Oklahoma State University Athletics
The Next Chapter: Langston Anderson Back on the Big Stage Following Trials of Injury
November 18, 2022 | Cowboy Football
One thousand, one hundred fifty-five days. That's how long Langston Anderson went without a reception heading into last Saturday's meeting versus Kansas.
With 10:45 to go in the first quarter, Anderson flipped the page, recording a 13-yard reception from freshman quarterback Garrett Rangel.
When the clock struck zero, the Midlothian-native had begun a new chapter, one whose first page now reads three receptions, 61 yards.
For Anderson, his trip to Lawrence had been the culmination of countless hours of hard work, determination and effort after a litany of injuries.
Anderson, a redshirt junior for the Cowboys, committed to the program as a four-star prospect by 247Sports in the Class of 2019. The 6-foot-1 receiver was electric during his tenure at Midlothian Heritage High School in Midlothian, Texas, tallying 127 receptions for 2,141 yards and 27 touchdowns as an upperclassman with the program. After netting first-team Padilla Coaches Poll All-State honors, a second-team selection to the Dallas Morning News All-Area team and as the District 9-4A-1 Offensive MVP, Anderson was slated to be a key cog in the offense.
Sep. 7, 2019. This day marked Langston Anderson's debut for OSU. Additionally, it marked his first career reception. It also marked his lone reception for over three years.
While Anderson went on to be redshirted for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, he did appear in contests versus Texas and Kansas State in his 2020-21 campaign.
Then, injuries struck his way.
After a strong fall camp leading into the 2021-22 season, the then sophomore Anderson had claimed the starting X position headed into the Cowboys' opener versus Missouri State. With 8 minutes until kickoff, Anderson lined up for one last fade route. One walking grab later, his season was over before it had started.
"Working out all [last] summer, I got my starting position at X," Anderson said. "I was almost done with pregame. The game was about to start. I think there was like 8 minutes. Then, I run one more fade, my receiving coach throws it to me. I catch it. All I did was walk. I just felt something pop, but my adrenaline was going. I was like, 'It's not that bad.' Then, five minutes later, it started to hurt real bad. I'm like, 'this is not a regular twist.'"
Anderson would later be ruled out indefinitely for the entire 2021-22 season with a broken foot. At the time of his foot injury on Sep. 3, 2021, Anderson was projected to miss nearly two years of play due to injury. With an elongated absence, doubt about his health crept in, but it never controlled Anderson.
"There were times during the year where you're just like 'Man, back-to-back years, it's going to happen again. Will my foot get right?'" Anderson said. "The coaching staff and everybody stuck with me, kept me pushing through the fight."
After a year of rehab under his belt, Anderson has worked his way back up to play for the Cowboys. Against Central Michigan and Arkansas Pine-Bluff, he made his first appearances in nearly two years. He made his arrival versus the Jayhawks. With injuries across the Pokes' wide receiver corps heading into Lawrence – Anderson was given playing time to start the Cowboys' second series. He sparingly came off the field, posting career-highs across the board with his three receptions and 61 receiving yards.
"It's a blessing [being back out there] first of all," Anderson said. "I got to give thanks to God. It's just good being out there. Things didn't go the way we wanted to, but it was just good being part of the team and getting back out here."
After recording an eight-yard reception versus Iowa State last Saturday, the junior will look to continue building upon his new page on the road Saturday as the No. 22-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys take on the Oklahoma Sooners in a Bedlam battle. However, he'll still be embracing his previous chapter.
"It means a lot [that the university stuck with me]. The coaches, they had a lot of new freshmen coming in, loads of playmakers. They still believed in me. It's a blessing to have them supporting me and my teammates pushing me through it all."
With 10:45 to go in the first quarter, Anderson flipped the page, recording a 13-yard reception from freshman quarterback Garrett Rangel.
When the clock struck zero, the Midlothian-native had begun a new chapter, one whose first page now reads three receptions, 61 yards.
For Anderson, his trip to Lawrence had been the culmination of countless hours of hard work, determination and effort after a litany of injuries.
Anderson, a redshirt junior for the Cowboys, committed to the program as a four-star prospect by 247Sports in the Class of 2019. The 6-foot-1 receiver was electric during his tenure at Midlothian Heritage High School in Midlothian, Texas, tallying 127 receptions for 2,141 yards and 27 touchdowns as an upperclassman with the program. After netting first-team Padilla Coaches Poll All-State honors, a second-team selection to the Dallas Morning News All-Area team and as the District 9-4A-1 Offensive MVP, Anderson was slated to be a key cog in the offense.
Sep. 7, 2019. This day marked Langston Anderson's debut for OSU. Additionally, it marked his first career reception. It also marked his lone reception for over three years.
While Anderson went on to be redshirted for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, he did appear in contests versus Texas and Kansas State in his 2020-21 campaign.
Then, injuries struck his way.
After a strong fall camp leading into the 2021-22 season, the then sophomore Anderson had claimed the starting X position headed into the Cowboys' opener versus Missouri State. With 8 minutes until kickoff, Anderson lined up for one last fade route. One walking grab later, his season was over before it had started.
"Working out all [last] summer, I got my starting position at X," Anderson said. "I was almost done with pregame. The game was about to start. I think there was like 8 minutes. Then, I run one more fade, my receiving coach throws it to me. I catch it. All I did was walk. I just felt something pop, but my adrenaline was going. I was like, 'It's not that bad.' Then, five minutes later, it started to hurt real bad. I'm like, 'this is not a regular twist.'"
Anderson would later be ruled out indefinitely for the entire 2021-22 season with a broken foot. At the time of his foot injury on Sep. 3, 2021, Anderson was projected to miss nearly two years of play due to injury. With an elongated absence, doubt about his health crept in, but it never controlled Anderson.
"There were times during the year where you're just like 'Man, back-to-back years, it's going to happen again. Will my foot get right?'" Anderson said. "The coaching staff and everybody stuck with me, kept me pushing through the fight."
After a year of rehab under his belt, Anderson has worked his way back up to play for the Cowboys. Against Central Michigan and Arkansas Pine-Bluff, he made his first appearances in nearly two years. He made his arrival versus the Jayhawks. With injuries across the Pokes' wide receiver corps heading into Lawrence – Anderson was given playing time to start the Cowboys' second series. He sparingly came off the field, posting career-highs across the board with his three receptions and 61 receiving yards.
"It's a blessing [being back out there] first of all," Anderson said. "I got to give thanks to God. It's just good being out there. Things didn't go the way we wanted to, but it was just good being part of the team and getting back out here."
After recording an eight-yard reception versus Iowa State last Saturday, the junior will look to continue building upon his new page on the road Saturday as the No. 22-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys take on the Oklahoma Sooners in a Bedlam battle. However, he'll still be embracing his previous chapter.
"It means a lot [that the university stuck with me]. The coaches, they had a lot of new freshmen coming in, loads of playmakers. They still believed in me. It's a blessing to have them supporting me and my teammates pushing me through it all."
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