Position Preview: Wide Receiver

Photo by: OSU Athletics

September 01, 2021 | Cowboy Football

STILLWATER – Much like at the running back position, the Cowboys are losing a lot of production from some of the best players to ever put on an OSU uniform at wide receiver.

Two-time All-American Tylan Wallace is gone to the NFL after an amazing career as a Cowboy, and so is the always-reliable Dillon Stoner. The duo is fifth and sixth respectively on the school's career pass reception list, but, as usual, the receivers are ready to reload.

Brennan Presley has many talking after earning ESPN and AP all-bowl team honors for his 118-yard, three-touchdown night in the final game of his true freshman year. His performance against Miami not only excited fans for the future, but was also a springboard for Presley heading into 2021.

"That game was productive and it pushed him forward as being a leader and in his growth as a receiver," offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn said. "His confidence soared after the game, so he is playing well."

Senior Tay Martin has caught attention as well after putting up six catches for 73 yards in the bowl after serving as Wallace's backup in 2020. A talented transfer from Washington State was behind Wallace for most of last year, but took advantage of his limited opportunities near the end of the season.

He bypassed the NFL draft in April to return to Oklahoma State for another season with the intent of impressing the NFL scouts and be the next in a lineage of successful OSU wide receivers.

"I felt like I was leaving stuff on the table," Martin said "I have more to prove to the scouts and to my fans and everyone who watched me play. I want to take advantage of this extra season and make the most out of it."

Being able to spend an offseason in Stillwater, training with Rob Glass and getting more comfortable with the playbook has paid off for Martin so far. His coaches have raved about his maturity this offseason and believe he is on track for a breakthrough year.

"He's a hell of a player," offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn said. "He's playing great for us right now in the spot taking over for Tylan. We wanted to get him into the second half of that Miami game to see where we were with him. When he first came in there was a little bit of 'Ah, I'm pretty good, just let me play. I can do whatever I want to do,' but he's bypassed that now and he is all in. He's hitting his routes the way we need him to hit them and catching the ball the way we need him to catch it. He's leading the other guys now, so it's been a full 180 and he's killing it."

The third Cowboy who could be poised for a breakout is senior speedster Braydon Johnson, who produced several big plays over the past three years and could be ready for more with the opportunity in front of him.

Langston Anderson, Rashod Owens, Matt Polk, Cale Cabbiness and Jonathan Shepherd are all back after seeing time on the depth chart in their careers. True freshmen John Paul Richardson, Jaden Bray and Bryson Green are all on the two-deep of the initial depth chart and will see playing time, while Blaine Green gets the nod to start at receiver in his first career game.