COWBOYS
Scott Wright
The Oklahoman
STILLWATER — With the last of the newcomers on campus, the Oklahoma State football team has assembled its full roster.
But that doesn’t change the fact that this Cowboy squad has more unknowns than certainties ahead of the 2025 season.
Questions abound for a team that has all new offensive and defensive coaching staffs, plus as many new players as returning ones.
So let’s take a look at some of the burning questions these Cowboys face, with one for each position group:
Flores is most aptly described as a pocket passer. He’s athletic, but not a shifty, elusive runner. Hejny is pure speed, but less is known about the expanse of his throwing capabilities.
Style of play will be part of the equation, but not likely a deciding factor, unless the race is a dead heat.
And don’t count out a two-QB situation.
Not like the three-headed monster of early 2023, but more like the Mason Rudolph-J.W. Walsh timeshare of 2015.
Sesi Vailahi has seen the field a good bit in his two years at OSU, while Trent Howland and Rodney Fields Jr. had their share of opportunities last season. Hicks flashed some potential in spring, and Brock offers some reason for excitement after averaging 6.2 yards per carry over 16 games at Georgia State the last two seasons.
OSU coach Mike Gundy prefers to focus on one back for 20 or so carries per game, but the varied styles and abilities of these players might force him into more of a committee approach.
So they hit the portal in search of tall wideouts, landing Cam Abshire and Christian Fitzpatrick, both of whom are 6-4.
Abshire was a star at the Division II level, and Fitzpatrick is coming off a solid year at Marshall after spending time at Louisville and Michigan State.
Shamar Rigby had a strong freshman season at Purdue last fall. Ayo Shotomide-King is a diamond-in-the-rough find of former offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn who could blossom in the right situation. Tre Griffiths redshirted last year, but offers plenty of promise.
And though Terrill Davis, the Division II All-American from UCO, is only a 6-footer, he plays big and knows how to use his body.
The Cowboys don’t have to have a 1,000-yard receiver from this group to be successful, but they need a big wideout who can be relied on when needed.
The uncertainty isn’t from an absence of talent. The group has multiple players who look like they can fill roles, and Ford might eventually be the next OSU star at the position.
But overall, it’s hard to know what the individual players’ impact can be, and it’s unclear exactly how new offensive coordinator Doug Meacham plans to use them.
Stewart has been a blocking specialist throughout his career. Transfer Oscar Hammond has excelled as a receiver. Others haven’t been on the field as much, and BYU transfer Carson Su’esu’e is a high school quarterback who played linebacker in his only college season.
They have no returning starters and only minimal familiarity to build on. For instance, Louie Canepa played for Mitchell at New Mexico State last year. And a few contenders for spots on the two-deep served as backups at OSU last year, like Austin Kawecki, Noah McKinney and others.
The group added to its veteran presence from the portal in the spring, but overall, this group is essentially starting from scratch.
Returning players like Jaleel Johnson and DeSean Brown have shown notable development and new faces like Malik Charles and Kyran Duhon flashed their talent in spring. Summer brought another boost with Colorado transfer and Putnam City High School product Taje McCoy.
The defensive line has more to prove than just its ability to rush the passer, but that has frequently been a primary key to success in coordinator Todd Grantham’s defenses.
Based on spring ball, it looks like they found a solid group in Brandon Rawls, Bryan McCoy and Trip White. All three flashed their talent in the spring game.
But depth remains a question. The Pokes added Darius Thomas, who transferred from Louisville after spending the spring there, but he played under new OSU linebackers coach Kap Dede at Western Kentucky prior to that.
OSU saw what a couple of injuries at linebacker can do to a defense last year, so developing the depth of the group — for this fall and beyond — is critical.
Between Division I transfers and junior-college signings, OSU brought in eight defensive backs since December, and the last addition might be the most intriguing.
Safety Zaquan Patterson was rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com a year ago when he landed at Miami, and he gained valuable experience, playing in all 13 games with one start.
Of course, safety was a position where OSU let some young pups like Landyn Cleveland and David Kabongo get on the field last year alongside returning veterans Dylan Smith, Parker Robertson and Cameron Epps.
Cornerback is no different with returners like Cam Smith and Kale Smith battling newcomers JK Johnson and Jaylin Davies for starting jobs.
Returning experience is valuable, but the secondary also needs improved play from a year ago, so the challenge is on the new coaches, Greg Brown with safeties and Jules Montinar with cornerbacks, to sort through the long list of players capable of filling a spot on the two-deep.
Who wins Oklahoma State football QB battle? Examining one big question for each position
Scott WrightThe Oklahoman
STILLWATER — With the last of the newcomers on campus, the Oklahoma State football team has assembled its full roster.
But that doesn’t change the fact that this Cowboy squad has more unknowns than certainties ahead of the 2025 season.
Questions abound for a team that has all new offensive and defensive coaching staffs, plus as many new players as returning ones.
So let’s take a look at some of the burning questions these Cowboys face, with one for each position group:
Quarterback: Who should be the starter?
The competition between Zane Flores and Hauss Hejny will likely last well into August, if not beyond, and it’s a clear clash of playing styles.Flores is most aptly described as a pocket passer. He’s athletic, but not a shifty, elusive runner. Hejny is pure speed, but less is known about the expanse of his throwing capabilities.
Style of play will be part of the equation, but not likely a deciding factor, unless the race is a dead heat.
And don’t count out a two-QB situation.
Not like the three-headed monster of early 2023, but more like the Mason Rudolph-J.W. Walsh timeshare of 2015.
Running back: One workhorse or committee approach?
OSU ended spring feeling confident about all four of its running backs, and has added to the collection with veteran transfer Freddie Brock.Sesi Vailahi has seen the field a good bit in his two years at OSU, while Trent Howland and Rodney Fields Jr. had their share of opportunities last season. Hicks flashed some potential in spring, and Brock offers some reason for excitement after averaging 6.2 yards per carry over 16 games at Georgia State the last two seasons.
OSU coach Mike Gundy prefers to focus on one back for 20 or so carries per game, but the varied styles and abilities of these players might force him into more of a committee approach.
Receiver: Which outside receivers will step to the front?
The Cowboys started spring practice without much height at receiver and ended it with less. A torn ACL plucked Talyn Shettron from the potential rotation, leaving the Cowboys with only three receivers taller than 6-foot-1.So they hit the portal in search of tall wideouts, landing Cam Abshire and Christian Fitzpatrick, both of whom are 6-4.
Abshire was a star at the Division II level, and Fitzpatrick is coming off a solid year at Marshall after spending time at Louisville and Michigan State.
Shamar Rigby had a strong freshman season at Purdue last fall. Ayo Shotomide-King is a diamond-in-the-rough find of former offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn who could blossom in the right situation. Tre Griffiths redshirted last year, but offers plenty of promise.
And though Terrill Davis, the Division II All-American from UCO, is only a 6-footer, he plays big and knows how to use his body.
The Cowboys don’t have to have a 1,000-yard receiver from this group to be successful, but they need a big wideout who can be relied on when needed.
Tight end: What’s the best way to maximize each player’s skills?
Uncertainty abounds with a group that is almost all transfers, and just two returning players, Josh Ford and Quinton Stewart.The uncertainty isn’t from an absence of talent. The group has multiple players who look like they can fill roles, and Ford might eventually be the next OSU star at the position.
But overall, it’s hard to know what the individual players’ impact can be, and it’s unclear exactly how new offensive coordinator Doug Meacham plans to use them.
Stewart has been a blocking specialist throughout his career. Transfer Oscar Hammond has excelled as a receiver. Others haven’t been on the field as much, and BYU transfer Carson Su’esu’e is a high school quarterback who played linebacker in his only college season.
Offensive line: Can the newcomers blend together in time?
The new group of coaches, Cooper Bassett and Andrew Mitchell with an assist from Grant Garner, bring reason for optimism. Their recruiting seems solid so far. But the task of filling out the depth chart is perhaps the biggest challenge any position group faces before the season.They have no returning starters and only minimal familiarity to build on. For instance, Louie Canepa played for Mitchell at New Mexico State last year. And a few contenders for spots on the two-deep served as backups at OSU last year, like Austin Kawecki, Noah McKinney and others.
The group added to its veteran presence from the portal in the spring, but overall, this group is essentially starting from scratch.
Defensive line: Can they provide a consistent pass rush?
The defensive line as a whole was a strong focus in both the winter and spring portal windows, and edge rusher was a significant emphasis in that pursuit.Returning players like Jaleel Johnson and DeSean Brown have shown notable development and new faces like Malik Charles and Kyran Duhon flashed their talent in spring. Summer brought another boost with Colorado transfer and Putnam City High School product Taje McCoy.
The defensive line has more to prove than just its ability to rush the passer, but that has frequently been a primary key to success in coordinator Todd Grantham’s defenses.
Linebacker: Is there enough experienced depth?
This position went through a unique transition, because the Cowboys essentially lost all their experience and were left with a very young core of returning players. That led them to the portal in search of experienced players who could step into starting roles.Based on spring ball, it looks like they found a solid group in Brandon Rawls, Bryan McCoy and Trip White. All three flashed their talent in the spring game.
But depth remains a question. The Pokes added Darius Thomas, who transferred from Louisville after spending the spring there, but he played under new OSU linebackers coach Kap Dede at Western Kentucky prior to that.
OSU saw what a couple of injuries at linebacker can do to a defense last year, so developing the depth of the group — for this fall and beyond — is critical.
Defensive back: Who will fill the two-deep?
No position group has as many returners with noteworthy playing experience, or as many new faces contending for starting jobs.Between Division I transfers and junior-college signings, OSU brought in eight defensive backs since December, and the last addition might be the most intriguing.
Safety Zaquan Patterson was rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com a year ago when he landed at Miami, and he gained valuable experience, playing in all 13 games with one start.
Of course, safety was a position where OSU let some young pups like Landyn Cleveland and David Kabongo get on the field last year alongside returning veterans Dylan Smith, Parker Robertson and Cameron Epps.
Cornerback is no different with returners like Cam Smith and Kale Smith battling newcomers JK Johnson and Jaylin Davies for starting jobs.
Returning experience is valuable, but the secondary also needs improved play from a year ago, so the challenge is on the new coaches, Greg Brown with safeties and Jules Montinar with cornerbacks, to sort through the long list of players capable of filling a spot on the two-deep.
