Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Set to Compete in Spring Football Practice
March 26, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Cowboy football opens its spring practice schedule this week, with the first day slated to begin at 6 a.m. Tuesday morning.
It will mark the first of 15 spring practices, culminating with the Spring Game on April 28. With 17 seniors leading the way and several positions up for grabs, the competition should be intense.
The spring practice session presents the usual opportunities to keep the rust off in the offseason, but the 2018 version will feature a different look from recent years, mainly in the form of several new faces in leadership roles.
While losing key players is nothing new in college football, it is the first time in more than three years that the Cowboys have seen a changing of the guard to this scale.
With change though, comes opportunity.
All-Big 12 running back and Doak Walker Award semifinalist Justice Hill takes the reigns as the most decorated Cowboy and, for the first time, steps into a role as the face of OSU football team. Hill returns after racking up 2,609 yards in his first two seasons and is seventh among active players in career rushing yardage despite just finishing his sophomore season.
Hill was the NCAA freshman rushing champion two years ago and followed that up by leading the Big 12 in rushing last season with 1,467 – a feat made even more impressive considering he played on the nation's best passing offense.
He'll have the chance to lead a deep group of running backs that includes the powerful J.D. King, the quick-footed LD Brown and Canadian speedster Chuba Hubbard. The spring will be the first chance to see how the running back rotation could fall into shape heading into next season.
At quarterback, senior Taylor Cornelius is the incumbent for the job after serving as the backup to Rudolph each of the past two seasons. He'll be getting the lion's share of the No. 1 reps for the first time in his career and will compete alongside Keondre Wudtee for a leg up entering fall camp.
Cornelius has shown the ability to throw the ball well when given the opportunity, and undoubtedly has an extensive knowledge of the Cowboy offense after spending the past four years among the top two or three players on the depth chart. It's hard to measure how that translates to game day with a limited sample size, but he has been than capable when on the field. His career numbers include 15-for-24 passing (62.5 pct.) with no interceptions, 220 passing yards and 17 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
Given a bigger role, those numbers would translate to a solid everyday player. Plus his highlight reel includes deep ball completions of 56 yards and 39 yards and 40-yard zone read rushing touchdown, to name a few, so he's shown glimpses of the big-play ability that OSU fans have come to know and expect.
The receivers should be a deep and talented group yet again, even with the loss of NFL-bound players Washington and Marcell Ateman. Jalen McCleskey is the only senior in the group and the most experienced of the bunch. He'll look to get a bigger share of the receiving yards, while proven playmakers Tyron Johnson, Dillon Stoner and Tylan Wallace also prepare for a bigger role in the offensive gameplan.
McCleskey has five career 100-yard receiving games to his credit and his 1,710 career receiving yards are now the most on the roster. With him vying for playing time in an extremely athletic group, they should all get better and come back again as one of the best position groups in the country.
Marcus Keyes will bolster the offensive line at guard, while the Cowboys turn to the next man up at several other spots on the offensive line. Shane Richards, Johnny Wilson, Teven Jenkins, Arlington Hambright and Dylan Galloway are all names that could shuffle into the mix, so expect to see a stiff competition to get onto the field.
New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will also get his first chance to coach the OSU defense and implement his schemes with the players.
That looks to be one of the biggest storylines of the spring as he'll be working with new starters at several key defensive spots, including both safeties and middle linebacker.
Linebacker Justin Phillips could be one of his best assets in that process, as the senior leader already has 15 career starts. Calvin Bundage, Kenneth Edison-McGruder, Amen Ogbongbemiga, Kevin Henry and Devin Harper will compete for an increased role as well, as all have had a chance to play a on defense already.
The safety positions are wide open, with sophomore Thabo Mwaniki marking the only Cowboy on the roster who has started a game at the position. He headlines a young group that includes Chance Cook, Za'Carrius Green, Trey Sterling, Malcolm Rodriguez and early enrollees Sean Michael Flanagan and Jarrick Bernard that will all by vying for a spot on the field.
The defensive line looks to be the deepest and most experienced group heading into the spring, with veteran players Cole Walterscheid, Jordan Brailford, Trey Carter, Darrion Daniels and Jarrell Owens all returning with multiple starts already to their credit. Combine that group with another round of up-and-comers and it should make for another intense position group over the course of the next month.
With a healthy mix of open positions and experienced returners coming together across the board, coach Mike Gundy and the Cowboys aim to step into next season without missing a beat.
After three straight 10-win seasons – and six 10-win seasons in the past eight years – Oklahoma State has proven its ability to maintain success.
The 2018 spring practice schedule is the next step in that maintenance and stands as a chance for the Cowboys to set the tone for another winning year in Stillwater.
It will mark the first of 15 spring practices, culminating with the Spring Game on April 28. With 17 seniors leading the way and several positions up for grabs, the competition should be intense.
The spring practice session presents the usual opportunities to keep the rust off in the offseason, but the 2018 version will feature a different look from recent years, mainly in the form of several new faces in leadership roles.
While losing key players is nothing new in college football, it is the first time in more than three years that the Cowboys have seen a changing of the guard to this scale.
With change though, comes opportunity.
All-Big 12 running back and Doak Walker Award semifinalist Justice Hill takes the reigns as the most decorated Cowboy and, for the first time, steps into a role as the face of OSU football team. Hill returns after racking up 2,609 yards in his first two seasons and is seventh among active players in career rushing yardage despite just finishing his sophomore season.
Hill was the NCAA freshman rushing champion two years ago and followed that up by leading the Big 12 in rushing last season with 1,467 – a feat made even more impressive considering he played on the nation's best passing offense.
He'll have the chance to lead a deep group of running backs that includes the powerful J.D. King, the quick-footed LD Brown and Canadian speedster Chuba Hubbard. The spring will be the first chance to see how the running back rotation could fall into shape heading into next season.
At quarterback, senior Taylor Cornelius is the incumbent for the job after serving as the backup to Rudolph each of the past two seasons. He'll be getting the lion's share of the No. 1 reps for the first time in his career and will compete alongside Keondre Wudtee for a leg up entering fall camp.
Cornelius has shown the ability to throw the ball well when given the opportunity, and undoubtedly has an extensive knowledge of the Cowboy offense after spending the past four years among the top two or three players on the depth chart. It's hard to measure how that translates to game day with a limited sample size, but he has been than capable when on the field. His career numbers include 15-for-24 passing (62.5 pct.) with no interceptions, 220 passing yards and 17 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
Given a bigger role, those numbers would translate to a solid everyday player. Plus his highlight reel includes deep ball completions of 56 yards and 39 yards and 40-yard zone read rushing touchdown, to name a few, so he's shown glimpses of the big-play ability that OSU fans have come to know and expect.
The receivers should be a deep and talented group yet again, even with the loss of NFL-bound players Washington and Marcell Ateman. Jalen McCleskey is the only senior in the group and the most experienced of the bunch. He'll look to get a bigger share of the receiving yards, while proven playmakers Tyron Johnson, Dillon Stoner and Tylan Wallace also prepare for a bigger role in the offensive gameplan.
McCleskey has five career 100-yard receiving games to his credit and his 1,710 career receiving yards are now the most on the roster. With him vying for playing time in an extremely athletic group, they should all get better and come back again as one of the best position groups in the country.
Marcus Keyes will bolster the offensive line at guard, while the Cowboys turn to the next man up at several other spots on the offensive line. Shane Richards, Johnny Wilson, Teven Jenkins, Arlington Hambright and Dylan Galloway are all names that could shuffle into the mix, so expect to see a stiff competition to get onto the field.
New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will also get his first chance to coach the OSU defense and implement his schemes with the players.
That looks to be one of the biggest storylines of the spring as he'll be working with new starters at several key defensive spots, including both safeties and middle linebacker.
Linebacker Justin Phillips could be one of his best assets in that process, as the senior leader already has 15 career starts. Calvin Bundage, Kenneth Edison-McGruder, Amen Ogbongbemiga, Kevin Henry and Devin Harper will compete for an increased role as well, as all have had a chance to play a on defense already.
The safety positions are wide open, with sophomore Thabo Mwaniki marking the only Cowboy on the roster who has started a game at the position. He headlines a young group that includes Chance Cook, Za'Carrius Green, Trey Sterling, Malcolm Rodriguez and early enrollees Sean Michael Flanagan and Jarrick Bernard that will all by vying for a spot on the field.
The defensive line looks to be the deepest and most experienced group heading into the spring, with veteran players Cole Walterscheid, Jordan Brailford, Trey Carter, Darrion Daniels and Jarrell Owens all returning with multiple starts already to their credit. Combine that group with another round of up-and-comers and it should make for another intense position group over the course of the next month.
With a healthy mix of open positions and experienced returners coming together across the board, coach Mike Gundy and the Cowboys aim to step into next season without missing a beat.
After three straight 10-win seasons – and six 10-win seasons in the past eight years – Oklahoma State has proven its ability to maintain success.
The 2018 spring practice schedule is the next step in that maintenance and stands as a chance for the Cowboys to set the tone for another winning year in Stillwater.
Tuesday, July 07
Tuesday, July 07
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
