100 Days of Summer: Get to Know No. 41 Britton Abbott

Our next number belongs to an under-the-radar cowboy back who could have a significant role in the offense in 2017.

How he got to OSU

Abbott came to Oklahoma State as a preferred walk-on as part of the 2014 class. He played quarterback for his dad, former NFL Football Giant and now head coach at Liberal High School (Kan.). Abbott (the younger) held scholarship offers from the likes of UTSA, Wyoming and Tulsa, but chose OSU with the hopes of earning a scholarship.

What he’s down in Stillwater

After a redshirt year in 2014, Abbott saw the field in two games in 2015 and 12 in 2016, mostly on special teams. During spring practice, Mike Gundy said Abbott was twice the player he was a year ago.

Role in 2017

Abbott resides near the top of a pretty inexperienced cowboy back group. While that inexperience and an embarrassment of riches at wide receiver may lead to more four-wide sets, the cowboy back isn’t going anywhere.

Abbott talked about where the group is as whole during the spring.

“We’re a young group, not a lot of starts.” Abbott told Scout, “Just come out here early, try to get a lot of work in before practice, just get everything down best we can. You know experience is hard to come by at our position group, so we’re just trying to get in as many reps as we can.”

It was hard to come by and has been since Abbott arrived in Stillwater. He’s sat behind the likes of Jeremy Seaton, Blake Jarwin, Zac Veatch and even fellow junior cowboy back Keenen Brown. But Seaton, Jarwin and Veatch have all moved on. And there’s an opening for the upperclassmen to make a name on offense.

Mason Rudolph talked about the hybrid position on Tuesday at Big 12 Media Days.

“Britton, as well as Keenen, played sparingly last year,” Rudolph told PFB. “They kind of know the scheme. They know what that position is about. They’re going to be able to do a good job for us whether it’s blocking or catching the ball, as a check-down in the flats.”

Abbott fits more into the Zac Veatch, blocking fullback role but has the ability to catch passes.

Noteworthy stats and highlights

Was named the Kansas Class 5A Player of the Year his senior season after throwing for over 3,000 yards, rushing for over 1,200 and was responsible for 49 touchdowns.