by Berry Tramel Published: May 4, 2015
On Jan. 2, Mason Rudolph made his third college start at quarterback. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one interception as Oklahoma State beat Washington 30-22 in the Cactus Bowl.
Four months later, three starters for that Washington defense went among the top 44 picks in the NFL Draft. Tackle Danny Shelton went 12th to the Browns, outside linebacker Shaq Thompson went 25th to the Panthers and outside linebacker Hau'di Kikoha went 44th to the Saints.
That Cactus Bowl performance by Rudolph looks better and better. He played well at Waco in a 49-28 loss at Baylor, played well in a 38-35 overtime victory in Norman and played better in Tempe, Ariz., against Washington. That was against a good UW defense.
Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy. In Oregon's 45-20 home rout of Washington last season, Mariota's numbers were 24 of 33 passing, for 336 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Not too dissimilar to Rudolph's.
Sean Mannion became the Pac-12's career passing leader last season. In Oregon State's 37-13 loss at Washington last season, Mannion completed 30 of 46 for 314 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Brett Hundley was a star quarterback at UCLA. In the Bruins' 44-30 victory at Washington last season, Hundley completed 29 of 36 passes for 302 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Taylor Kelly as a three-year starter at Arizona State. In the Sun Devils' 24-10 victory at Washington last season, Kelly completed 14 of 25 for 180 yards, two TDs and one interception.
So against the same quality defense, with a patchwork offensive line and just two college games under his belt, Rudolph acquitted himself quite well, in the same general neighborhood of performance as some established college football stars. One more reason for the optimism surrounding OSU football 2015.
On Jan. 2, Mason Rudolph made his third college start at quarterback. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one interception as Oklahoma State beat Washington 30-22 in the Cactus Bowl.
Four months later, three starters for that Washington defense went among the top 44 picks in the NFL Draft. Tackle Danny Shelton went 12th to the Browns, outside linebacker Shaq Thompson went 25th to the Panthers and outside linebacker Hau'di Kikoha went 44th to the Saints.
That Cactus Bowl performance by Rudolph looks better and better. He played well at Waco in a 49-28 loss at Baylor, played well in a 38-35 overtime victory in Norman and played better in Tempe, Ariz., against Washington. That was against a good UW defense.
Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy. In Oregon's 45-20 home rout of Washington last season, Mariota's numbers were 24 of 33 passing, for 336 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Not too dissimilar to Rudolph's.
Sean Mannion became the Pac-12's career passing leader last season. In Oregon State's 37-13 loss at Washington last season, Mannion completed 30 of 46 for 314 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Brett Hundley was a star quarterback at UCLA. In the Bruins' 44-30 victory at Washington last season, Hundley completed 29 of 36 passes for 302 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Taylor Kelly as a three-year starter at Arizona State. In the Sun Devils' 24-10 victory at Washington last season, Kelly completed 14 of 25 for 180 yards, two TDs and one interception.
So against the same quality defense, with a patchwork offensive line and just two college games under his belt, Rudolph acquitted himself quite well, in the same general neighborhood of performance as some established college football stars. One more reason for the optimism surrounding OSU football 2015.
