Oklahoma State spring football “finale” details set
I’ve been told not to call it a spring “game,” but rather a spring “finale.”
Oklahoma State’s final spring workout, which is open to the public, will be held at 12:30 on April 21.
The format for the game/practice/finale is yet to be determined. There will also be a 30-minute meet and greet with players on the field for 30 minutes after the workout.
Admission costs $5 but also includes a ticket to the OSU-Texas Tech baseball game at 2 p.m. Children under 2 and Pistol Pete Partners are admitted free. Club tickets can also be purchased for $50. All tickets will go on sale at okstate.com at 8 a.m. Tuesday and will also be available for purchase at the ticket windows on the south side of Boone Pickens Stadium on game day (cash only).
April 21 is also the day of the Remember the 10 Run.
Oklahoma State’s Big 12 Championship rings arrive
Oklahoma State’s Big 12 Championship rings have arrived, and folks around the program were tweeting photos of the new bling Monday.
Here’s a photo Jamie Blatnick posted.
Blatnick also tweeted “I don’t think I’ll ever take it off.”
Thanks to OSU director of football operations Mack Butler, I got to see and hold the ring up close today. On one side, it says “Believe,” which was the 2011 team’s motto. On the other side, it says “41in4,” which is the Cowboys’ win total in the last four seasons.
And, yeah, it’s a huge ring. But when it’s your first-ever Big 12 title, might as well go big.
Brandon Weeden “wouldn’t even bet on” who wins Oklahoma State QB competition
Here’s my general rule on Brandon Weeden: You chat with him any chance you get. I’ve never left an interview with that guy without learning something. And, of course, he’s one of the most talked-about prospects in the NFL Draft.
So I made my first trip to Chickasha Saturday afternoon to visit with the former Cowboy QB while he was signing autographs and taking pictures with fans at Byford Buick/GMC. I used some of the material I gathered at that interview for my Insider piece in Monday’s Oklahoman.
But I also asked him about the quarterback competition at OSU, since, besides Todd Monken and Mike Gundy, probably no one has seen more of Clint Chelf and J.W. Walsh over the past year or so than Weeden. Or better knows what it will take to play quarterback in the Cowboys’ spread offense.
Does Weeden have a hunch on who will replace him as the Cowboys’ starter?
“I’m not a betting man, but if I was a betting man, I wouldn’t even bet on it,” Weeden said. “I have no idea who’s going to take that job. I think these first few weeks of spring ball, (someone’s) going to have to take it and run with it. I think that’s what coaches want to see. I think, either way, we’ve got a chance to win a lot a games.”
Side note: Gundy used the exact same “take it and run with it” comment during his press conference last Monday. Some took that as alluding to that Walsh would be the starter, because he can make a lot of plays with his legs. But both Weeden and Gundy just meant that someone needs to seize that job and keep it. But still, kind of funny that both guys used identical words. I guess that’s why they call that phrase a cliche.
Here’s Weeden’s assessment of Chelf and Walsh:
“Clint obviously has the most experience. He’s probably got a better grasp of what we do offensively, so he’s going to function better. He’s a smart kid and he can adapt and do a lot of different things. I think he’s got a chance to be a good player.
“J.W., same deal. He doesn’t have as much experience, doesn’t understand what we do quite as much as Clint, because he hasn’t gotten the reps. He’s sat there and watched and gotten mental reps. But J.W.’s athletic, can do a lot of things with his feet, run around a little bit and make the throws. From what I’ve heard, so far in (spring ball) he’s had a pretty good two or three practices.”
I’ll post the rest of our Q&A later in the week. Some topics we covered were his feelings at this point in the pre-draft process, why he compares private workouts to a game of poker, how often his age gets brought up in meetings with NFL teams and his visit with Jon Gruden for his “QB Camp” show. Stay tuned.
Once rivals, Daytawion Lowe and Shamiel Gary could start together at safety in 2012
Defensive players Nigel Nicholas (89), Shamiel Gary (7), and Daytawion Lowe (8) walk onto the field before OSU's first practice of the season on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. on Friday, August 5, 2011. Photo by Zach Gray
Daytawion Lowe and Shamiel Gary used to be fierce rivals in high school, with Lowe playing for Carl Albert and Gary playing for Tulsa Washington.
“When we were both sophomores, I hit him when he came down to play at Carl Albert,” Lowe said with a smile. “And our senior year, I caught a little jail-break screen, and he hit me. So we got a little history. We talk a little noise. That’s fun. It’s all in friendly competition.”
In 2012, Lowe and Gary could be starting alongside each other at safety for Oklahoma State.
Gary is one of three Cowboys vying for the starting spot at strong safety this spring after transferring to OSU from Wyoming in 2011. He sat out and redshirted last fall to satisfy those NCAA transfer rules and will have two more years of eligibility.
Lavocheya Cooper and Zack Craig are the others in contention to start at strong safety, the position vacated by Markelle Martin. Lowe is the projected starter at free safety after leading the Cowboys with 97 tackles last season.
Oklahoma State's Lavocheya Cooper (2) celebrates a fumble recovery on a kickoff in front of Baylor's Clay Fuller during a college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the Baylor University Bears (BU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Gary was a Freshman All-American at Wyoming after tallying 98 tackles (2.5 for loss), three interceptions (all in one game against Weber State) and six pass break-ups. His sophomore season, he totaled 94 tackles (one for loss), one interception and five pass break-ups.
OSU coach Mike Gundy expects Gary to make an impact right away.
“He made some plays (at Wyoming),” Gundy said. “Sure did. He should contribute here. He’s done well in offseason conditioning and if he stays on track, he should get to play in the first game.
“I like his athleticism. I like what he brings to the table. He seems to be a smart football player.”
And now Lowe is being motivated by his old nemesis.
“It’s been a blessing, really,” Lowe said. “The way I see (Gary) work out there, it’s kind of driven me to work that hard. The way he’s trying to pursue and fight for a position, it’s kind of driven me to work harder.”
OSU Football: Center of Attention
By John Helsley
follow on Twitter @jjhelsley
Scanning OSU’s initial spring depth chart, three positions stand out as absolutely critical to the Cowboys’ success in 2012.
Of course, you can quickly rattle off two of them: quarterback and wide receiver. The Pokes are all-in with the spread passing offense and flinging the football all over the field. It’s who they are.
So finding someone to confidently and competently deliver the football and finding several someones to catch it – forget replicating what Justin Blackmon represented – is what this spring is all about inStillwater. Pitch and catch.
That, and identifying a center.
A center I say?
In case you haven’t heard, and you may not have – heck, some of you probably haven’t even heard of him – Grant Garner is gone, his eligibility expired following a stellar career in which he made 25 starts at the starting point of all that has been superb with OSU’s offense the past two-plus seasons.
Recall these words from Cowboys line coach Joe Wickline, when asked if Garner was worthy of All-Big 12 recognition:
“No question. First-team All-Big 12. Zero question. What he means to this team, and what it would be like without him – there’s just no question that he’s an all-conference guy.”
Mike Gundy said Garner may have been OSU’s most undervalued player last season.
Think about this, how many times in recent years can you recall a bad snap?
“Grant was so smart,” said Cowboys offensive coordinator Todd Monken. “I can’t remember too often when there were snap issues, which is the most important thing, since we’re never under center. So the snapping part is a big part of it.
“And then he was such a even-keeled personality. Even though funny and joking around, the guys respected him and what he said. And just the way he carried himself and lived his life, so there’s a lot to be said for that.
“We don’t put a lot on our quarterbacks, so a lot’s on them.”
Now, a lot is on Garner’s replacement: Evan Epstein.
Who? I know, right?
But then, that’s the life of a college center, which is to say a life of obscurity.
A senior, Epstein has played only in a limited role the past two seasons, after transferring from theAirForceAcademy. Still, Monken seemed confident in Epstein’s ability to step in.
Still, he’ll be pushed this spring by sophomore Jake Jenkins and redshirt freshman Travis Cross.
The Cowboys are hoping at least one becomes a fixture.
And it’s critical, as critical as finding a quarterback and receivers.
Vanderbilt, Penn State, Wisconsin likely landing spots for QB transfer Danny O’Brien
Lots of news coming down during the past few days about Danny O’Brien, the former Maryland quarterback who will transfer from the school after graduating this spring.
Vanderbilt announced Wednesday that it has completed its internal investigation regarding its actions of members of the coaching staff regarding O’Brien and have forwarded the report to the SEC. Maryland had filed a tampering complaint to the ACC, which was forwarded to the SEC, against Vanderbilt coach James Franklin, who was the Terps’ offensive coordinator and head-coach-in-waiting under Ralph Friedgen and had a strong relationship with O’Brien.
Penn State has also surfaced as a possible destination for O’Brien, according to this report from the State College News.
Wisconsin is another potential landing spot, the Sporting News reported last week. The Badgers had great success with Russell Wilson a year ago, who played his final year of eligibility in 2011 after graduating from NC State.
Why does this matter to Oklahoma State fans?
A very good source told me recently that O’Brien has indeed contacted OSU. No one at the school can publicly comment on a player looking to transfer — he is, essentially, a recruit. The source said O’Brien will visit schools during spring practices, though the specific destinations were not known.
But O’Brien’s high school coach, Todd Willert, told the State College News that O’Brien is looking for a school that runs a pro-style offense. If that’s a deal-breaker, that would take OSU out of the equation, since the Cowboys run a spread attack.
OSU is currently in the midst of a three-man competition for the starting quarterback spot between Clint Chelf, J.W. Walsh and Wes Lunt. Coach Mike Gundy has said he wants to name a starter by the end of spring practice.
Willert said O’Brien, who was the ACC Freshman of the Year in 2010, plans to make a final decision on where he’ll play the next two years by mid-April. It looks like Vanderbilt, Wisconsin or Penn State, and not OSU, will get his services.
Weeden2Blackmon combination continuing in the NFL?
Could the Weeden2Blackmon combination actually continue in the NFL?
Yes, through this possible scenario.
With the Redskins trading up to No. 2 to take Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III and the Buccaneers, who currently hold the No. 5 pick, likely to sign former Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson, that means it’s almost certain that Blackmon will not be selected first, second or fifth overall.
That leaves the Vikings and Browns, who hold the Nos. 3 and 4 picks, respectively, as possible destinations for Blackmon in the top 5.
Minnesota could use a No. 1 receiver for young quarterback Christian Ponder, but it appears more likely the Vikings will take USC left tackle Matt Kalil. Cleveland could also use a playmaker at wide receiver for whoever plays quarterback for the Browns.
Could that be Brandon Weeden?
Weeden is projected to be selected in the late first round or second round. The Browns also hold the 22nd overall pick, and even if Cleveland selects another player there, the Cowboy teammates could still be united.
Right now, the only other team late in the first round that seems to make sense for Weeden is the Broncos, based on the visit Weeden got from John Elway, John Fox and Co. before OSU’s Pro Day last week.
But the Broncos are also seriously interested in Peyton Manning, and could be the frontrunner for his services. If Manning winds up in Denver and Weeden falls off the Broncos’ radar, here’s the draft order following that No. 25 pick.
22. Cleveland
23. Detroit (Matt Stafford)
24. Pittsburgh (Ben Roethlisberger)
24. Denver
26. Houston (Matt Schaub)
27. New England (Tom Brady)
28. Green Bay (Aaron Rodgers)
29. Baltimore (Joe Flacco)
30. San Francisco (Alex Smith—free agent)
31. New England (Brady)
32. New York Giants (Eli Manning)
*Second round*
33. St. Louis (Sam Bradford)
34. Indianapolis (Andrew Luck, we can assume)
35. Minnesota (Ponder)
36. Tampa Bay (Josh Freeman)
And…
37. Cleveland
The Browns are clearly looking at other options at quarterback, since they were reported to be the other major player in the race to trade up and draft RG3. Why not draft both pieces of one of the most lethal quarterback-receiver duos in college football the past two seasons?
Of course, there are likely to be plenty more trades leading up to and during the draft, meaning this order will probably change. The Browns could add a quarterback via free agency like Matt Flynn, who Cleveland is negotiating with, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Cleveland also might opt to draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson or LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne with the fourth overall pick instead of Blackmon. Lots and lots of possibilities.
Here is where some of the top mock drafts have Blackmon going.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper: No. 4 (Browns)
ESPN Scouts Inc.’s Todd McShay: No. 6 (Rams)
NFL Network’s Chad Rueter: No. 6 (Rams)
NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi: No. 4 (Browns)
NFL Network’s Albert Breer: No. 6 (Rams)
NFL Network’s Charley Casserly: No. 4 (Browns)
CBS Sports’ Rob Rang: No. 6 (Rams)
CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler: No. 6 (Rams)
Players on Scout’s 300 interested in Oklahoma State
Never too early for some recruiting buzz, right?
Scout updated its top 300 prospects for 2013 Wednesday. At this point, most of these players have several schools they are interested in, but below are the ones who list Oklahoma State. It gives an early group of high school players to keep an eye on.
Couple observations:
*Three of these prospects are from Arizona and two are from California. Think those players noticed OSU playing Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl in January?
*Both five-star prospects are safeties. OSU has some youth at that position–no player in the two-deep is a senior–but did not sign any safeties in the 2012 class. That’s definitely a position of need in 2013.
*Offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s connection to Illinois and linebackers coach Glenn Spencer’s connection to Georgia are apparent again. Two prospects are from Georgia and one is from Illinois.
Five-star prospects
No. 32 Vonn Bell, safety, Rossville, Ga.
6-1, 190, 4.47
Interested in: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, Vanderbilt
OSU offer: Yes
No. 33 Priest Willis, safety, Tempe, Ariz.
6-2, 190
Interested in: Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Purdue, San Diego State, UCLA, USC, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington State, West Virginia
OSU offer: Yes
Four-star prospects
No. 38 D.J. Ward, defensive end, Lawton (Lawton)
6-4, 235
Interested in: Arizona, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tulsa
OSU offer: Yes
No. 39 Darrell Daniels, wide receiver, Oakley, Calif.
6-3, 210
Interested in: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Colorado State, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, Washington, Washington State
OSU offer: Yes
No. 64 Ezekiel Elliot, running back, St. Louis
6-0, 195, 4.40
Interested in: Arizona State, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas State, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wisconsin
OSU offer: No
No. 70 Dontre Wilson, running back, DeSoto, Texas
5-10, 180, 4.40
Interested in: Alabama, Baylor, Colorado, Colorado State, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, Texas, Texas A&M
OSU offer: Yes
No. 76 Laquon Treadwell, wide receiver, Crete, Ill.
6-3, 190
Interested in: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, USC, Vanderbilt
OSU offer: Yes
No. 84 Torrodney Prevot, defensive end, Houston
6-4, 205
Interested in: Arizona State, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, LSU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Utah, West Virginia
OSU offer: Yes
No. 94 Joe Mathis, defensive end, Upland, Calif.
6-4, 250
Interested in: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State
OSU offer: Yes
No. 117 Trent Hosick, quarterback, Kansas City, Mo.
6-2, 221
Interested in: Arizona State, Baylor, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State
OSU offer: No
No. 121 Maurice Smith, cornerback, Sugar Land, Texas
6-1, 175
Interested in: Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, LSU, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Utah
OSU offer: Yes
No. 127 Reggie Chevis, linebacker, Houston
6-1, 245
Interested in: Alabama, Boise State, Houston, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Rice, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Washington State
OSU offer: No
No. 131 Devon Allen, wide receiver, Phoenix
6-1, 190
Interested in: Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado State, Duke, Michigan, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, Purdue, Stanford, UCLA, Utah, Vanderbilt, Washington
OSU offer: Yes
No. 143 Brayden Scott, quarterback, Tahlequah (Sequoyah)
6-1, 195
Interested in: Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Tulsa
OSU offer: No
No. 145 Ra’Shaad Samples, wide receiver, Dallas
5-11, 170
Interested in: Alabama, Arizona State, Baylor, California, Colorado, Colorado State, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Purdue, SMU, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tulsa, UCLA, Vanderbilt
OSU offer: Yes
No. 162 Cody Thomas, quarterback, Colleyville, Texas
6-5, 220
Interested in: Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida International, Michigan State, Mississippi, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, USC, Vanderbilt, Virginia
OSU offer: Yes
No. 164 Kenny Lacy, offensive tackle, Phoenix
6-5, 260
Interested in: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, California, Colorado, Kansas State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, Purdue, San Diego State, Tulsa, UCLA, Utah, Vanderbilt, Washington, Washington State, West Virginia
OSU offer: Yes
No. 187 Deon Hollins, linebacker, Missouri City, Texas
6-2, 222
Interested in: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Boise State, Colorado, Kansas State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oergon, Stanford, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, Utah, Washington, West Virginia
OSU offer: Yes
No. 224 Naim Mustafaa, defensive end, Alpharetta, Ga.
6-4, 225
Interested in: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech
OSU offer: Yes
No. 243 Antwuan Davis, cornerback, Bastrop, Texas
6-0, 175
Interested in: Alabama, Baylor, LSU, Michigan, Mississippi, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt
OSU offer: Yes
No. 246 Stanvon Taylor, cornerback, Tulsa (East Central)
5-11, 170
Interested in: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tulsa
OSU offer: No
Three-star prospects
No. 259 Dylan Cantrell, wide receiver, Whitehouse, Texas
6-2, 195, 4.55
Interested in: Texas Tech, Arkansas, Baylor, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Navy, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Penn State, Rice, Texas, Texas A&M, Wake Forest, Washington State, West Virginia
OSU offer: No
No. 265 Marcell Ateman, wide receiver, Wylie, Texas
6-4, 190
Interested in: Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, BYU, Iowa State, Michigan, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas, Texas Tech, Virginia, Washington State
OSU offer: Yes
No. 285 Adam Taylor, running back, Katy, Texas
6-0, 190
Interested in: Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Colorado, Illinois, LSU, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Texas, Texas A&M, Wisconsin
OSU offer: Yes
No. 295 Josh Banderas, linebacker, Lincoln, Neb.
6-2, 215
Interested in: Alabama, Iowa State, Kansas State, LSU, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Southeast Missouri State, Tulsa
OSU offer: No
Oklahoma State releases spring depth chart
Oklahoma State released its spring football depth chart Thursday. You can take a look below or click here to download a PDF.
Here are some initial things I noticed:
- Blake Jackson is listed as an inside receiver, not a tight end.
- Tracy Moore is moving from inside receiver to outside receiver.
- Tyler Johnson is moving from linebacker to defensive end.
- Nigel Nicholas is moving from defensive tackle to defensive end.
New additions:
- 9 Jeremiah Tshimanga, LB
- 11 Wes Lunt, QB
- 12 Daxx Garman, QB
- 18 Blake Jackson, TE/IR
- 99 Calvin Barnett, DT
Non-seniors/draft-eligible players off the roster (using Fiesta Bowl roster as reference)
- 8 Jase Chilcoat, QB
- 15 Isaac McCoy, WR
- 19 Dillon Fedora, IR
- 31 Brandon Speth, CB
- 46 Sawyer Levit, DT
- 50 Jesse Venzor, LS
- 57 DeJuan Davis, OL
- 67 Caleb Thyer, DT
- 78 Taylor Hodge, OL
- 85 Justin Southwell, IR
Spring practices begin Monday.
Mike Gundy on Oklahoma State’s spring position battles
Here are some more notes from the pre-spring practice conversation with Mike Gundy, which focus mostly on the position battles heading into the spring.
Quarterbacks
I will have a big story on this on Sunday, so I’m going to hold onto those quotes for now. But junior Clint Chelf, redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh and true freshman Wes Lunt will have equal reps in the spring. And even though Chelf is an upperclassman and the only quarterback that has taken a college snap, it’s not “his job to lose.” It truly is an open competition.
Daxx Garman, a transfer from Arizona, is indeed on campus. This was something I was honestly unsure about, because he was not included in the release announcing Lunt, Blake Jackson, Calvin Barnett and Jeremiah Tshimanga had enrolled early. Garman will participate in spring drills but won’t get any reps, since he has to sit out 2012 because of NCAA transfer rules.
Pass-catchers
This is when it was revealed that Michael Harrison had decided to leave the OSU football program. Some bullet points to keep in mind here: He was suspended by the NCAA, not Gundy or OSU; He was not kicked off the team but decided to leave on his own terms; Gundy was notified of Harrison’s decision about a week ago, not when the news first came out in mid-February that he would not play in 2012; to the best of Gundy’s knowledge, Harrison has not yet asked for a release from OSU.
When asked who will step up at receiver, Gundy basically rattled off every returning receiver on the roster—Tracy Moore, Isaiah Anderson, Josh Stewart (or “No. 5,” as Gundy likes to say) and Charlie Moore.
But then the conversation turned to junior college tight end Blake Jackson, who I wrote about in January, but Gundy offered some more insight on progress so far and style of play.
“He’s 20 pounds heavier than he was when he got here, he’s developed, his attitude’s good. He can really snatch the ball, he plays faster than he looks, he’s big and physical. He hasn’t made any plays for us, he made a lot of plays on the teams he played with before, but he has potential to be a really good player. But it’s impossible to say (how good he really is), because he hasn’t been with me.
“He’s a little more elusive than what people think, and he’s hard to get down. He should catch a lot of balls at eight yards and less, but he’s not a guy that’s limited speed-wise and stays in that area. He can run a 16-yard crossing route. He should play attached, in a wing and split out.
“He very well could be (the most versatile tight end I’ve had at OSU) with his body type and his ability to run. I’m hoping that he’s going to be a more agile (Brandon) Pettigrew. In seeing what I’ve seen so far, he’s not as far along as Pettigrew was at blocking the edge. Pettigrew was probably the best in the country his years. So that’s an unfair comparison, comparing him to a first-round pick who was probably the best blocker we’ve ever had. So he’s not going to be as far along there, but I’m hoping he’s more advanced out here (as a receiver), more flexible than what Pettigrew was. So then we have to balance where he’s at based on his strengths.”
Center
Brandon Weeden called Grant Garner the most important offensive player for OSU last season. He’s gone now, as well as backup Casey LaBrue. Evan Epstein, who began his career at Air Force before transferring to OSU in 2009, should begin the spring as the starter.
Here’s Gundy’s take:
“When Garner took over, nobody thought he was going to be on the team. He was a guy most people thought he was just a guy we were filling a hole with. He ended up being, in some people’s mind, a third-team All-American. What you’re saying’s right. Every question you’re asking is right, but I just have no concern with it. There’s guys in our program that’ll make plays.”
Defensive end
Other than quarterback, this is probably the most intriguing position battle in the spring, because the Cowboys have to replace both starters. Cooper Bassett and Ryan Robinson are expected to top the spring depth chart. Gundy spoke about Robinson, as well as youngster Jimmy Bean, who should be a key part of the rotation in 2012.
Gundy on Jimmy Bean’s potential:
“He’s 22 pounds heavier and should make some plays. Bean got thrown out there because we had a depth issue last year, and it was unfair to him. We threw him out there, we had to play him early in the year to get his feet wet, to get him adjusted to it in case we got into a championship run and lost (Jamie) Blatnick or Richetti (Jones). Somebody’s got to play. Decisions we make early in the season are based on, OK, if we’re late in the year and we’re trying to beat a team to win a championship and somebody goes down, I don’t want to throw Bean out there and he’s never played before. Unfortunately, we have to play some of those guys. We went through the same thing with (running backs) Desmond (Roland) and Herschel (Sims). We played Des because Herschel was a long ways away, because mentally he wasn’t there. Then Herschel came around about a month later, then we played him.”
On Ryan Robinson’s progress:
“He didn’t understand. He came in here from junior college, and things are a lot different. Everybody’s bigger and faster and stronger and there’s 80,000 people (in the stands) and you’re on TV and you’re tired and you’ve got to go to class. Just all the things that factor into being a kid. Now you’re playing and you’re not that strong and you don’t know the system as well and you think and you’re hesitant. Now he’s 265 (pounds)—that’s what he said he was when I saw him out the other day working. When we ran our 200s, he made every one of them. When he showed up here last year, he missed three or four of them. He was ready to quit. He’s going to be different this year. I’m just giving you an example, an illustration, or really why I’m not concerned (about the players we have to replace).”
Safety
When asked who would start opposite Daytawion Lowe at safety, Gundy immediately said Lavocheya Cooper. I found that interesting, since Zack Craig became the main guy behind Markelle Martin and Lowe and made some plays late in the season, especially after Deion Imade went down with a knee injury in November. But Cooper also missed the first part of 2011, which I’m sure hindered his overall effectiveness when he came back.
Here’s Gundy’s take:
“Johnny (Thomas) and Markelle played 70 plays a game, we all know that, and they’re both gone. But ‘Voch has played, Zack’s played, Daytawion’s played. So one of those guys (will start opposite Lowe). Would I like to have one more going into the spring? I’d like to be two-deep, but nobody is.”
