Storylines...

Continued from 1

There could be answers to who will be taking snaps for the Cowboys from fall camp, but Gundy hinted at Media Days that he’s in no hurry to name a starter.

“We’ll run this thing through half of fall camp, somewhere in that area, and if we feel like we know what direction we want to go, I’m going to be for making that decision at that time,” Gundy said. “If we don’t feel like we know, then we won’t make that decision.”

How is the defense settling into the 3-3-5?

New defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo has now been on staff for six months, and the debut of his 3-3-5 scheme is a month away.

Nardo has never coordinated a defense above the Division-II level, and Youngstown State is the highest level of football he previously coached. Gundy wanted to explore the 3-3-5 defense after last year, and Nardo is the guy he felt was best to lead the transition.

The change in defense led to a shuffle in position groups. Collin Oliver moved from defensive end to more of a hybrid outside linebacker, and Kendal Daniels will man the middle safety role.

The defensive line also lost multiple veterans in Tyler Lacy, Brock Martin and Sione Asi, along with Oliver’s position move, so the three-man front takes some stress off the defensive

Brownsshoefitstillwater

browns.stillwater

201 S. Perkins Rd · 405-372-7170

Mon–Fri 9:30–6:30, Sat 9:30–5:30, Sun 1–5 front. With so much change and newness in personnel, scheme and coaching, how is the defense progressing half a year in?

Pecking order at RB

The Cowboys have three experienced options at running back, and each might get a fair share of handoffs.

The Sophomore combination of Ollie Gordon and Jaden Nixon offers two young but experienced backs who have different running styles and each played roles a season ago.

Nixon, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound back, is speedy and shifty and will take a step up from his 46 carries in 2022. His athleticism and speed make him a receiving option, too, especially in check-down situations. He rushed for 189 yards and had 21 receptions for 181 yards and three touchdowns. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Gordon, meanwhile, is more of a power, downhill back who still has plenty of speed and athleticism. He ended up as the team’s third-leading rusher and started in the bowl game. Elijah Collins, a Michigan State transfer, stands 6-feet and weighs 220 pounds and brings experience from the Big Ten, where he rushed for 988 yards as a freshman, which ranked fourth in the conference.

Gundy said during spring and again at Media Days that he wants to get back to rushing the football more, and he has the depth and the backs to do it. Fall will show where each back is at heading into the season and who could be RB1.