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“If you feel it, chase it!”
That was the rallying cry from Glen Powell’s character Tyler Owens in the hit summer blockbuster Twisters.
There ain’t no love in Oklahoma like this state loves its football. And every summer heading into the new school year, teams from across Oklahoma are feeling the excitement of a new season, and are all chasing the same goal — winning a state championship. Thus was the inspiration for this year’s McAlester News-Capital Gridiron Preview. Everyone at the MNC was quick to get on board with the theme, and our designer Dawnyal Hill once again knocked it out of the park. I for one am super excited about the 2024 football season, and I know our local teams are primed and ready to charge headlong into the storms that lie ahead — and will be making plenty of fireworks of their own along the way. It’s going to be a different look this season, for multiple reasons. After a court ruling, the OSSAA landscape changed across all sports. In football, that means new classifications and new districts. Two locals will now join another in the ranks of 8-man football, and all teams will see new and familiar district opponents in the coming weeks. After graduation in May, many teams saw multiple players hang up their high school jerseys — leaving room for rising stars to take their place. Who will step up? Who will break out? And who will become a tempest on the turf?
And as always, the uncertainty of who will be left standing at the end is a cloud on the horizon. Alas, there’s only one way to find out, and that’s to go through it.
I don’t know how the stories of all our local teams will end, but I’m thrilled to see it happen in real time.
And I don’t think it’s that much of a stretch to say there’s an electric feeling in the air. Lightning is set to strike at any moment, repeating with every touchdown and big defensive stop. Can you feel it? Good. Now the chase begins.
—Derek
HATRIDGE | SPORTS STAFF
OSSAA realignment shakes up football districts and classes
By DEREK HATRIDGE | SPORTS STAFF
College football isn’t the only version of the sport that has seen a massive shift in realignment.
The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Association redrew its classifications and district allotments following a legal ruling on the association’s Rule 14.
The ruling sent ripples across the Oklahoma high school landscape, including in high school football — where new classes, districts, and schedules had to be formed.
At the local level, every team felt the impacts in one way or another.
Savanna and Canadian both opted to move down to Class B-I and play 8-man football. They had to draw up completely new schedules, and would be slotted into a local district featuring another area team — Quinton.
Rule 14, also known as the success rule, was a stipulation for private institutions that participated in OSSAA events. The rule elevated private schools to higher athletic classifications based on sustained postseason success, as an effort to achieve competitive balance. Bishop McGuinness, Mount St. Mary, Heritage Hall, Crossings Christian and Oklahoma Christian School claimed the rule is unconstitutional and sued the OSSAA last December.
Hartshorne and Wilburton both stayed in their previous districts, but members were shuffled around. Only a fraction of the original district lineup remained intact, while new teams rolled in to face fresh foes.
But an Oklahoma County judge said Rule 14 was allowed to stand — but certain amendments must be adopted. Some of the changes included boys and girls teams in private institutions did not have to reclassify together, Class 5A would be capped, and the success rule was altered.
The original classifications used end-of-year enrollment numbers from June 2023, but the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association and the OSSAA chose to update classifications with first-quarter numbers from October 2023 to more accurately reflect school populations.
Reali District
Eufaula moved up to Class 3A, and slotted into a district alongside one of those private schools involved in the suit against the OSSAA — Holland Hall.
McAlester was forced to revamp its schedule, with one of the most notable changes being the return of Booker T. Washington to Class 5A as it joined District 3 alongside the Buffs — renewing yet another historic matchup.
But while the landscape shifted, many things stayed the same. Football will still be played, and those wanting to be the best will have to beat the best.
Still, a breath of fresh air will be fed into games as new opponents, new fans, and new rules ignite a spark fans will be able to flame every Friday night.
Storylines to watch in 2024
By DEREK HATRIDGE | SPORTS STAFF
With so much history and so many bragging rights as stake, 2024 is shaping up to be yet another wild season in high school football. Here are some of the top storylines for teams around the area:
8 - M A N 8-MAN
E X P A N S I O N EXPANSION
Two local teams will be adding their ranks to Class B-I as Savanna and Canadian make the move to 8-man. They’ve also been slotted into the same district as Quinton, serving up weekly battles between local teams in this high-octane version of the sport.
P L A Y O F F S T R E A K S PLAYOFF STREAKS
Multiple teams will be looking to add to their playoff streaks this season. McAlester will be running for its sixth, Hartshorne its third,
Quinton its fifth, and Eufaula its 11th-straight trip to the postseason. Clinching yet another spot would sweeten the pot of the season.
NEW CLASSES, NEW FOES
E S , N E W F O E S
Every school in Oklahoma realigned following the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association reclassifying and redistricting its teams. Some schools like Eufaula, Savanna, and Quinton moved into new classes, while every area team had its district redrawn — resulting in new faces and historic matchup renewed.
S N E X T WHO’S NEXT?
Many teams saw turnover from graduation last season, and others still will see roster changes via transfers. The question remains who will step up into a new role, and who will be 2024’s breakout star?
Buffs charging into 2024 season with new faces and same gritty attitude
By DEREK HATRIDGE | SPORTS STAFF
The Buffs are roaming to new locations and new opponents this season.
McAlester is readying to face the field in 2024, but things will look a little different with plenty of fresh faces on the teams and new opponents on the schedule.
With new classifications and redistricting coming down from the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association, the Buffs will see some new yet familiar faces on the field.
Junior Jordan Clark returns as the Buffs top rusher from last season, churning up 476 yards and earning three touchdowns, while senior Drayton Pouncil followed with 260 yards and two scores.
Teams lik return, and back in the r Washing ton
Teams like East Central, Durant, and Coweta all return, and they’ll be joined by Bishop Kelley filling back in the ranks of District 3, as well as Booker T. Washington as they drop down to Class 5A
As for th the Buffs w views.
As for the faces under the McAlester helmets, the Buffs will have plenty of new and familiar
“We have a good nucleus of returning players, plus some new talent to get us back to where we want to be,” coach Forrest Mazey said.
“We play get u co
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McAlester
Through the air, last season’s young Buffs will have the opportunities to step into new roles after graduating a veteran receiver corps. Senior Brayden Bumphus will be a welcome leader on the offense alongside Clark and Pouncil as they look to be joined by a herd of Buffs waiting and ready to step up.
McAlester will be looking at multiple options at the quarterback position, with juniors
Kacin Washington-Mazey and Gavin Brumley
and freshmen Jaxo will work to find the r
and freshmen Jaxon McKinney and Brody Parker will work to find the right fit at starting quarterback to round out the Buffaloes’ balanced offensive
Defensively, powerhouse Will Spears returns following his 121 tackles and nine tackles for loss. He’ll be joined by fellow senior Fyfer Mitchell, who himself had 81 tackles and nine tackles for a loss. They’ll be leading a defense with lots of experience, looking to renew the Black Death moniker.
But with a lot of new, one thing will be certain — the Buffs will still be bringing their same brand of McAlester football as they look for yet another return to the postseason.
“Our mindset is to never be satisfied,” Mazey said.
“Our effort, attitude, and toughness is all we can control.”
Miners looking to keep momentum going in 2024
By DEREK HATRIDGE | SPORTS STAFF
The Miners know there’s still plenty of their story waiting to be written.
Hartshorne will be hitting the ground running as it returns for its 2024 season, looking to keep the momentum from last season going strong.
The Miners went 7-4 on the year and powered into the playoffs for the second year in a row. Now, they’ll be looking for the threepeat — and more.
“That’s what we’ve been trying to do for the last several years is get this program back to where we can win and be home in the playoffs,” Williams said after clinching the berth last season. “These kids did it. I’m just proud to be a Hartshorne Miner.”
their younger teammates ball out on Friday nights.
Aden Reeves and Acetin Rowell proved a powerful ground force, with Rowell running out for 544 yards and 15 touchdowns, and Reeves churning up 229 yards and four scores, with a litany of others adding in their contributions.
Hartshorne will be facing off against a newly-drawn district with the likes of Choteau-Maize, Rejoice Christian, Panama, Warner, and more. But the Miners have never been afraid to back down from a fight.
Hartshorne wi t n v a g n
Har tshorne distric Christia Miner s hav down from Althou the Mi
Although senior heavy last season, the Miners have still seen plenty of
Hartsh
The Miners also boasted a strong receiving unit, with Gus Miller earning 544 yards and three touchdowns, Brett Lindley following with 524 yards, Kannen Osier with 203 yards and a score, and Carter Johnson with 182 yards and three scores.
Defensively, many of the Miners two-way players such as Miller, Lindley, Osier and more will be ready to pull double
But for now, the slate is wiped clean. And Hartshorne will be ready to write a whole new chapter of Miner football this fall.
Hartshorne’s first game is slated for Aug. 30 as the Miners travel to Allen, before returning home to face Morris on Sept. 6.
Diggers powering into 2024 season
By DEREK HATRIDGE | SPORTS STAFF
The Diggers are readying to rock in a new season.
Wilburton football will be battling against foes once more as they face bitter rivals and new district opponents.
The Class 2A-II Diggers will face against the likes of Antlers, Atoka, Spiro, Vian, Henryetta, Morris, and Valliant in District 4, pairing up the usual suspects with multiple fresh opponents.
Football is a learning process, and the Diggers have learned a lot from their coaches and each other. After a season of hard-fought games and growth each and every week, Wilburton is back and ready to show what lessons they’ve learned from the
quarterback position for the Diggers, with a receiving corps that will be led by the likes of senior Floyd Clark and aided by a bevy of hard-nosed underclassmen.
each and ever y wee to show what l 2 ar pl wi ly s years past. a veteran w
And the 2024 edition of the Diggers are a team that have veteran players and leaders to go along with young, new talent.
And on the defensive side, the Diggers will have plenty of veteran prowess to go along with up-and-coming talent.
Offensive Grossnicklau
Offensively, junior Braiden Grossnicklaus is poised to return at the
Wilburton
Coach Troy Bullard has impressed upon his players over the years that hard work and vigilance are important building blocks for any season and program. And the Diggers have been hard at it over the many summer days and months, laying each foundational stone with their tenacity, sweat, and pure willpower.
Diggers
The Diggers will open the season with Zero Week action on Aug. 30, facing off against Gore. They’ll have a bye week, then return to host the 2024 Battle of Gowen Mountain against Hartshorne.
Diggers
P A S S I N G PASSING
RUSHING
Top Stat
Ironheads ready to roll in 2024
By DEREK HATRIDGE | SPORTS STAFF
The Ironheads are readying for battle once more on the gridiron.
Eufaula football will be battling it out in the 2024 season in Class 3A, looking to extend its playoff streak to new heights.
The Ironheads went 7-4 last season, including the program’s 10th-straight postseason appearance. This year, they’ll be looking to dive even further as they battle every week.
Eufaula is led by Ledger Folsom, who in 2023 threw for 792 yards and six scores. Kaden Rice and Madden Bridges led the receiving corps with a combined more than 500 yards and three touchdowns.
The ground game is led by Folsom as well, racking up 899 yards and 20 touchdowns, followed by Peter Lee with 751 yards and 10 scores.
Defensively, the Ironheads are
EUFAULA
led by Bryan Lynn, who totaled 117 tackles and four sacks, followed by Aaron Spoer with 77 tackles and two sacks, and Carson Luna with 59
The trials awaiting the Ironheads won’t be easy, but that’s never stopped them before. Despite having a new classification and district, they’ll be prepared to take on the likes of Holland Hall, Idabel, Locust Grove, Stigler, and heated-rival Checotah — and meet those challenges head on.
They’ll be searching for wins, for glory, for an 11th-straight trip to the playoffs, but they’ll be doing so as one. While most folks go to the lake to relax, the Ironheads will be bringing their opponents to the shores of Lake Eufaula to take them down.
Eufaula will open its 2024 season on Sept. 6 against d op n o ga to Eufaula will season Sept. 6 a Vian.
EUFAULA
Canadian looking to pounce on new opportunities in 2024
By DEREK HATRIDGE | SPORTS STAFF
The Cougars are ready to pounce on new and familiar foes this fall.
Canadian is getting back to football, and will be doing so as an 8-man squad once more for the 2024 season.
The Cougars have been involved in 11-man football since 2020, after the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association reclassified schools.
With a new reclassification, Canadian is making its move back to its roots as it joins Class B-I.
Third-year coach Natahn Leithead and his staff have pushed the Cougars to playing a more physical style of football,
After gaining knowledge and learning through the trials of last season, the Cougars have been back in the classroom this summer to prepare for a whole new attitude.
It takes a lot of strength, conditioning, and energy – but that’s something that Leithead has previously mentioned he helps inject into the culture of his team.
The Cougars will be keeping that high energy as they look to take charge this season, fighting to reinvent themselves once more.
Canadian will open its season in Cougar country with a Zero Week contest against Empire Aug. 29.
Dstrict w Cougars joini in Distri Keota
Dstrict play will arrive in late September, with the Cougars joining fellow locals Savanna and Quinton in District 4 alongside Caddo, Dewar, and Keota.
op with a Zero Week c will ar ng fe ct 4 a a. But will an re make
But whatever happens, the Cougars will be glad to see football in Canadian return — and they’ll be ready to make sparks fly.
Canadian
Cougars
Quinton prepping for new and familiar quests in 2024
By DEREK HATRIDGE | SPORTS STAFF
The green machine is getting back to the gridiron, and will see some new but familiar foes.
Not only will Quinton once again be eyeing a playoff run, it’ll have to go through two other local teams to accomplish it.
The green and white finished the 2023 season with a 5-6 record, and a fourth-consecutive playoff appearance since making the
With the new classifications and districts from the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association, Quinton will be joined by Savanna and Canadian in Class B-I 8-man football action, facing off in District 4 alongside Caddo, Dewar, and Keota.
move to eight-man football. Now resetting for 2024, they’ll look to make it five in a row.
Although graduating some senior leadership, there is plenty of young and upcoming talent waiting to fill in the ranks for the green machine.
As an offense that likes to play strong and fast, Quinton’s no-huddle style of play will be anchored up front by a tough line. Defensively, Quinton is known for its 4-1-3 defense, with the use of hard-hitting linebackers.
Quinton
Quinton will open its season August 30 on the road at Webbers Falls. It’ll host its first home game Sept. 5 against Porum.
After graduating an impactful senior class from last season, the green machine will rely on its veteran leadership and the up-andcoming young talent as it looks to make a fifth-straight postseason run for the first time in program history.
Quinton
Bulldogs bounding into new adventures in 2024
By DEREK HATRIDGE | SPORTS STAFF
The Bulldogs are back — but this time, the game will look just a little different.
Savanna is readying to take on its 2024 schedule, but in a new style of football as the Bulldogs make the move to 8-man action.
Following the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association reclassification, the Bulldogs have made their way into Class B-I 8-man football. They’ll be joined by some familiar faces, and both Quinton and Canadian will also battle in District 4.
Other district foes for the Bulldogs will include Caddo, Dewar, and Keota.
Although some players moved on due to
Savanna still had a few tricks up its sleeve in the younger classes — with both Ryan and Garrett Ward being examples at receiver and tailback.
The Bulldogs will be looking to fill multiple roles as they eagerly find out who will step up. But as with every football season, no matter what they face, they’ll meet every challenge head on.
It’ll be a new world as the Bulldogs navigate the trenches in a new style of football. But one where they’ll be able to up the tempo and power forward as one.
Savanna
That’s when all the hard work, sweat, and long days over
w 0 t a B i thesummerw the summer 2 be as wild as be to fa
the summer will be worth it as the Bulldogs hit the field for the 2024 schedule. And while a season can be as wild as the Oklahoma weather, Savanna will be ready to face the storm.
The Bulldogs open their season on Aug. 30 against Oklahoma Bible Academy.
The aga
Savanna
Bulldogs
W
I L
L S P E A R S , WILL SPEARS, M C A L E S T E R MCALESTER
McAlester’s Will Spears is a monster on the defensive side of the ball. Leading the Buffaloes in 2023 with 121 tackles including nine for a loss and a sack, he’ll be one of the anchors for the McAlester defense that is also guaranteed at least one hit stick a night.
LINDLEY,
B R E T T L I N D L E Y , BRETT
E HARTSHORNE
H A R T S H O R N
JORDAN
C L A R K , CLARK,
MCALESTER
M C A L E S T E R
The McAlester back is the top returning rusher for the Buffs, last season rattling off 476 yards and three scores. His speed, strength, and shiftiness will come in handy as the Buffs look to continue the momentum into 2024.
GUS MILLER, HARTSHORNE
The Hartshorne receiver 544 yards and three scores in 2023, outpacing his teammate by 20 yards to lead the Miners. Quick to the ball and even quicker with it in his hands, Miller provides half of the 1-2 air raid punch from Hartshorne.
Players
L
E
D G E R F O
L S O M , LEDGER FOLSOM, E U F A U L A EUFAULA
The other half of that punch comes in the form of Brett Lindley, who in 2023 524 yards on 35 receptions. His speed and vision help the Miners form a multi-faceted attack, and eat up a lot of yardage on the way.
The leader of the Ironheads did a bit of it all last season, throwing for 792 yards while rushing for another 899 as he totaled up 26 touchdowns for Eufaula. This year, the junior quarterback will look to not only meet his numbers from 2023, but level up and exceed them in 2024.
to watch
—Derek HATRIDGE | SPORTS STAFF
Mind eat
Georgia No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25 and Ohio State No. 2
By RALPH D. RUSSO AP COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER
Georgia is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason college football poll for the second straight year as the superconference era begins with the SEC and Big Ten dominating the top 10 of the rankings.
Conference realignment has reduced the Power Five to the Power Four, with the Pac-12 whittled to just two schools. The Big Ten now has 18 schools. The Atlantic Coast Conference has 17 football teams, and the SEC and Big 12 each have 16.
to Michigan receiving the lowest preseason ranking for a defending national champion since 2011, when Auburn was No. 23 after the departure of Cam Newton.
Before that, the last time a defending national champion was ranked worse than No. 7 in the following preseason poll was Colorado at No. 13 in 1991.
Washington, which lost to Michigan in the College Football Playoff championship game,
chip on our shoulder in terms of people trying to use that as motivation. I’ve never used a failure from the previous year as motivation and never used the success of a previous year as motivation; we won’t do that this year. That’s not who we are. We want to recreate ourselves to stay in the best light we can.”
There will be more room for error this season with the playoff expanding from four to 12 teams.
ahead of N State (15 first-pla
All the movement created an unprecedented preseason poll with just four conferences represented: The SEC leads with nine ranked teams.
The Bulldogs received 46 first-place votes and 1,532 points in the Top 25 released Monday and the SEC powerhouse finished comfortably ahead of No. 2 Ohio State (15 first-place votes and 1,490 points) of the Big Ten.
The Bulldogs are 42-2 over the last three seasons and loaded again. Quarterback Carson Beck leads the offense and edge rusher Mykel Williams is in line to be the next defensive star at Georgia.
New Big Ten member Oregon is No. 3, receiving one first-place vote from the panel of 62 media members who cover college football. Texas, which joins Georgia in the Southeastern Conference this season, is fourth.
Te Oregon is N one first-p the o w college foo which join Sout Confere seas The SEC e
The Big Ten and SEC each have four teams in the top 10.
The Big Ten has six, the Big 12 has five and the ACC has four.
Alabama, in its first season without coach Nick Saban since 2006, starts No. 5. No. 6 Mississippi gives the SEC half the top preseason top six.
Independent Notre Dame is the highest ranked team from outside the SEC and Big Ten at No. 7.
No. 8 Penn State and No. 9 Michigan give the Big Ten four top 10 teams. Florida State from the ACC is No. 10.
TITLE GAME FINALISTS
The defending national champion Wolverines said goodbye to coach Jim Harbaugh, quarterback J.J. McCarthy and 12 other players who were selected in April’s NFL draft. All that attrition led
took an even bigger fall after losing its head coach (Kalen DeBoer replaced Saban at Alabama), star quarterback and a mountain of talent to the draft and transfer portal. The Huskies are the first team to reach the CFP and be unranked the following season, and the first team to be unranked after finishing the previous season No. 2 in the AP poll since Army in 1951. The rankings were a Top 20 then.
The only team to finish No. 1 and start the next season unranked was Minnesota in 1961, but the AP poll was only a Top 10 then.
TOP-RANKED ‘DAWGS
Georgia started last season at No. 1 in pursuit of a record third straight national championship. Coach Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs stayed there the whole regular season, and then missed the four-team playoff by losing the SEC title game to Alabama.
“We’re dealing with new challenges this year,” Smart said at SEC media days. “We don’t have a
Beck is a rarity in college football these days, a star quarterback in his fifth season with the same school who waited three years to become starter. Beck completed 72% of his passes last year, with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions.
“He is a great elder for us and great example of resiliency in college football,” Smart said.
Repeating as preseason No. 1 is a recent trend. Going back eight seasons, Alabama had separate streaks of three (2016-18) and two (2021-22) years as preseason No. 1. Clemson was topranked in the 2019 and ‘20 preseason rankings.
Georgia will try to become the 12th team since the AP preseason poll started in 1950 to start No. 1 and finish No. 1. The last was Alabama in 2017.
Football
With season looming, Sooners looking to find key contributors
By TARIK MASRI | CNHI SPORTS OKLAHOMA
The way Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables sees it, enthusiasm isn’t hard to find at the start of fall practice. With just under three more Saturdays until the Sooners’ season opener, Venables is valuing execution more than energy.
On Friday, Aug. 30, the Sooners kick off the season against Temple. It will be just over four weeks since the Sooners returned to practice.
While there’s still time for players to compete for starting spots, it isn’t a lot of time.
They brought in a recruiting class that was ranked eighth by 247Sports’ composite rankings and 20th in the site’s transfer portal team rankings. It wasn’t a large transfer portal haul, but the program brought in players at positions where it really needed it and added vital depth to others.
“From our first year where we felt like we really only had three guys that could go play in a game to where we’re at now — night and day,” Venables said. “And I think, really, for the most part, every position on our team looks like that.”
“Everybody looks at (Friday) was four weeks from kickoff,” Venables said on Saturday. “That means you’re three weeks from game week and you’re really two-and-a-half weeks from starting to split the squad up and really starting look at opponents and things of that nature.
“I think a year ago we bragged about competitive depth,” Venables said. “I do think there was a slight drop off between that first and second group a year ago, and not near the drop off if any at all with that first and second group (this year).”
the squad up and really star tin and that nature.
“It’s gonna go by, and it’s gonna be just a vapor.”
“It’s gonna it’s gon
Last the Sooners’ com into Venables’ second sea from Yea was team need deeper into the Conference.
Last August, the Sooners’ coaching staff was touting the program’s competitive depth going into Venables’ second season in charge. The depth improved from Year 1 to Year 2, but it was clear the team needed to be even deeper heading into the Southeastern
The most obvious example of this is at linebacker. Last season the Sooners returned Danny Stutsman and Jaren Kanak, but didn’t have a lot of proven experience beyond those two. Kip Lewis emerged late in the season and ended up starting the final five games of the season over Kanak.
Kobie McKinzie also showed flashes of his potential as a redshirt freshman and made appearances in all 13 games.
Meanwhile, the tight end position has gone from one of the team’s biggest weaknesses to what could become a new strength for the offense. Oklahoma’s tight ends contributed just 252 yards on 20 catches last season, accounting for just 5.9% of the team’s total passing production. Austin Stogner provided most of that production with 17 catches for 196 yards. With Stogner graduating, the Sooners went out and brought in several versatile pass catchers that could change the look of the offense.
All three are dependable options for the Sooners, especially when Stutsman is on the field. The Sooners only have one true freshman linebacker on this year’s roster, but players like Samuel Omosigho, Owen Heinecke or Phil Picciotti could be the next to take a big step forward in their development.
Bauer Sharp, a transfer from Louisiana State, and Jake Roberts, a transfer from SMU and a Norman North graduate, are veteran players that provided much-needed leadership to the group. At 6-3, 250 pounds, Davon Mitchell has the appearance of a college-ready player as a true freshman.
“Good group of guys catching the ball, big targets, attack the middle of the field,” Venables said. “Those are, I think, all good offenses have that ability. Through three days that’s a group that has had a real transformation from where we were the last couple of years.”
Sooners
KYLE PHILLIPS | CNHI File Photo
Gundy: Depth a strong point for upcoming Cowboy season
By MARCUS TREVINO | CNHI SPORTS OKLAHOMA
The doldrums of the offseason are over, and outside expectations for Oklahoma State football are the highest they’ve been in years.
The Cowboys’ roster is more or less the same as it was last year, and they’re poised to make another run for the Big 12 Championship Game – and thus a bid in the new 12-team College Football Playoff – depending on a few factors.
HEALTH AND DEPTH
had the ability to rotate many of those guys,” Gundy said. “And over the last four years, the two positions that we’ve been really beat up at are wide receiver and offensive line. We were very fortunate to win as many games as we (did) with the situation we had from an injury standpoint with those two positions.
There are some concerns about the health of key players, especially on offense, but coach Mike Gundy believes the Cowboys have the depth to withstand injuries this year.
and they don’t really understand what we’re trying to do on offense,” Gundy said. “Bowman now has had a lot of snaps, and that’s an advantage for him at this time.”
Rangel was not overly impressive in the limited action in either of the past two seasons with a career statline of 883 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. But Gundy said it was just that – limited action.
“Rangel has never really been in there long enough for us to evaluate him,” Gundy said. “He hadn’t had a chance to learn our system.”
Gundy, which is partly why the Cowboys brought in Trent Howland and AJ Green from the transfer portal, though Green is not expected to be a contributor this season, Gundy said.
The running back depth chart will likely be Gordon as the primary back, Howland as the goal line/short yardage bruiser and redshirt freshman Sesi Vailahi as the occasional third-down threat as a receiver out of the backfield.
“I’m not worried about Howland,” Gundy said. “He’s 242 pounds, so he should be able to handle that side of it.”
The offensive line is undoubtedly the team’s deepest position, and that’s a necessity with a season-ending injury for Jason Brooks Jr. in 2023 and with nine different offensive linemen playing in 2022.
“If we do get a guy that gets banged up a little bit and has to miss some time, we’re not gonna hold our breath every play.”
The biggest addition to the depth chart will be the return of wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, who broke his wrist in practice four weeks into the season.
the team’s de and necessity w season-e fo w diffe off lin pla 2022
QUARTERBACKS
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“In my 20 years as a head coach, we haven’t
Gundy said adding Stribling back to a veteran receiving corps will be a challenge for opposing defenses.
Now that he’s had a few years to sit and watch, Rangel will likely be the backup when Gundy releases his depth chart. But if he isn’t, that may be good news for OSU fans because it could mean Flores has made strides to becoming the future starting quarterback.
Gundy said the 18th-ranked quarterback prospect in the 2023 class wasn’t ready at this time last year. He doesn’t feel that way anymore.
REDUCING OLLIE GORDON’S WORKLOAD
Vailahi is 207 pounds now and dropped his 40-yard dash time five-tenths of a second since he’s been at OSU, Gundy said.
“He was a baby last year,” Gundy said. “He’s grown up a little bit. He’s showing some signs of maturity. He has good vision. So I’m comfortable in that area.”
The offense’s focus is, of course, still Gordon.
The Cowboys have an ideal setup for their quarterback: a veteran starter in super senior Alan Bowman, a backup who knows the system in redshirt sophomore Garret Rangel, a developmental player with potentially high upside in redshirt freshman Zane Flores and a project in true freshman Maealiuaki Smith.
“Quarterbacks that are in this system and understand the concepts of what we try to get accomplished always play better than they do when they just show up because they don’t have experience
OK State
As durable as Ollie Gordon was in his breakout season, overworking the 2023 Doak Walker Award winner, as with any other running back, would be asking for trouble.
How much of a good thing is enough? How much is too much?
There’s a fine line somewhere on how to get the most out of a running back without jeopardizing his health, and Gundy is zeroing in on where it is for Gordon.
He accounted for 58% of the running back carries in 2023 and 64% of the running back touches. That might not have been ideal for
“I have confidence in the other guys that are going to carry the ball, but I also know that the more times Ollie touches the ball and we can get guys blocked up, it’s gonna make us a better team,” Gundy said. “And he also has the ability to run through the extra guy.”
DEFENSE
The biggest question mark with this team is the defense. Last year it was 122nd in the country in total defense – down from 89th in 2022 under former defensive coordinator Derek Mason.
“This was an unusual defense last year,” Gundy said. “There were times that they won games for us, and then there were times that we gave up too many yards.”
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