Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Gundy, Cowboys Discuss Fall Camp with Media
August 15, 2024 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy and several Cowboy student-athletes visited with the media following Thursday's practice in Stillwater. Here are some of their comments:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On fall camp progress:
"Everything has been good. We have to get to a point, middle of next week, where we are reducing critical errors and mistakes and playing really good fundamental football."
On defensive depth:
"We're deeper up front than we have been in that box area. We're probably a half-man deeper at safety, about the same at corner. We got probably three and a half (at safety). Depends on if we get a young guy ready to play, but that's a position that you're really not wanting to throw a young guy out there early in the year. (The linebackers are) doing good. We've got quite a few guys that are playing that spot, and they're doing well. Justin Wright is back in there, trying to feel his way through, working his way back into it. The other guys are getting good, quality reps. We have decent depth at that spot."
On afternoon kickoffs early this season:
"There will be afternoon kickoffs across the country and that's a part of it during this time of year… I just talked to the team yesterday; you're going to get about six games that are going to be like this. Used to be two or three, but we play games that are extremely warm all the way up to October now, so guys have to get used to it and be prepared to play in the heat."
On coach Sean Snyder:
"It's been an interesting concept and a very good experience for me to watch. Most of what we've done will stay the course, but then there's some things that he wanted to do that we've changed a little bit. It's been a really good learning experience for me. We brought him in here because he understands the actual integral, fundamental part of punting and kicking, so he's been invaluable to our team for that reason."
On turning focus to the season:
"The (transfer) portal is over. All the negotiation is history, now we're playing football… We're able to direct ourselves just at football. That part is fine, because there's been so much other stuff going on, it's been hard to really focus on football."
On the quarterback room:
"They're all doing good. (Alan) Bowman's further ahead just based on the game experience that he got last year. (Garret) Rangel and Zane (Flores) are all working with the ones, so they're getting good-quality reps."
Wide Receiver De'Zhaun Stribling
On the wide receivers:
"It's a great group. You have (Brennan Presley) on the inside doing wonderful, and Rashod (Owens) is a big body on the outside doing good too. We also have another young receiver that's stepping up, (Talyn) Shettron has been playing really good. Also, Gavin Freeman from OU is doing great, putting his time in and getting familiar with all the plays. So is (Da'Wain) Lofton. So, across the whole board, we have a lot of guys who are making plays and ready to play at a high level."
On teammates driving him to improve:
"It's really good, because it pushes me to be better every day. (Brennan Presley), like I said, is a great receiver and has a great mindset of what he wants to do and how to be better every day. So, that makes me push to be better every day. Rashod (Owens), his mindset of where he wants to be, what he wants to do and what he wants to accomplish, it just uplifts the whole room and gets everybody to play at a high level. Never be complacent and just always striving to be better."
Offensive Lineman Joe Michalski
On practicing against Justin Kirkland:
"He's a load. He's a big dude that's probably the strongest person I've ever seen in my life. It's fun. We get along, so there's no bitter rivalry, there's no dirty stuff. I mean, iron sharpens iron, we make each other better every day."
On what he's seen from South Dakota State:
"They just don't make a lot of mistakes… They're really good at what they do. They know their job. They're high effort, there's no lazy guys on that team and they're just really good at knowing their assignment. That's what they're good at and that's how they beat people. They don't make mistakes, they wait for other people to make mistakes."
Cornerback Korie Black
On the benefits of experience at cornerback:
"It's been good. We've been able to help each other with stuff and just seeing things that (we each) see, just telling each other about stuff. So, yeah, it's a good thing to have three experienced corners."
On Kendal Daniels' versatility:
"It's been kind of good because he understands how it is… So, now he's kind of like a hybrid, you know what I mean? He can cover and be in the box. It's been good for the defense."
Nose Tackle Justin Kirkland
On the team building off last season:
"We made it to the Big 12 Championship, beat OU, stuff like that. Came back from a lot of close games, and I think it was a ton of fun to see a team that refused to lose when we easily could have folded. To take those same guys and run with it again this year, the sky's the limit for this team."
On improved comfortability in year two:
"Yeah, just it comes with more experience. Last year was kind of deer in headlights first couple games and then started getting into a routine. Now it's like I can look in the backfield, see where Ollie's at, see where Alan's looking before the snap, listen to the center, talk to the guys, more stuff like that. Really dial in, see the little things more."
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On fall camp progress:
"Everything has been good. We have to get to a point, middle of next week, where we are reducing critical errors and mistakes and playing really good fundamental football."
On defensive depth:
"We're deeper up front than we have been in that box area. We're probably a half-man deeper at safety, about the same at corner. We got probably three and a half (at safety). Depends on if we get a young guy ready to play, but that's a position that you're really not wanting to throw a young guy out there early in the year. (The linebackers are) doing good. We've got quite a few guys that are playing that spot, and they're doing well. Justin Wright is back in there, trying to feel his way through, working his way back into it. The other guys are getting good, quality reps. We have decent depth at that spot."
On afternoon kickoffs early this season:
"There will be afternoon kickoffs across the country and that's a part of it during this time of year… I just talked to the team yesterday; you're going to get about six games that are going to be like this. Used to be two or three, but we play games that are extremely warm all the way up to October now, so guys have to get used to it and be prepared to play in the heat."
On coach Sean Snyder:
"It's been an interesting concept and a very good experience for me to watch. Most of what we've done will stay the course, but then there's some things that he wanted to do that we've changed a little bit. It's been a really good learning experience for me. We brought him in here because he understands the actual integral, fundamental part of punting and kicking, so he's been invaluable to our team for that reason."
On turning focus to the season:
"The (transfer) portal is over. All the negotiation is history, now we're playing football… We're able to direct ourselves just at football. That part is fine, because there's been so much other stuff going on, it's been hard to really focus on football."
On the quarterback room:
"They're all doing good. (Alan) Bowman's further ahead just based on the game experience that he got last year. (Garret) Rangel and Zane (Flores) are all working with the ones, so they're getting good-quality reps."
Wide Receiver De'Zhaun Stribling
On the wide receivers:
"It's a great group. You have (Brennan Presley) on the inside doing wonderful, and Rashod (Owens) is a big body on the outside doing good too. We also have another young receiver that's stepping up, (Talyn) Shettron has been playing really good. Also, Gavin Freeman from OU is doing great, putting his time in and getting familiar with all the plays. So is (Da'Wain) Lofton. So, across the whole board, we have a lot of guys who are making plays and ready to play at a high level."
On teammates driving him to improve:
"It's really good, because it pushes me to be better every day. (Brennan Presley), like I said, is a great receiver and has a great mindset of what he wants to do and how to be better every day. So, that makes me push to be better every day. Rashod (Owens), his mindset of where he wants to be, what he wants to do and what he wants to accomplish, it just uplifts the whole room and gets everybody to play at a high level. Never be complacent and just always striving to be better."
Offensive Lineman Joe Michalski
On practicing against Justin Kirkland:
"He's a load. He's a big dude that's probably the strongest person I've ever seen in my life. It's fun. We get along, so there's no bitter rivalry, there's no dirty stuff. I mean, iron sharpens iron, we make each other better every day."
On what he's seen from South Dakota State:
"They just don't make a lot of mistakes… They're really good at what they do. They know their job. They're high effort, there's no lazy guys on that team and they're just really good at knowing their assignment. That's what they're good at and that's how they beat people. They don't make mistakes, they wait for other people to make mistakes."
Cornerback Korie Black
On the benefits of experience at cornerback:
"It's been good. We've been able to help each other with stuff and just seeing things that (we each) see, just telling each other about stuff. So, yeah, it's a good thing to have three experienced corners."
On Kendal Daniels' versatility:
"It's been kind of good because he understands how it is… So, now he's kind of like a hybrid, you know what I mean? He can cover and be in the box. It's been good for the defense."
Nose Tackle Justin Kirkland
On the team building off last season:
"We made it to the Big 12 Championship, beat OU, stuff like that. Came back from a lot of close games, and I think it was a ton of fun to see a team that refused to lose when we easily could have folded. To take those same guys and run with it again this year, the sky's the limit for this team."
On improved comfortability in year two:
"Yeah, just it comes with more experience. Last year was kind of deer in headlights first couple games and then started getting into a routine. Now it's like I can look in the backfield, see where Ollie's at, see where Alan's looking before the snap, listen to the center, talk to the guys, more stuff like that. Really dial in, see the little things more."
Players Mentioned
CB
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WR
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LB
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