Finally, after 240 days, Cowboy fans sit on the precipice of a new season and the long adventurous journey ahead. Now, only a trio of days remain before the 2022 season officially kicks off against the Chippewas of Central Michigan where the Cowboys aim to build upon last season's accomplishments in pursuit of a Big 12 Championship and a shot at the College Football Playoffs.
Do not be misled. This Oklahoma State football team is very good, and the potential is there for a memorable season. Sure, there are a few areas of needed maturation and experience, but this team has talent spread throughout much of the roster. Very few positional question marks remained after the spring, and all that could be answered in fall camp, were. Championship seasons require the blessings of good health with limited injuries, particularly at the same position, but fortunately, the team begins the year with good overall health and depth. Optimism abounds for good reason. Potential upside and ceiling create excitement. This team realistically has every goal in front of it, not just the promise of being very good and playing in a nice bowl game. The road will not be easy. The conference road schedule, which has the Cowboys playing the top 3 competitors for the conference crown all on the road, is brutal. Transfer quarterbacks have come into the league, giving teams offensive boosts with experienced players. Still, this Cowboy team has everything needed to come out on top, so long as they stay healthy, minimize mistakes, and play to their potential.
The starting point for evaluating the season ahead requires reflection on this season past, one in which Oklahoma State truly maximized its potential as a team. Few teams in Cowboy history have shown the fortitude to build throughout a season as they did, exceeding expectations all season long, overcoming deficiencies and finding new ways to win close games. By the end of the season, the team and its fans believed it could play with anyone in the country, and they were right. Even so, at the end of the year, both shared a sense of missed opportunity as the season fell merely a few inches away from a Big 12 championship and a possible CFP bid. Don't forget that despite falling just short of the goal-line, Spencer Sanders led the team on that game-ending 17 play, 89 yard drive that demonstrated the never say die mentality of the team. They fought back from behind for a chance to win, overcoming mistakes and misfortune. Why is that important, because they drew on that in the second half of the Fiesta Bowl with the school's largest come from behind victory against Notre Dame. From the heartbreak against Baylor, this team learned the lesson and finished the come back. Several leaders and playmakers have departed, but a strong core returns to build upon those lessons learned.
Thanks to the pandemic, last year's Super Seniors did not count towards a team's 85 scholarship limit. Many teams benefited, but OSU benefitted more than most, carrying 29 seniors. Not only did the seven Super Seniors (Rodriguez, Harper, T. Martin, Sills, Godlevske, LD Brown, Carter) provide incredible on-field production and leadership, but their extra year did not impede the recruitment of depth. Combine that with the change in practice rep distribution, and the Oklahoma State defense was as deep as it has ever been by the end of the season. The depth was good enough that the preseason loss of the best defensive player (Trace Ford) was a non factor, and opened up opportunity for Super-Frosh Collin Oliver to make an immediate impact. {Side note: Do not be surprised if the concept of making Super Senior eligibility permanent for players who complete their degrees as an initial step towards expanding roster limits as the expanded CFP increases the number of games in a season.}
The 1-year COVID eligibility exemption no longer applies to a team's 85-man roster limit, so this past off-season saw many quality college players take that bonus year of eligibility to new locations, leaving a handful to stay behind. The Cowboys said 'good-bye' to S Tanner McAllister (Ohio State), CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse (LSU), and DT Jayden Jernigan (Missouri), but welcome back DE Brock Martin, DT Sione Asi, DT Brendon Evers, K Tanner Brown, DS Matt Hembrough, and WR Braydon Johnson. As a result, the kicking game was solidified and the strength of the team moved to the defensive line.
The defense lost some players who played incredibly well last year, and their losses will be felt individually, but Coach Mason has all the pieces necessary to build on the accomplishments of 2021. Up front, the Cowboys have multiple, experienced, big bodied players to roll through the defensive tackle spots and a historically deep group of ends who can hold the edge and get after the passer. Their skills sets and versatility are incredibly valuable for developing special packages and schemes for different opponents throughout the year. There are at least four linebackers ready to play. What they lack in experience, they make up for in athleticism and aggressiveness. The challenges for them will be lining up correctly, making run correct run fits, and tackling consistently. This group may provide more big plays and big hits, but 3rd down defensive efficiency in short to medium yard situations will drop, especially early in the season. The starting corners have NFL upside and the guys behind them have incredible length and raw athleticism. Their play this fall has been very strong. The safety group is lead by veteran playmakers with a couple of very high upside youngsters with great range and speed. Defensively, this squad has lots of speed, faster overall than last year.
Offensively, the Cowboys have a veteran dual threat quarterback who has proven capable of making big plays. The improvement on the offensive line and the available depth of play-makers at receiver will allow the coaches to open up the offense more this season than last. Expect to see more 4 wide and empty sets mixed in than at any point in the first half of 2021. The oft maligned offensive line has done well this fall. Moving Preston Wilson to center was a very important development for the group. He has been playing very well, showing command of the line calls and providing more nastiness in the run game. There are currently 8 guys that are ready to play and that grouping just so happens to include a backup center, guard, and tackle. This is exactly what Coach Gundy was hoping for, and why he is upbeat about the position group. The Cowboys have a deep and talented group of receivers. Several of them got thrown to the fire last year and collected valuable experience, while a couple of upperclassmen have returned from injuries to bolster the corps. There is talent at running back, but Coach is always slow to praise guys at that position until they demonstrate their ability to endure the physical punishment weekly, demonstrate ball security, and prove to be willing and effective blockers.
Over the past 30 years, when the Cowboy football program has had strong leadership and solid quarterback play, the team has been able to make a run at the top of the conference standings. This year will be no different. The leadership core is in place: Brock Martin, Tyler Lacy, Spencer Sanders, etc. The team is unified. So long as Spencer Sanders plays to his potential, the season truly has unlimited possibilities. The last couple of years, incredibly thin depth and cohesion along the offensive line and wide receiver corps has not allowed the offense to get into early rhythm. Obviously, those were areas of emphasis in recruiting and the offseason, and there is simply no comparison as to where those spots stand now compared to even just a year ago.
Over the coming days and weeks, we will have the opportunity to break down specific position groups and measure them up against the upcoming opponents, but for now, know that there is indeed reason for optimism. Every goal is achievable. If this team plays to its potential and avoids a run of bad luck, it could surpass what was accomplished last season.
Do not be misled. This Oklahoma State football team is very good, and the potential is there for a memorable season. Sure, there are a few areas of needed maturation and experience, but this team has talent spread throughout much of the roster. Very few positional question marks remained after the spring, and all that could be answered in fall camp, were. Championship seasons require the blessings of good health with limited injuries, particularly at the same position, but fortunately, the team begins the year with good overall health and depth. Optimism abounds for good reason. Potential upside and ceiling create excitement. This team realistically has every goal in front of it, not just the promise of being very good and playing in a nice bowl game. The road will not be easy. The conference road schedule, which has the Cowboys playing the top 3 competitors for the conference crown all on the road, is brutal. Transfer quarterbacks have come into the league, giving teams offensive boosts with experienced players. Still, this Cowboy team has everything needed to come out on top, so long as they stay healthy, minimize mistakes, and play to their potential.
The starting point for evaluating the season ahead requires reflection on this season past, one in which Oklahoma State truly maximized its potential as a team. Few teams in Cowboy history have shown the fortitude to build throughout a season as they did, exceeding expectations all season long, overcoming deficiencies and finding new ways to win close games. By the end of the season, the team and its fans believed it could play with anyone in the country, and they were right. Even so, at the end of the year, both shared a sense of missed opportunity as the season fell merely a few inches away from a Big 12 championship and a possible CFP bid. Don't forget that despite falling just short of the goal-line, Spencer Sanders led the team on that game-ending 17 play, 89 yard drive that demonstrated the never say die mentality of the team. They fought back from behind for a chance to win, overcoming mistakes and misfortune. Why is that important, because they drew on that in the second half of the Fiesta Bowl with the school's largest come from behind victory against Notre Dame. From the heartbreak against Baylor, this team learned the lesson and finished the come back. Several leaders and playmakers have departed, but a strong core returns to build upon those lessons learned.
Thanks to the pandemic, last year's Super Seniors did not count towards a team's 85 scholarship limit. Many teams benefited, but OSU benefitted more than most, carrying 29 seniors. Not only did the seven Super Seniors (Rodriguez, Harper, T. Martin, Sills, Godlevske, LD Brown, Carter) provide incredible on-field production and leadership, but their extra year did not impede the recruitment of depth. Combine that with the change in practice rep distribution, and the Oklahoma State defense was as deep as it has ever been by the end of the season. The depth was good enough that the preseason loss of the best defensive player (Trace Ford) was a non factor, and opened up opportunity for Super-Frosh Collin Oliver to make an immediate impact. {Side note: Do not be surprised if the concept of making Super Senior eligibility permanent for players who complete their degrees as an initial step towards expanding roster limits as the expanded CFP increases the number of games in a season.}
The 1-year COVID eligibility exemption no longer applies to a team's 85-man roster limit, so this past off-season saw many quality college players take that bonus year of eligibility to new locations, leaving a handful to stay behind. The Cowboys said 'good-bye' to S Tanner McAllister (Ohio State), CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse (LSU), and DT Jayden Jernigan (Missouri), but welcome back DE Brock Martin, DT Sione Asi, DT Brendon Evers, K Tanner Brown, DS Matt Hembrough, and WR Braydon Johnson. As a result, the kicking game was solidified and the strength of the team moved to the defensive line.
The defense lost some players who played incredibly well last year, and their losses will be felt individually, but Coach Mason has all the pieces necessary to build on the accomplishments of 2021. Up front, the Cowboys have multiple, experienced, big bodied players to roll through the defensive tackle spots and a historically deep group of ends who can hold the edge and get after the passer. Their skills sets and versatility are incredibly valuable for developing special packages and schemes for different opponents throughout the year. There are at least four linebackers ready to play. What they lack in experience, they make up for in athleticism and aggressiveness. The challenges for them will be lining up correctly, making run correct run fits, and tackling consistently. This group may provide more big plays and big hits, but 3rd down defensive efficiency in short to medium yard situations will drop, especially early in the season. The starting corners have NFL upside and the guys behind them have incredible length and raw athleticism. Their play this fall has been very strong. The safety group is lead by veteran playmakers with a couple of very high upside youngsters with great range and speed. Defensively, this squad has lots of speed, faster overall than last year.
Offensively, the Cowboys have a veteran dual threat quarterback who has proven capable of making big plays. The improvement on the offensive line and the available depth of play-makers at receiver will allow the coaches to open up the offense more this season than last. Expect to see more 4 wide and empty sets mixed in than at any point in the first half of 2021. The oft maligned offensive line has done well this fall. Moving Preston Wilson to center was a very important development for the group. He has been playing very well, showing command of the line calls and providing more nastiness in the run game. There are currently 8 guys that are ready to play and that grouping just so happens to include a backup center, guard, and tackle. This is exactly what Coach Gundy was hoping for, and why he is upbeat about the position group. The Cowboys have a deep and talented group of receivers. Several of them got thrown to the fire last year and collected valuable experience, while a couple of upperclassmen have returned from injuries to bolster the corps. There is talent at running back, but Coach is always slow to praise guys at that position until they demonstrate their ability to endure the physical punishment weekly, demonstrate ball security, and prove to be willing and effective blockers.
Over the past 30 years, when the Cowboy football program has had strong leadership and solid quarterback play, the team has been able to make a run at the top of the conference standings. This year will be no different. The leadership core is in place: Brock Martin, Tyler Lacy, Spencer Sanders, etc. The team is unified. So long as Spencer Sanders plays to his potential, the season truly has unlimited possibilities. The last couple of years, incredibly thin depth and cohesion along the offensive line and wide receiver corps has not allowed the offense to get into early rhythm. Obviously, those were areas of emphasis in recruiting and the offseason, and there is simply no comparison as to where those spots stand now compared to even just a year ago.
Over the coming days and weeks, we will have the opportunity to break down specific position groups and measure them up against the upcoming opponents, but for now, know that there is indeed reason for optimism. Every goal is achievable. If this team plays to its potential and avoids a run of bad luck, it could surpass what was accomplished last season.
