Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football Hosts Media Day
August 06, 2022 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State football team hosted its on-campus media day Saturday afternoon inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. Coach Mike Gundy and the team spoke to the media extensively to close out the first week of fall camp. Here's some of what they had to say:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
"We've had a couple padded practices, which have been good. Everything's going well at this time. Guys are handling the weather and they're working hard. We haven't had any issues one way or the other that are worth talking about. We're just moving forward with where we're at. We've got a long way to go. We've got a good group, as I mentioned earlier. I'm excited. I like what I see with coaching interactions with players, nice effort, responsibility, loyalty to each other and to the team. I'm excited about where we're at but we've got a lot of work ahead of us."
On having any sense at this point of the year of how good this team can be:
"You know, it's interesting: we weren't any good the first four, five, six games when you put it on the national platform. We were beat up and couldn't practice very hard. We struggled to get through practice. We were playing freshmen that shouldn't have been on the field, but they had to be out there by default, so we had to adjust game plans offensively. The defense carried us. Once we got healthy and we got to practice the way we're accustomed to, we had some continuity. The quarterback could get a feel for what's going on outside on the perimeter. I felt like we were pretty good because no one could move the ball on us. For the first time in my career, when we went into a game, I felt like we had a defense that could just stop people; if we could just manage to score about 15 or 20 points, we could win. It's so early, right now, in watching our defense, I'm comfortable with our pass rush. We're young at linebacker. We can run. We can hit. We don't know a lot because we haven't had many quality reps. We're replacing some safeties and corners, but the corners have had a considerable number of quality reps, so I feel pretty comfortable on the back end. I feel comfortable with the coaches. I like the transition of where we're at with Coach (Derek) Mason and Joe Bob (Clements) moving to linebackers. Then offensively, we are who we are. Now, we have more depth than we've had at wideout, which helps us. Obviously, quarterback was here. Replacing Jaylen Warren will be a task, but we've got guys that are running around and competing. We're in a pretty good position up front with the offensive line. We're able to run the first two groups in and be pretty consistent. The third group is getting quality reps, but they're young. I feel good about our special teams. The kickers, punters and snappers are veterans; they've been around. I feel good about where we're at. Predictions wise, I don't know. We stay healthy, the team learns to care about each other, we could be pretty good."
On practicing with purposeful physicality:
"We've been very physical the last two practices. We lost a number of practices for three to five guys that need the physical aspect of the game. We're going to play a little catch up and see where we're at in about 10 practices and then make a decision on if we should push forward with it or if we can back off."
On potential starters at offensive line:
"I think there are seven guys that have enough experience and we feel like that could play and play at a really high level and play fast like we're used to and comfortable with. I think we have three other guys that are coming along and are learning the system. They're trying to adapt to who we are and what we do. They have the skill there. I've said this for years: we need three guards, three tackles and two centers to make it through a season and hope that we don't have to go any further than that when you're dealing with maturity and experience and toughness. I think we have that right now. One of the challenges, in my opinion, in coaching and doing the best job possible as head coach is, 'How physical can you be?' while also trying to keep everybody healthy. We need them out there in the first game. That's where we're at right now. (Charlie Dickey) is working some through at a few different positions. We've got guys that rotate in with the ones and the twos that played a pretty significant numbers of snaps this year in quality games, which is better than where we were at last year."
On Caleb Etienne's progress:
"Caleb still has a way to go, but he's a completely different player right now. He's, I'm not for sure, 40 pounds lighter, he might be 50 pounds lighter, but he's in condition now. He's been with us long enough that he understands who we are and how we practice. Once he got his body under control, now he can get his mind under control and think and play fast. He's getting better every day."
On the energy levels of the offensive linemen in practice:
"Well that's really what I watch now. I'm watching those things and that's very important with where we are at. It was interesting, some of the skill players were dragging and the big guys were doing good today, which is the opposite as you mentioned. Coach (Rob) Glass mentioned in our staff meeting a week ago that he felt like we were in really good physical condition, and he doesn't say that much. It's hard to get that out of him. He gauges most of that on the big guys because the skill kids are going to come along. I mean they are the most athletic so once they get adjusted, they will be fine."
On how important Spencer Sander's experience will be:
"There is no substitute for experience and reps. He's really good at what we do. He can run any play in our system. All of our really fast plays that we have, which we have a lot of them, I think we have 47 of them, and he can run them without even being coached at this point. We have a really simple offense, except for at quarterback. Once they get it, they all of a sudden get better, and it only happens from making mistakes and reps."
On coaching his son, Gunnar:
"It's extremely difficult for both of us, but what I do is just stay away. Tim (Rattay) does a great job. It's best for me to stay away from them and let (Rattay) coach him and let him function throughout the day. I don't know if I'm right cause it's the first time I've done it, but I just stay away and let it all take place. I don't really get involved in it, and I think that's the best way to handle it."
On Trace Ford:
"It's a challenge mentally, right? You get injured and then you get injured again, it can be a difficult experience. When you take something away from somebody that they really love to do, that's tough on young people. It's tough on adults and it happened to him. Then, he was all revved up and ready to go, and then it happened again. I was really worried about him coming back, you know. He's got a good upbringing and he's got good support, but it's not easy. He's healthy now and he feels good, so we're bringing him along slow. We'll give him a little more next week, and then the third week, we'll put him in there with some contact and getting some action and we'll get him in the game week. I believe when we play the game, and we turn him loose, I think he'll play. We had a number of people that have worked with him. Not only doctors, but people checking on him like his position coaches and Richetti Jones, the director of player personnel. When I would see him around, I would stop and ask him 'How are you doing? How's everything going?' He did some of the procedures and medical work in Tulsa. He was going back and forth, and I'd ask him it's going and how they feel about him. Just touching base with him. He's quiet, too. He doesn't talk much. It's hard to get him to really talk a lot, but I know he's in a much better place now than he was at this time last year."
On the defense repeating the success of last season despite losing key players:
"We're in a much better position now, than we were last year. I think they'll play really well together. I said this when I met with you guys a few days ago, it's a little unrealistic for us to expect them to start where they left off last year because last year they were legitimately in the top five in the country. When you lead the nation in sacks and have multiple games in conference play where you have over six or seven sacks, it's pretty awesome. I think they're going to play really well; I really do."
On Dominic Richardson being an every-down back:
"He's thick enough and physical enough do that. Now, I've also said this now for a number of years, it takes more than one at this level because they take a lot of hits. He is physical, he's mature and he's been around a while, which is going to help him out. He's a different runner. He's more of a slasher, he's going to drop his pads and try to run through somebody, then take off and go. But we need him to be durable. I don't worry about his attitude; I don't worry about his toughness. We just need him to be durable and to give us 18 carries a game if he needs to. Then the other guys are going to have to help. We're going to have to play three backs. I don't know when the last year we had a back that played all year long. I can't remember that we had to have a second and third team back."
Quarterback Spencer Sanders
On being a leader on the offense:
"I want to put them in the best position possible, so whatever I can do to help this team win, whatever I can do to make anyone as comfortable as possible, that's what I want to do."
On the upcoming season:
"I feel like we have so much talent in so many areas. Hopefully we can come together and get to that Big 12 championship game like we did last year and take it all the way."
On the start of fall practice:
"Offense is really pushing the tempo and the defense is looking phenomenal as always. I think we are really coming together. Everybody is getting better every day."
On the Cowboy offense:
"It's time to show people what this offense can do. We have to take care of the little things, so that when the big things come, the little things take care of the big things."
Wide Receiver Jaden Bray
On the experience he gained as a freshman last season:
"We made it all the way to the Big 12 Championship, so I am trying to make it back there, but we want to win it this time."
On improving from freshman to sophomore year:
"This year I'm just more comfortable and obviously more experienced than last year."
On the wide receiver room and the camaraderie:
"It's great. It is a great group of guys in there. Every guy is different. Everyone can do something another guy can't and we all learn from each other."
Linebacker Mason Cobb
On the depth at linebacker:
"This group coming up, we have three or four deep that can all play on the field."
On the transition to Derek Mason:
"It's been smooth. I love the way he coaches. He coaches everyone the same, from walk-ons to starters. I love how we are doing things."
On Joe Bob Clements moving to coaching the linebackers:
"It's kind of nice because the past two years we've had GAs, so for him to come in with his wisdom, to have somebody like that that's been around for a long time has brought us all together. I'm really excited to have Joe Bob there."
Running Back Dominic Richardson
On becoming a leader to younger running backs:
"It's been a challenge for sure. Being the guy who's the main leader and you have to do everything right, so these young guys can watch me and pick up something from me every single time. It's a great lesson for me as well because I've been a leader in high school before, but in college, it's a big deal. I had Chuba (Hubbard) and Jaylen (Warren). All of them went off and they taught me how to be a leader."
On feeling the pressure to perform this season:
"There is a little bit of pressure, but not as much because I've been working to this point for a long time. I knew one year would come and now this is the year. I put in the extra work after practice, do the extra studies and working out some more like footwork and how to run my pass protection right. It's all that, for sure."
On the offensive line:
"They're great. I mean, if I didn't have them, I'd have nothing at all. Without them, I wouldn't be the type of running back I am today. I'm so grateful for my line. Even the receivers, they also help with a lot of the blocking as well."
Safety Jason Taylor II
On the strength of the defense:
"We love to compete. We're always competing with each other. I think that's what separates us from other teams, we're very competitive."
On first week of practice:
"You got to take it day by day, period by period. Every day is a grind, and every day is something different. You're getting ready for a season. You don't practice like this during the season, so you use this as a way of preparation."
On the importance of pre-season practice:
"It's very important. I know that this season's first game preparation started way back after the bowl game. So really, every single step of the way is all leading to this season and I think that's what also builds character. You learn about your teammates before the season starts."
Safety Thomas Harper
On the defense:
"We've just really been trying to learn all the ins-and-outs of the playback and learning the new system. This is our first time playing together as a unit, so we're just trying to feed off each other."
On his improvement:
"I think I'm improving tremendously, consistency-wise. The game gets a lot slower the older I get. I'm at a point in my career where I feel like the pace of the game has slowed down"
On improving as a defense after last season's success:
"We know it's not the same team. Creating that motivation and ambition for ourselves and this is a different team, but we still are capable and have the players to go just as far if not farther than we did last year."
On his brother, Devin, playing in the NFL:
"It motivated me a ton, seeing him get drafted and seeing the process. It's definitely something I want to do, and it gives me that much more motivation."
Wide Receiver Bryson Green
On growing as a wide receiver last season:
"I was in there with a great receivers coach in Coach Dunn and with great receivers around me like Tay Martin and Braydon Johnson. Just being around those guys has kind of helped put me in positions that as long as I know the offense, I can do something to try to support the team."
On OSU's young receiving corps:
"We were all roommates when we first got here. When we first got here, I was working with those guys, either going in with coach Dunn or just watching film together or learning the plays together. We had a whiteboard in our room, and we drew plays together. That helped a lot having guys that wanted the same goal and had the same passion to contribute to a wonderful program."
Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
"We've had a couple padded practices, which have been good. Everything's going well at this time. Guys are handling the weather and they're working hard. We haven't had any issues one way or the other that are worth talking about. We're just moving forward with where we're at. We've got a long way to go. We've got a good group, as I mentioned earlier. I'm excited. I like what I see with coaching interactions with players, nice effort, responsibility, loyalty to each other and to the team. I'm excited about where we're at but we've got a lot of work ahead of us."
On having any sense at this point of the year of how good this team can be:
"You know, it's interesting: we weren't any good the first four, five, six games when you put it on the national platform. We were beat up and couldn't practice very hard. We struggled to get through practice. We were playing freshmen that shouldn't have been on the field, but they had to be out there by default, so we had to adjust game plans offensively. The defense carried us. Once we got healthy and we got to practice the way we're accustomed to, we had some continuity. The quarterback could get a feel for what's going on outside on the perimeter. I felt like we were pretty good because no one could move the ball on us. For the first time in my career, when we went into a game, I felt like we had a defense that could just stop people; if we could just manage to score about 15 or 20 points, we could win. It's so early, right now, in watching our defense, I'm comfortable with our pass rush. We're young at linebacker. We can run. We can hit. We don't know a lot because we haven't had many quality reps. We're replacing some safeties and corners, but the corners have had a considerable number of quality reps, so I feel pretty comfortable on the back end. I feel comfortable with the coaches. I like the transition of where we're at with Coach (Derek) Mason and Joe Bob (Clements) moving to linebackers. Then offensively, we are who we are. Now, we have more depth than we've had at wideout, which helps us. Obviously, quarterback was here. Replacing Jaylen Warren will be a task, but we've got guys that are running around and competing. We're in a pretty good position up front with the offensive line. We're able to run the first two groups in and be pretty consistent. The third group is getting quality reps, but they're young. I feel good about our special teams. The kickers, punters and snappers are veterans; they've been around. I feel good about where we're at. Predictions wise, I don't know. We stay healthy, the team learns to care about each other, we could be pretty good."
On practicing with purposeful physicality:
"We've been very physical the last two practices. We lost a number of practices for three to five guys that need the physical aspect of the game. We're going to play a little catch up and see where we're at in about 10 practices and then make a decision on if we should push forward with it or if we can back off."
On potential starters at offensive line:
"I think there are seven guys that have enough experience and we feel like that could play and play at a really high level and play fast like we're used to and comfortable with. I think we have three other guys that are coming along and are learning the system. They're trying to adapt to who we are and what we do. They have the skill there. I've said this for years: we need three guards, three tackles and two centers to make it through a season and hope that we don't have to go any further than that when you're dealing with maturity and experience and toughness. I think we have that right now. One of the challenges, in my opinion, in coaching and doing the best job possible as head coach is, 'How physical can you be?' while also trying to keep everybody healthy. We need them out there in the first game. That's where we're at right now. (Charlie Dickey) is working some through at a few different positions. We've got guys that rotate in with the ones and the twos that played a pretty significant numbers of snaps this year in quality games, which is better than where we were at last year."
On Caleb Etienne's progress:
"Caleb still has a way to go, but he's a completely different player right now. He's, I'm not for sure, 40 pounds lighter, he might be 50 pounds lighter, but he's in condition now. He's been with us long enough that he understands who we are and how we practice. Once he got his body under control, now he can get his mind under control and think and play fast. He's getting better every day."
On the energy levels of the offensive linemen in practice:
"Well that's really what I watch now. I'm watching those things and that's very important with where we are at. It was interesting, some of the skill players were dragging and the big guys were doing good today, which is the opposite as you mentioned. Coach (Rob) Glass mentioned in our staff meeting a week ago that he felt like we were in really good physical condition, and he doesn't say that much. It's hard to get that out of him. He gauges most of that on the big guys because the skill kids are going to come along. I mean they are the most athletic so once they get adjusted, they will be fine."
On how important Spencer Sander's experience will be:
"There is no substitute for experience and reps. He's really good at what we do. He can run any play in our system. All of our really fast plays that we have, which we have a lot of them, I think we have 47 of them, and he can run them without even being coached at this point. We have a really simple offense, except for at quarterback. Once they get it, they all of a sudden get better, and it only happens from making mistakes and reps."
On coaching his son, Gunnar:
"It's extremely difficult for both of us, but what I do is just stay away. Tim (Rattay) does a great job. It's best for me to stay away from them and let (Rattay) coach him and let him function throughout the day. I don't know if I'm right cause it's the first time I've done it, but I just stay away and let it all take place. I don't really get involved in it, and I think that's the best way to handle it."
On Trace Ford:
"It's a challenge mentally, right? You get injured and then you get injured again, it can be a difficult experience. When you take something away from somebody that they really love to do, that's tough on young people. It's tough on adults and it happened to him. Then, he was all revved up and ready to go, and then it happened again. I was really worried about him coming back, you know. He's got a good upbringing and he's got good support, but it's not easy. He's healthy now and he feels good, so we're bringing him along slow. We'll give him a little more next week, and then the third week, we'll put him in there with some contact and getting some action and we'll get him in the game week. I believe when we play the game, and we turn him loose, I think he'll play. We had a number of people that have worked with him. Not only doctors, but people checking on him like his position coaches and Richetti Jones, the director of player personnel. When I would see him around, I would stop and ask him 'How are you doing? How's everything going?' He did some of the procedures and medical work in Tulsa. He was going back and forth, and I'd ask him it's going and how they feel about him. Just touching base with him. He's quiet, too. He doesn't talk much. It's hard to get him to really talk a lot, but I know he's in a much better place now than he was at this time last year."
On the defense repeating the success of last season despite losing key players:
"We're in a much better position now, than we were last year. I think they'll play really well together. I said this when I met with you guys a few days ago, it's a little unrealistic for us to expect them to start where they left off last year because last year they were legitimately in the top five in the country. When you lead the nation in sacks and have multiple games in conference play where you have over six or seven sacks, it's pretty awesome. I think they're going to play really well; I really do."
On Dominic Richardson being an every-down back:
"He's thick enough and physical enough do that. Now, I've also said this now for a number of years, it takes more than one at this level because they take a lot of hits. He is physical, he's mature and he's been around a while, which is going to help him out. He's a different runner. He's more of a slasher, he's going to drop his pads and try to run through somebody, then take off and go. But we need him to be durable. I don't worry about his attitude; I don't worry about his toughness. We just need him to be durable and to give us 18 carries a game if he needs to. Then the other guys are going to have to help. We're going to have to play three backs. I don't know when the last year we had a back that played all year long. I can't remember that we had to have a second and third team back."
Quarterback Spencer Sanders
On being a leader on the offense:
"I want to put them in the best position possible, so whatever I can do to help this team win, whatever I can do to make anyone as comfortable as possible, that's what I want to do."
On the upcoming season:
"I feel like we have so much talent in so many areas. Hopefully we can come together and get to that Big 12 championship game like we did last year and take it all the way."
On the start of fall practice:
"Offense is really pushing the tempo and the defense is looking phenomenal as always. I think we are really coming together. Everybody is getting better every day."
On the Cowboy offense:
"It's time to show people what this offense can do. We have to take care of the little things, so that when the big things come, the little things take care of the big things."
Wide Receiver Jaden Bray
On the experience he gained as a freshman last season:
"We made it all the way to the Big 12 Championship, so I am trying to make it back there, but we want to win it this time."
On improving from freshman to sophomore year:
"This year I'm just more comfortable and obviously more experienced than last year."
On the wide receiver room and the camaraderie:
"It's great. It is a great group of guys in there. Every guy is different. Everyone can do something another guy can't and we all learn from each other."
Linebacker Mason Cobb
On the depth at linebacker:
"This group coming up, we have three or four deep that can all play on the field."
On the transition to Derek Mason:
"It's been smooth. I love the way he coaches. He coaches everyone the same, from walk-ons to starters. I love how we are doing things."
On Joe Bob Clements moving to coaching the linebackers:
"It's kind of nice because the past two years we've had GAs, so for him to come in with his wisdom, to have somebody like that that's been around for a long time has brought us all together. I'm really excited to have Joe Bob there."
Running Back Dominic Richardson
On becoming a leader to younger running backs:
"It's been a challenge for sure. Being the guy who's the main leader and you have to do everything right, so these young guys can watch me and pick up something from me every single time. It's a great lesson for me as well because I've been a leader in high school before, but in college, it's a big deal. I had Chuba (Hubbard) and Jaylen (Warren). All of them went off and they taught me how to be a leader."
On feeling the pressure to perform this season:
"There is a little bit of pressure, but not as much because I've been working to this point for a long time. I knew one year would come and now this is the year. I put in the extra work after practice, do the extra studies and working out some more like footwork and how to run my pass protection right. It's all that, for sure."
On the offensive line:
"They're great. I mean, if I didn't have them, I'd have nothing at all. Without them, I wouldn't be the type of running back I am today. I'm so grateful for my line. Even the receivers, they also help with a lot of the blocking as well."
Safety Jason Taylor II
On the strength of the defense:
"We love to compete. We're always competing with each other. I think that's what separates us from other teams, we're very competitive."
On first week of practice:
"You got to take it day by day, period by period. Every day is a grind, and every day is something different. You're getting ready for a season. You don't practice like this during the season, so you use this as a way of preparation."
On the importance of pre-season practice:
"It's very important. I know that this season's first game preparation started way back after the bowl game. So really, every single step of the way is all leading to this season and I think that's what also builds character. You learn about your teammates before the season starts."
Safety Thomas Harper
On the defense:
"We've just really been trying to learn all the ins-and-outs of the playback and learning the new system. This is our first time playing together as a unit, so we're just trying to feed off each other."
On his improvement:
"I think I'm improving tremendously, consistency-wise. The game gets a lot slower the older I get. I'm at a point in my career where I feel like the pace of the game has slowed down"
On improving as a defense after last season's success:
"We know it's not the same team. Creating that motivation and ambition for ourselves and this is a different team, but we still are capable and have the players to go just as far if not farther than we did last year."
On his brother, Devin, playing in the NFL:
"It motivated me a ton, seeing him get drafted and seeing the process. It's definitely something I want to do, and it gives me that much more motivation."
Wide Receiver Bryson Green
On growing as a wide receiver last season:
"I was in there with a great receivers coach in Coach Dunn and with great receivers around me like Tay Martin and Braydon Johnson. Just being around those guys has kind of helped put me in positions that as long as I know the offense, I can do something to try to support the team."
On OSU's young receiving corps:
"We were all roommates when we first got here. When we first got here, I was working with those guys, either going in with coach Dunn or just watching film together or learning the plays together. We had a whiteboard in our room, and we drew plays together. That helped a lot having guys that wanted the same goal and had the same passion to contribute to a wonderful program."
Players Mentioned
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OL
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DE
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CB
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QB
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S
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RB
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