Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: OSU Athletics
Spring Game What To Watch For
April 27, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State spring game is set for 1 p.m. Saturday in Boone Pickens Stadium and there are a number of things for fans to watch for.
Format of the game
Some years, there are enough players to field two complete teams and play a full spring game and some years, there aren't. This year falls into the latter category. So what does that mean? It means that Mike Gundy will split the team into offense and defense and play the spring game in a similar format to how the team scrimmages in practice. Score will not be kept and there won't be kickoffs or full-contact special teams plays.
Perhaps the biggest plus of this format is that fans will be able to see the starting units on both offense and defense playing together, as opposed to having the best players on both sides of the ball split into two different teams.
Five Players to Watch – Offense
There is no question that All-America candidate Justice Hill is the most accomplished returning player on the roster. After leading the Big 12 in rushing by more than 300 yards over the second-place finisher in 2017, he is one of only four returning semifinalists for last year's Doak Walker Award presented to the nation's top running back. His signature cutback ability will be on display Saturday.
Hill has earned top billing, but he is not lone running back who can turn heads. Sophomores J.D. King and LD Brown, both of whom saw a good amount of game action last season, are developing nicely and redshirt freshman Chuba Hubbard is an exciting prospect who has boosted his own stock during spring practice.
With only two quarterbacks available for the spring game, senior Taylor Cornelius will get plenty of reps and will be on full display. He has seen some late-game action the last two seasons, but 2018 marks the first time that the role of starting quarterback has truly been within reach for the fifth-year man from Bushland, Texas. A strong showing Saturday would only help Cornelius's confidence going into the summer.
Five Players to Watch – Defense
With notable changes spurred by the addition of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, there is an air of newness to the Cowboy defense this spring. That said, a cast of familiar names should likely be the ones that catch the eye in the spring game.
It starts up front with a very deep defensive line. From that group, senior Darrion Daniels has been a standout of spring and appears primed for a strong season. To be fair, the same can be said for several defensive lineman and this appears to be perhaps OSU's strongest position group from top to bottom.
Linebacker Justin Phillips has positioned himself as a leader on the defensive side of the ball and his running mate Calvin Bundage is as dynamic as ever.
In the secondary, A.J. Green picked up a lot of in-game experience last fall and is continuing to develop nicely. Fans looking for an up-and-comer on defense may notice sophomore safety Malcolm Rodriguez. As a true freshman last season, he made the bulk of his contribution on special teams, but this spring he is making a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball.
Format of the game
Some years, there are enough players to field two complete teams and play a full spring game and some years, there aren't. This year falls into the latter category. So what does that mean? It means that Mike Gundy will split the team into offense and defense and play the spring game in a similar format to how the team scrimmages in practice. Score will not be kept and there won't be kickoffs or full-contact special teams plays.
Perhaps the biggest plus of this format is that fans will be able to see the starting units on both offense and defense playing together, as opposed to having the best players on both sides of the ball split into two different teams.
Five Players to Watch – Offense
There is no question that All-America candidate Justice Hill is the most accomplished returning player on the roster. After leading the Big 12 in rushing by more than 300 yards over the second-place finisher in 2017, he is one of only four returning semifinalists for last year's Doak Walker Award presented to the nation's top running back. His signature cutback ability will be on display Saturday.
Hill has earned top billing, but he is not lone running back who can turn heads. Sophomores J.D. King and LD Brown, both of whom saw a good amount of game action last season, are developing nicely and redshirt freshman Chuba Hubbard is an exciting prospect who has boosted his own stock during spring practice.
With only two quarterbacks available for the spring game, senior Taylor Cornelius will get plenty of reps and will be on full display. He has seen some late-game action the last two seasons, but 2018 marks the first time that the role of starting quarterback has truly been within reach for the fifth-year man from Bushland, Texas. A strong showing Saturday would only help Cornelius's confidence going into the summer.
Five Players to Watch – Defense
With notable changes spurred by the addition of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, there is an air of newness to the Cowboy defense this spring. That said, a cast of familiar names should likely be the ones that catch the eye in the spring game.
It starts up front with a very deep defensive line. From that group, senior Darrion Daniels has been a standout of spring and appears primed for a strong season. To be fair, the same can be said for several defensive lineman and this appears to be perhaps OSU's strongest position group from top to bottom.
Linebacker Justin Phillips has positioned himself as a leader on the defensive side of the ball and his running mate Calvin Bundage is as dynamic as ever.
In the secondary, A.J. Green picked up a lot of in-game experience last fall and is continuing to develop nicely. Fans looking for an up-and-comer on defense may notice sophomore safety Malcolm Rodriguez. As a true freshman last season, he made the bulk of his contribution on special teams, but this spring he is making a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball.
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