Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Preview Season Opener
August 24, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State football head coach Mike Gundy and select Cowboys met with media Friday at Boone Pickens Stadium to preview the Cowboys' season opener against Missouri State next Thursday. Some of their comments:
Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
"It's finally here for everybody. This is the time of year that the entire state of Oklahoma is fired up and is ready for football. We've had great workouts and our team is excited. We've got almost everybody healthy, and up and running. As I've said throughout the process, I really like where our team is at. We'll know a lot more in a month. We're just looking forward to getting started. We've got a couple days of light workouts coming up, we'll take a day off and then one more real practice and we'll be ready to go."
On what he is most interested to see in game action:
"The same thing that we talked about in July - it'll be interesting to see how we play on offense. We've been such a good team in the past few years and a lot of those guys departed. I'm as excited, and as interested, as you guys about seeing what we do defensively over the next month. Next Thursday will be the first shot at it for us. Those are the two things that I'll be most interested in watching. The rest of it I have a pretty good feel for."
On the quarterback position:
"Taylor (Cornelius) is doing really well. I've said it before - he's doing great on the driving range, but he hasn't been on the first tee. He'll get on the tee Thursday night and we'll find out where he's at. Dru (Brown) has done really well behind him. Spencer (Sanders) has done well and (Keondre) Wudtee gotten a number of reps where he's at. There's not enough plays to go around for those guys, but we like where we're at with them. With experience, you can see why Taylor is where he's at."
On how the team will use the new NCAA redshirt rule:
"We're going to play - I'm sure I'll miss somebody - three defensive backs and have them on the depth chart with special teams and start to rotate them in on the back end. We are not playing a freshman on offense at this particular time. If everybody stays healthy, that's the way it sets at this particular time."
On making the adjustment to life without Mason Rudolph, James Washington and others:
"The thing you've got to realize is that we have to be patient with (Taylor Cornelius). He hasn't played. Mason (Rudolph) was, arguably, the best quarterback to ever come through here - other than guys who played here before the 1990s. (Cornelius) could play really well, but still not quite play to that level. But let's see where he's at in a month. Now, what I have prepared myself for, while driving down the road and thinking, is that we were so used to James (Washington) running down the field and the ball coming down from the top of the stadium into his hands and he'd run it in for a touchdown. I've already gotten myself prepared because it would be hard to see that. We've got guys who can play, but he was just so good at it. That's obvious, because he's still doing it with the pros. That's the thing I'm going to miss most - just how beautiful it was. It was like watching Usain Bolt run the 100-meter dash. You can't get enough of it. I've kind of prepared myself for that. To be really honest, I don't think the team feels like the offense is going to play any slower, or be limited in any way, with (Cornelius) playing quarterback. You would have to ask those guys, but that's my feeling from just watching them."
Safety Kenneth Edison-McGruder
On the move to safety:
"Mentally I'm excited just to be back there. Being back on the back end is a little more comfortable."
On the first game of the season:
"It's very different than the last few weeks where we just practice and practice. Now we are actually practicing for opponents. It's game time now and it's kind of a different mindset, now that we are actually preparing for somebody else. It feels good, actually getting to prepared to play someone."
On the defense:
"I'm just curious to see how much we fly around. Just let us out, let loose, fly around and have fun out there."
Running Back Justice Hill
On becoming the face of the offense:
"I just go out there, run the ball and do whatever I can to help our team win."
On the offense:
"I feel good. It's the same system; we just have different quarterbacks. I feel like we got experience from last season, so we can be better than last season. It's going to be fun just to be there and enjoying it."
On working out with the receivers:
"I just want to be able to help the team out whatever way I can. If they think I can do it and I feel like I can do it, then we will try it out there. It's actually kind of new because I never really received and in middle school you never really throw the ball, you just run. This is something new for me and it will be fun just to see how it goes. It just takes time, the more reps you get at it the more comfortable you feel. I've been running the ball since I started playing so obviously that's going to be more comfortable. But receiving is still part of the game, so I've always done that too."
Defensive End Jordan Brailford
On the first game:
"Going through all these practices, it feels like about practice No. 50 right now. It's always good to get the first game out of the way."
On controlling the line:
"At the end of the day, no matter what defense we run, we always want to set the tone up front. We want to get after rushing, we want to stop the run and we want to make everything easier for the linebackers and the secondary."
On his career at OSU:
"I've had a lot of ups and downs while I've been here, but I just continue to stay through it and continuing to do what I think is right. I've had a good coaching staff to help me through things I've been going through. They believed in me, never really gave up on me and as a result I've been able to have a little success and hopefully I can continue that this year."
Quarterback Taylor Cornelius
On his relationship with Mason Rudolph:
"He always had my back, and knowing that he has your back is always a good deal. He knew the ins and outs of the playbook and everything, so he was a big help. We text and Snapchat and stuff … nothing much about football, just more life."
On his relationship with confidence:
"Five years of knowing this system … and Coach Yurcich's system hasn't changed that much. You just know the playbook in and out, and that's a big help for me."
On his transition to the starting role:
"I think it has gone smoothly. I've been around here long enough that I feel like I've worked hard enough to get to this point, and I think it's going to be a good year. I feel pretty confident throwing the ball, and those receivers get open enough so it makes my life a lot easier."
On what he's most looking forward to:
"I'm looking forward to putting points up on the board."
Defensive Tackle Darrion Daniels
On how this defense is different from last season:
"I feel as if this defense is more aggressive. It's a high risk, high reward type of thing. There are a lot of moving parts. I mentioned earlier how before I get my hand down I'll turn around, get a call and when I turn around right before the play the DBs and linebackers are always moving, always doing something different, so there are a lot of disguises."
On what he thinks they'll take away from the first game:
"We'll learn who is really mentally there … because physically, everybody can play. Football is more mental, so this upcoming game against Missouri State I feel like will really separate the old and young guys who are mentally ready to play at this level."
On Coach Jim Knowles:
"He's very passionate. He's very passionate … and he doesn't get frustrated like a coach. He gets frustrated like a player. Like if the scout team scores on us he gets as upset as if he were on the team and had gotten scored on."
On Taylor Cornelius:
"I feel like he is going to do perfectly fine. I feel as if last year he could've been a great quarterback, too. We had Mason (Rudolph) … but I just think he'll do perfect. He's always been composed in practice. I feel he's very mobile, so he can evade and make plays on his feet as well. I think he's going to do fine."
On playing a Thursday game:
"I'm kind of on the fence about the Thursday game because it's early in the week. I'm really looking forward to that day of relaxing afterward. I see that as the biggest positive of having a Thursday game."
Wide Receiver Dillon Stoner
On the offense this year compared to last:
"I think we'll keep doing what we're doing. We've always been a passing team, and we've still got a lot of weapons outside. I think we're going to be exciting to watch."
On Taylor Cornelius:
"He has been the backup pretty much since he got here. When Mason took over I think (Cornelius) was always under him, and he was ready to go whenever. Obviously he's been on scholarship for about two years now and is more than capable of running the show, and I think he's going to have a great year. What you see is what you get with him. He's a really even keel guy … never too high or too low. I've never seen him blow up on anyone. He just keeps a very level head, so it's very cool to play for a quarterback like that. He and Mason both bring different things to the table. Mason obviously knew what he was doing, and he wasn't afraid to speak his mind. That's what made him great. I think he motivated guys in a certain way, and (Cornelius) does the same thing, just in his own way."
On how defenses will play OSU:
"Justice and our whole running back group is unbelievable. I hope they load the box that way we can air it out a little bit more, but we've got a lot of playmakers on this offense and anyone is capable of making a big-time play whenever."
On Landon Wolf:
"He's a quick dude who always seems to be open. He's always in the right place at the right time. He knows the playbook very well and feels comfortable with it, and I think that allows him to run routes a very specific way to get open. He does a great job of that. He's more of a quiet guy. He keeps to himself and is a really good guy."
Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
"It's finally here for everybody. This is the time of year that the entire state of Oklahoma is fired up and is ready for football. We've had great workouts and our team is excited. We've got almost everybody healthy, and up and running. As I've said throughout the process, I really like where our team is at. We'll know a lot more in a month. We're just looking forward to getting started. We've got a couple days of light workouts coming up, we'll take a day off and then one more real practice and we'll be ready to go."
On what he is most interested to see in game action:
"The same thing that we talked about in July - it'll be interesting to see how we play on offense. We've been such a good team in the past few years and a lot of those guys departed. I'm as excited, and as interested, as you guys about seeing what we do defensively over the next month. Next Thursday will be the first shot at it for us. Those are the two things that I'll be most interested in watching. The rest of it I have a pretty good feel for."
On the quarterback position:
"Taylor (Cornelius) is doing really well. I've said it before - he's doing great on the driving range, but he hasn't been on the first tee. He'll get on the tee Thursday night and we'll find out where he's at. Dru (Brown) has done really well behind him. Spencer (Sanders) has done well and (Keondre) Wudtee gotten a number of reps where he's at. There's not enough plays to go around for those guys, but we like where we're at with them. With experience, you can see why Taylor is where he's at."
On how the team will use the new NCAA redshirt rule:
"We're going to play - I'm sure I'll miss somebody - three defensive backs and have them on the depth chart with special teams and start to rotate them in on the back end. We are not playing a freshman on offense at this particular time. If everybody stays healthy, that's the way it sets at this particular time."
On making the adjustment to life without Mason Rudolph, James Washington and others:
"The thing you've got to realize is that we have to be patient with (Taylor Cornelius). He hasn't played. Mason (Rudolph) was, arguably, the best quarterback to ever come through here - other than guys who played here before the 1990s. (Cornelius) could play really well, but still not quite play to that level. But let's see where he's at in a month. Now, what I have prepared myself for, while driving down the road and thinking, is that we were so used to James (Washington) running down the field and the ball coming down from the top of the stadium into his hands and he'd run it in for a touchdown. I've already gotten myself prepared because it would be hard to see that. We've got guys who can play, but he was just so good at it. That's obvious, because he's still doing it with the pros. That's the thing I'm going to miss most - just how beautiful it was. It was like watching Usain Bolt run the 100-meter dash. You can't get enough of it. I've kind of prepared myself for that. To be really honest, I don't think the team feels like the offense is going to play any slower, or be limited in any way, with (Cornelius) playing quarterback. You would have to ask those guys, but that's my feeling from just watching them."
Safety Kenneth Edison-McGruder
On the move to safety:
"Mentally I'm excited just to be back there. Being back on the back end is a little more comfortable."
On the first game of the season:
"It's very different than the last few weeks where we just practice and practice. Now we are actually practicing for opponents. It's game time now and it's kind of a different mindset, now that we are actually preparing for somebody else. It feels good, actually getting to prepared to play someone."
On the defense:
"I'm just curious to see how much we fly around. Just let us out, let loose, fly around and have fun out there."
Running Back Justice Hill
On becoming the face of the offense:
"I just go out there, run the ball and do whatever I can to help our team win."
On the offense:
"I feel good. It's the same system; we just have different quarterbacks. I feel like we got experience from last season, so we can be better than last season. It's going to be fun just to be there and enjoying it."
On working out with the receivers:
"I just want to be able to help the team out whatever way I can. If they think I can do it and I feel like I can do it, then we will try it out there. It's actually kind of new because I never really received and in middle school you never really throw the ball, you just run. This is something new for me and it will be fun just to see how it goes. It just takes time, the more reps you get at it the more comfortable you feel. I've been running the ball since I started playing so obviously that's going to be more comfortable. But receiving is still part of the game, so I've always done that too."
Defensive End Jordan Brailford
On the first game:
"Going through all these practices, it feels like about practice No. 50 right now. It's always good to get the first game out of the way."
On controlling the line:
"At the end of the day, no matter what defense we run, we always want to set the tone up front. We want to get after rushing, we want to stop the run and we want to make everything easier for the linebackers and the secondary."
On his career at OSU:
"I've had a lot of ups and downs while I've been here, but I just continue to stay through it and continuing to do what I think is right. I've had a good coaching staff to help me through things I've been going through. They believed in me, never really gave up on me and as a result I've been able to have a little success and hopefully I can continue that this year."
Quarterback Taylor Cornelius
On his relationship with Mason Rudolph:
"He always had my back, and knowing that he has your back is always a good deal. He knew the ins and outs of the playbook and everything, so he was a big help. We text and Snapchat and stuff … nothing much about football, just more life."
On his relationship with confidence:
"Five years of knowing this system … and Coach Yurcich's system hasn't changed that much. You just know the playbook in and out, and that's a big help for me."
On his transition to the starting role:
"I think it has gone smoothly. I've been around here long enough that I feel like I've worked hard enough to get to this point, and I think it's going to be a good year. I feel pretty confident throwing the ball, and those receivers get open enough so it makes my life a lot easier."
On what he's most looking forward to:
"I'm looking forward to putting points up on the board."
Defensive Tackle Darrion Daniels
On how this defense is different from last season:
"I feel as if this defense is more aggressive. It's a high risk, high reward type of thing. There are a lot of moving parts. I mentioned earlier how before I get my hand down I'll turn around, get a call and when I turn around right before the play the DBs and linebackers are always moving, always doing something different, so there are a lot of disguises."
On what he thinks they'll take away from the first game:
"We'll learn who is really mentally there … because physically, everybody can play. Football is more mental, so this upcoming game against Missouri State I feel like will really separate the old and young guys who are mentally ready to play at this level."
On Coach Jim Knowles:
"He's very passionate. He's very passionate … and he doesn't get frustrated like a coach. He gets frustrated like a player. Like if the scout team scores on us he gets as upset as if he were on the team and had gotten scored on."
On Taylor Cornelius:
"I feel like he is going to do perfectly fine. I feel as if last year he could've been a great quarterback, too. We had Mason (Rudolph) … but I just think he'll do perfect. He's always been composed in practice. I feel he's very mobile, so he can evade and make plays on his feet as well. I think he's going to do fine."
On playing a Thursday game:
"I'm kind of on the fence about the Thursday game because it's early in the week. I'm really looking forward to that day of relaxing afterward. I see that as the biggest positive of having a Thursday game."
Wide Receiver Dillon Stoner
On the offense this year compared to last:
"I think we'll keep doing what we're doing. We've always been a passing team, and we've still got a lot of weapons outside. I think we're going to be exciting to watch."
On Taylor Cornelius:
"He has been the backup pretty much since he got here. When Mason took over I think (Cornelius) was always under him, and he was ready to go whenever. Obviously he's been on scholarship for about two years now and is more than capable of running the show, and I think he's going to have a great year. What you see is what you get with him. He's a really even keel guy … never too high or too low. I've never seen him blow up on anyone. He just keeps a very level head, so it's very cool to play for a quarterback like that. He and Mason both bring different things to the table. Mason obviously knew what he was doing, and he wasn't afraid to speak his mind. That's what made him great. I think he motivated guys in a certain way, and (Cornelius) does the same thing, just in his own way."
On how defenses will play OSU:
"Justice and our whole running back group is unbelievable. I hope they load the box that way we can air it out a little bit more, but we've got a lot of playmakers on this offense and anyone is capable of making a big-time play whenever."
On Landon Wolf:
"He's a quick dude who always seems to be open. He's always in the right place at the right time. He knows the playbook very well and feels comfortable with it, and I think that allows him to run routes a very specific way to get open. He does a great job of that. He's more of a quiet guy. He keeps to himself and is a really good guy."
Players Mentioned
DE
/ Cowboy Football
QB
/ Cowboy Football
DT
/ Cowboy Football
LB
/ Cowboy Football
RB
/ Cowboy Football
QB
/ Cowboy Football
WR
/ Cowboy Football
WR
/ Cowboy Football
WR
/ Cowboy FootballThursday, July 30
Tuesday, July 28
Monday, July 27
Tuesday, July 07
