Transfer trio fighting for playing time as Oklahoma State football wraps up first week of fall camp
- Aug 3, 2024 Updated 11 hrs ago
Tyler Waldrep
OSU Sports WriterTILLWATER — Oklahoma State is a modern anomaly overflowing with experienced returners, but that didn’t stop a few newcomers from pushing for playing time during Saturday’s practice.
Transfer running back Trent Howland (Indiana) went third in running back drills behind reigning Doak Walker award-winner Ollie Gordon and the team’s second-most experienced returning back Sesi Vailhai, respectively.
When the backs split into two groups to work on handoffs, the 6-3, 240-pound Howland remained with Gordon and Vailhai to work with quarterbacks Alan Bowman, Garret Rangel and Zane Flores.
The other four running backs formed a line starting with redshirt freshman Hudson Devins and worked with freshmen quarterbacks Maealiuaki Smith and Garret Wilson.
During warmups and most drills observed, Bowman led the quarterbacks, with Rangel, Flores, Smith and Wilson lining up behind him in order.
Transfer wide receivers Gavin Freeman (Oklahoma) and Da’Wain Lofton (Virginia Tech) took snaps as punt returners, a position for which Gundy previously struggled to find volunteers.
Freeman returned 18 of the Sooners’ 21 punts last season for one touchdown and an average gain of 6.8 yards.
Lofton did not return a punt last season, but he did return two kicks for an average gain of 17.5 yards.
Freeman appeared to be third in line when working on returns, putting him one spot ahead of Lofton.
Last year’s leading returner, Brennan Presley, was ahead of both, while receiver Cale Cabbiness appeared to go first at times.
Regardless of his spot in the line, Cabbiness stood out amongst his peers as something of a giant with his 6-2, 205-pound frame.
That put him at least 20 pounds heavier and three inches taller than any of his fellow returners.
When the receivers split into two lines, Presley led one line with De’Zhaun Stribling, Talyn Shettron, Ty Walls, Kyler Pearson, Freeman, Tre Griffiths and Braden Baize following him in order.
Trent Howland
Senior Rashod Owens led the other line with Cabbiness, Lofton and Mason Gilkey consistently following behind him in order. Camron Heard, Jalen Pope, Ayo Shotomide-King, Tykie Andrews and Cutter Greene rounded out the end of the second line in some order.
