Mike Gundy’s Oklahoma State football team will look considerably different than a year ago and the spring game represents a new wave of talent to breakout.
The Oklahoma State football program lost a ton of talent to the 2021 NFL Draft, and head coach Mike Gundy is well aware of this.
Notable departures from the 2020 Cowboys roster include running back Chuba Hubbard, offensive lineman Teven Jenkins and wide receiver Tylan Wallace. They were a big reason why the Pokes looked to have one of the better teams in the Big 12 before everything hit the fan late last year. Despite losing so much to the NFL, Oklahoma State has plenty of reasons to be excited for 2021.
What to watch for in the Oklahoma State spring game
3. Does Spencer Sanders finally put it all together?
With Hubbard and Wallace turning pro, that puts even more pressure on third-year starting quarterback Spencer Sanders. There have been times when he looks like an all-conference player. Then, there are those games where the inconsistency gets the best of him and the Pokes suffer because of it. Now that he’s healthy, here is to him taking full command of the Cowboys’ offense.
2. Who replaces Tylan Wallace as the go-to receiver for Sanders?
Wallace was a top-tier receiving target in Stillwater for years. With him now being a lock to go in the second round of the upcoming draft, it is up to a wide array of receivers to replace him at Oklahoma State. Keep an eye on Braydon Johnson, Anderson Langston, Tay Martin and especially Brennan Presley to make up for Wallace’s departure the NFL. This receiving room is a deep one.
1. Who replaces Chuba Hubbard in the backfield?
The best player off last year’s team was Hubbard. While he will not go in the first round like Jenkins, his absence will be felt in Stillwater. Fortunately, the Cowboys have one of the deepest running back rooms in the nation. LD Brown, Dezmon Jackson, Dominic Richardson and Utah State transfer Jaylen Warren will all have their opportunities to make some noise at Oklahoma State.
Ultimately, Oklahoma State lost too much talent from last year’s team to seriously contend with the likes of Oklahoma and Iowa State in Big 12 play this year. However, Gundy regularly has one of the top four programs in this Power 5 conference. The talent is always there in Stillwater and it is just a matter of cultivating it and putting those players in positions where they can succeed.
Saturday will be a tremendous opportunity to see what Oklahoma State football can be this season.
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