Another Week of Opposing Quarterback Uncertainty for OSU Defense

It seems like every week, the Oklahoma State defense isn’t quite sure who will be taking snaps from the opposing center.

It started in the South Alabama game, where the Jaguars brought a three-quarterback race into Stillwater. Kansas has jumped between Stanley Carter and Peyton Bender most of the season. Then the Brock Purdy era begin against OSU in Week 6. Against Texas, it was unsure whether Sam Ehlinger would be healthy enough to play against the Pokes, so OSU prepped for Ehlinger and Shane Buechele.

That brings the Cowboys to their game against Baylor. The Bears’ starting quarterback Charlie Brewer is in concussion protocol, and his status is unknown for Saturday. Jalan McClendon would be Brewer’s likely replacement. McClendon filled in for Brewer against West Virginia where McClendon went 16-for-21 for 183 yards.

“Some guys (concussion protocol) can be as short as a five- or six- or seven-day process, some guys it’s significantly longer,” Baylor coach Matt Rhule said. “It’s really just each person’s response. First you have to wait until you have no symptoms. At the end of it, there’s a cognitive functioning test. We’ve had players who have passed every step but didn’t hit the score on the test, so they didn’t play in games. Charlie can be advancing and doing great like he is, but there’s still some pieces ahead that have to be signed off on. We’re not going to put him out there until the doctor says he’s good and he feels good.”

Brewer and McClendon started the season in a bit of a quarterback battle. Brewer won the starting job and has 1,820 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. McClendon has season totals of 542 passing yards and three touchdowns.

There’s also another option, though. An option that is as spooky to OSU fans as this Halloween doggo.

A freshman quarterback.

Baylor sits at 4-4 with four games left, meaning the Bears could play freshman Gerry Bohanon throughout their next four games and retain his redshirt.

Bohanon was a highly touted four-star recruit who chose Baylor over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, LSU and others. Rhule even name dropped him a few times at his presser Monday.

The Cowboys have faced two freshman quarterbacks in conference play this year and lost both games. Texas Tech’s Alan Bowman came to Boone Pickens Stadium and threw for 397 yards and two touchdowns. Two weeks later, Purdy had 402 total yards and five touchdowns in Iowa State’s 48-42 victory in Stillwater.

“I have all of the confidence in the world in Jalan,” Rhule said. “He was invited to play in the NFL Players Association All Star game just off of people watching him play in practice. He is smart, tough and competitive. His teammates respond to him and he has a big-time arm. The other night when things weren’t going well, he jumped in there and lead us to score on a seven and 10 play drive. It is just the way the life works out the is not the starter. I know that he can-do big-time things.

“I am also excited to see Gerry get the opportunity to play. He has waited his turn, and he has developed. He is a special young man.”