Opens Fall Camp
July 30, 2017 | Cowboy Football
Photos
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State football team reported for fall camp Sunday, with all players accounted for prior to hosting the first official practice Sunday night.
The Cowboys checked in at noon and reported for various responsibilities in the weight room, training room and equipment room before holding their first official team meeting of camp.
Following dinner, the team went through another round of meetings before holding its first practice of the 2017 season – a two-hour workout inside the Sherman E. Smith Center wearing helmets, shorts and jerseys.
At the conclusion of practice, Coach Gundy and selected Cowboy players met with media to discuss the first day of camp. Their comments:
Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
"The schedule didn't work out for us on a Sunday because we wanted to let the guys go to church and obviously today is our check-in day so there was a lot for us to do. It was a late night for us, but I had just mentioned to the team that I thought we had an excellent practice and I'm really thrilled with some of the guys. Because of the rules and the way they are now, the guys had their helmets on and they're wearing new numbers so I'm not entirely sure who some of them are, but I thought it was really good. I thought Mason Rudolph was excellent and the guys catching it were good as well. I like the way our defense was running from a speed standpoint. We're not in pads so it's a little different today, but everyone's here, their attitudes are good and everyone is accounted for."
On Justice Hill:
"He looks good. Rob Glass came through again. He played last year at 180 pounds and I think he's 194 pounds now. He's also dropped his body fat and he looks good. Generally, that's what happens with guys who have been in our program for 12 months with Coach Glass. It's exciting to see. He feels good. He had his shoulder worked on in the offseason, but he feels better than he ever has right now."
On the receiving corps growth:
"The group that everyone already knows about looks better than what they did in the spring, and then you add a 6-foot-3 and a 6-foot-6 guy and then a couple of guys that are six feet tall and they all run really fast."
On when he would like to have an established backup quarterback:
"You would like to do it within two weeks, but I don't have think a timetable really fits in this criteria because it has to be the right guy. They're all going to get a lot of reps like you saw today. Each of them will get a lot of work and somebody is going to have to go out and make some plays because once we get into the final 10 practices before the game there is not enough reps to share at that position."
On his first impression of offensive lineman Aaron Cochran:
"He is a really big, good-looking athlete. What I've been most impressed with about Aaron is - I said this a few months ago - when he visited here he weighed about 365 pounds. We told him then that if he decided to come to Oklahoma State he was really going to have to trim down because of the style of offense that we play. When he came back he weighed in at 342 pounds and I think he's 332 today. That tells me that football is important to him, the team is important to him and that he has a great attitude. We've got four to five guys coming back that are pretty experienced in our opinion. He has started over 20 games in the Pac-12 and so he does have some experience playing at this level and that is an area where he can really help us."
Linebacker Justin Phillips
On starting fall camp:
"It feels good. Everybody came out with a lot of excitement today, so it was a lot of fun getting to have everybody get out there and run around the ball."
On having a larger role on the defense this season:
"I prepare the same every year. I just try to prepare so I don't let my team down in any type of way. I'm trying to fill my role and help the younger guys, help teach them, but overall it's the same thing: just trying to prepare for the next game."
On teammates who have caught his eye through the spring into fall camp:
"Everybody. We've got a solid team with a solid defense, so I'm impressed with everybody."
Wide Receiver Tyron Johnson
On James Washington:
"He's a great guy. He's going to be a pro, so I just watch the things he does. Off the field, he's a great guy. He goes to class, doesn't get in trouble. He's one of those good guys that you want to look up to."
On what brought him to OSU from LSU:
"The offense. It's an air raid offense and I've always wanted to play in an air raid offense. I ended up choosing LSU (out of high school), but I wound up in a great spot here."
On how exciting it is for him to go into this camp knowing he'll get a chance to play this season:
"It's very exciting. All last year I had to sit out and watch these guys play, and now I get to be a part of it."
On what he learned last season having to sit out:
"I learned the offense is fast-paced. I learned I would have to get better positioning to be a part of this offense, so in the spring and summer I had to attack it and take it seriously so I can keep up with these guys in the regular season."
Running Back Justice Hill
On his offseason training:
"I got set back a little bit with the surgery, but I came back late in April and went hard all summer. So now, I'm back, definitely 100 percent, but I've been surpassing my numbers from last year."
On what he thinks of the younger guys at running back after watching them this spring:
"We're all clicking together. Everybody is helping each other out, just like last year when I was a freshman and LD was a freshman. We're all clicking and working out every day."
On Mason Rudolph:
"He's just maturing every year. He's a great leader, and has always been a great leader since I've been here. He makes sure everybody stays on top of what they need to do. It's great to have him."
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Cowboy Football
RB
/ Cowboy Football
WR
/ Cowboy Football
LB
/ Cowboy Football
QB
/ Cowboy Football
WR
/ Cowboy FootballFriday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
