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ORANGE-WHITE GAME
Then as Hejny juked around safety Parker Robertson, a matador move that Hejny will win 100 times out of 100 if he’s truly a contender for the QB job, the whistle blew. Stopped by contact.
Robertson got a fleeting hand on Hejny, and the officiating crew, doing as it was told, stopped the play.
Oh yeah, we remembered. That’s how spring games go.
The not-so-annual Orange-White Game was both a blessing and a curse Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium. Blessing that we got to see some real football, from quarterbacks to transfer portal newcomers to even a live kicking game. Curse that the action proved to be about 75 percent of all-out hitting and tackling.
I’m still guessing Hejny, because he was brought in from Texas Christian and was paid a little cash and has a discernible skill (mobility) that most stands out. That’s more reason than I can think of to anoint Garret Rangel, Zane Flores or Maealiuaki Smith.
But nothing Saturday offered much evidence on the derby.
“It was worth playing the game, because we were able to see some guys in pressure situations, and particular quarterbacks and their ability to avoid the rush, because that’s the real world,” Mike Gundy said.
Maybe. But of the six sacks Saturday, at least half were squishy. Two straight sacks might have been avoided by Flores, under live game conditions, if he’s an actual contender for the job. And no way would Robertson have lassoed Hejny, if he’s the speed demon he’s been billed to be.
“I was really pleased with what took place today,” Gundy said. “We go as fast as we can, as hard as we can, as physical as we can. But we also have to take into consideration getting somebody hurt. It worked out good, but it’s not 100 percent foolproof.”
The passing game was not much. Lots of short passes, hence Hejny and Rangel combined to complete 10 of 11, for 81 yards. Flores and Smith weren’t as efficient but seemed to throw more downfield. Flores completed 8-of-15 for 60 yards; Smith 6-of-10 for 54.
Flores had the best pass, a dart to Da’Wain Lofton on a 4th-and-4 play, for 8 yards.
It’s hard to imagine all four quarterbacks remaining on the roster a week from now. Surely they know who’s lunging ahead and who’s falling behind. But the rest of us, we’re a little like receiver Sam Jackson, who agreed that it’s hard to tell.
“I’m thinking the same thing, too,” Jackson said. “I like ‘em all. I can’t pick.”
Jackson, a transfer from Cal-Berkeley who originally played at TCU, gave his analysis of the quarterback derby, which comes with some insight, since Jackson was a QB himself at TCU.
Hauss and Rangel are the mobile guys; Flores and Smith more the pocket passers. We knew that, of course, but it helps to have it confirmed by one of the passcatchers.
“I think it’s going to be a tough decision for sure,” Jackson said. “When you got four guys that can absolutely sling it…”
Careful now. This is a school that has produced Brandon Weeden and Mason Rudolph and Zac Robinson. Even Gundy. This program has produced quarterbacks who can sling it. We didn’t see much slinging Saturday.
That’s another reason why I say Hejny and Rangel are ahead of the pack. If you don’t have a ‘slinger, better have a runner. Or two, since the runners get nicked quite frequently, and they won’t receive the protection they received Saturday, in an Orange-White Game that was good for morale and good for Gundy’s coaches to evaluate, but not much help in trying to figure out who will be quarterbacking the Cowboys.
ORANGE-WHITE GAME
Berry Tramel: OSU spring game tells us little about the quarterback derby
Who's gonna start at QB this season? Hard to tell at this point. But I say Hejny and Rangel are ahead of the pack.
- Berry Tramel
- Apr 19, 2025 Updated 8 hrs ago
Then as Hejny juked around safety Parker Robertson, a matador move that Hejny will win 100 times out of 100 if he’s truly a contender for the QB job, the whistle blew. Stopped by contact.
Robertson got a fleeting hand on Hejny, and the officiating crew, doing as it was told, stopped the play.
Oh yeah, we remembered. That’s how spring games go.
The not-so-annual Orange-White Game was both a blessing and a curse Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium. Blessing that we got to see some real football, from quarterbacks to transfer portal newcomers to even a live kicking game. Curse that the action proved to be about 75 percent of all-out hitting and tackling.
Better than no football at all. But not sufficient to offer clues on who will quarterback the Cowboys come August.
I’m still guessing Hejny, because he was brought in from Texas Christian and was paid a little cash and has a discernible skill (mobility) that most stands out. That’s more reason than I can think of to anoint Garret Rangel, Zane Flores or Maealiuaki Smith.
But nothing Saturday offered much evidence on the derby.
“It was worth playing the game, because we were able to see some guys in pressure situations, and particular quarterbacks and their ability to avoid the rush, because that’s the real world,” Mike Gundy said.
Maybe. But of the six sacks Saturday, at least half were squishy. Two straight sacks might have been avoided by Flores, under live game conditions, if he’s an actual contender for the job. And no way would Robertson have lassoed Hejny, if he’s the speed demon he’s been billed to be.
“I was really pleased with what took place today,” Gundy said. “We go as fast as we can, as hard as we can, as physical as we can. But we also have to take into consideration getting somebody hurt. It worked out good, but it’s not 100 percent foolproof.”
The passing game was not much. Lots of short passes, hence Hejny and Rangel combined to complete 10 of 11, for 81 yards. Flores and Smith weren’t as efficient but seemed to throw more downfield. Flores completed 8-of-15 for 60 yards; Smith 6-of-10 for 54.
Flores had the best pass, a dart to Da’Wain Lofton on a 4th-and-4 play, for 8 yards.
It’s hard to imagine all four quarterbacks remaining on the roster a week from now. Surely they know who’s lunging ahead and who’s falling behind. But the rest of us, we’re a little like receiver Sam Jackson, who agreed that it’s hard to tell.
“I’m thinking the same thing, too,” Jackson said. “I like ‘em all. I can’t pick.”
Jackson, a transfer from Cal-Berkeley who originally played at TCU, gave his analysis of the quarterback derby, which comes with some insight, since Jackson was a QB himself at TCU.
Hauss and Rangel are the mobile guys; Flores and Smith more the pocket passers. We knew that, of course, but it helps to have it confirmed by one of the passcatchers.
“I think it’s going to be a tough decision for sure,” Jackson said. “When you got four guys that can absolutely sling it…”
Careful now. This is a school that has produced Brandon Weeden and Mason Rudolph and Zac Robinson. Even Gundy. This program has produced quarterbacks who can sling it. We didn’t see much slinging Saturday.
That’s another reason why I say Hejny and Rangel are ahead of the pack. If you don’t have a ‘slinger, better have a runner. Or two, since the runners get nicked quite frequently, and they won’t receive the protection they received Saturday, in an Orange-White Game that was good for morale and good for Gundy’s coaches to evaluate, but not much help in trying to figure out who will be quarterbacking the Cowboys.
