Mike Gundy on Mason Rudolph: ‘He Finally Understands’

The Truth. QB1. The Reindeer. No. 2. Whatever you want to call him, it appears that Mason Rudolph is poised to announce himself to the nation this year with a season and a half worth of games under his belt and a *hopefully* improved running game.

It’s not like he was bad last year either. Rudolph was tracking for 4,000 yards (only Brandon Weeden has done that in OSU history) before getting injured in the Baylor game. His 21 TDs don’t pop, but how many were vultured by The General?

I’m all in on Rudolph this year, but I’ve sort of always been all in on him. I have an irrational affinity for big, strong-armed QBs who were homeschooled, I suppose.

Mark Cooper of the Tulsa World wrote a great profile of No. 2 the other day, and Mike Gundy gave a pretty revealing quote.

“When you watch Mason this year, Mason looks like to me that he finally understands,” Gundy told the Tulsa World. “This is the first time, in watching him, I feel like he finally understands and is comfortable and is not guessing at quarterback. And he’s going into year two-and-a-half and 15 games.”

A quarterback who was top 10 in yards/attempt, top 25 in QB rating and QBR and is 12-3 as a starter just figured out what he’s doing and finally feels comfortable?

I’m excited. You’re excited. Even No. 28 is excited.

“I see more of a leader than his sophomore year,” said James Washington this fall. “He’s picking up the younger guys, even on days that we’re off. He’ll get the younger guys and us and we’ll go throw and get them ready for the season. He’s definitely picked up where he left off.”

Here is a reminder of where he left off.

https://vine.co/v/izadgdI3YdU

https://vine.co/v/eL9LLKM1KJQ

https://vine.co/v/ibAbJqgtZ3Q