College Football 2018: Biggest question facing every Top 25 team in spring practice

Who will win the starting quarterback competition?

Many fans and analysts believe Oklahoma State is facing a rebuilding season in 2018, and for good reason. After all, the Cowboys must replace several key cogs in what was one of the most explosive offenses in the nation last season.

Quarterback Mason Rudolph spent three-plus years as the starter and put together his best season of a storied career with 4,904 passing yards and 37 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Receivers James Washington and Marcell Ateman, who combined for 2,700 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns, formed arguably the best wide receiver duo in the country in 2017. All three are gone, as are three starters on the offensive line.

Head coach Mike Gundy has never had a problem finding playmakers, and he still has running back Justice Hill to lean on as the team breaks in new starters elsewhere. However, for Oklahoma State to stay alive in the conference title hunt – or to reload instead of rebuild – Gundy will need to install a new quarterback. His two best options at this point are Taylor Cornelius, who served as Rudolph’s top backup over the last few seasons, and Hawaii graduate transfer Dru Brown.

Both will be seniors in 2018. Cornelius has the benefit of experience in Gundy’s system, but Brown has the benefit of on-field experience. Cornelius has never attempted more than 10 passes in a season, and he has appeared in 10 games combined over the last three seasons. Brown started each of the last two seasons for the Rainbow Warriors and has more than 5,000 career passing yards, and 37 touchdown passes, plus more than 300 career rushing yards.