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Boone: 50 Reasons to be Excited About the 2019 Oklahoma State Football Season

It’s *officially* football season.

Published

5 years ago

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Folks, we’ve done it. We’ve maneuvered past media days and survived the dog days off the offseason. It’s now officially football time. Fall camp begins today. (Yes, seriously, today!) By the end of this month, Oklahoma State will be 1-0 after a Heisman-like debut from Spencer Sanders beatdown against another OSU and plunging head-first into a two-game non-conference warm-up before Big 12 play opens against Texas on Sep. 21.

Huzzah!

Before we dive head-first into the season, I’m whipping out a new annual post highlighting 50 reasons to be pumped about the upcoming season. But first, some rules.

1. These are not in any particular order.

2. This post is all hype. If you’re looking for a defeatist’s take, you will not find it in the words hereafter.

3. Please grab your orange kool-aid, throw on your orange glasses, and join me.

50 REASON TO BE EXCITED ABOUT 2019

1. Mike Gundy’s bounceback. One of the most revealing things of the offseason about Gundy and his character was the surprising revelation that he has some regrets about how he handled 2018. At Big 12 Media Days, he expressed newfound excitement about a redemption tour in 2019.

“I’m more excited and looking forward to a season than I have in a long, long time,” he said. “We didn’t play as well last year as we should have, in my opinion, and it was the result of me not doing my job and holding coaches and players accountable. We weren’t a very disciplined football team. We weren’t a very tough football team. Those are two areas that we can control the outcome.”

Maybe it’s just PR #spin he’s putting out to look less bad from a 7-6 season, which I would understand. Call me crazy, but spin or not, I’m buying into the mullet whipping back into shape. I think Gundy is a top-10 coach nationally, and he’s still got the goods to make good on his preseason lip service to be better.

2. The new-look quarterback room. Speaking of lip service … Spencer Sanders and Dru Brown are both fans of one another. And after seeing this video, I am *pushes chips to the center of the table* all the way here for whatever happens. This whole interaction is entirely too genuine to not be genuine.

(“If I were to compare him to anyone,” Brown says of Sanders, “it’d be Aaron Rodgers.”)

Be right back, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.

3. Spencer’s legs. I don’t mean I’m literally excited to see Spencer Sanders’ legs. I mean, I’m excited to see what they can do. This excitement bullet is dependent upon him winning the job or, at the very least, getting snaps, but I’m very much on board to see what he can do. When a play breaks down and he’s got a sliver of space to break into the open field, he’s an electric talent. For context . . . .

4. Tylan hype. What’s funny looking back at last year is that Tyron had all the hype, then Tylan had all the production. (Tyron had a lot too, but Tylan was in his own league.) Now that Tyron is gone and Tylan is a bonafide star, I’m fired up to see how he can encore one of the great single-season receiving seasons at OSU. He has a chance to thrust himself into the conversations with the greats like Rashaun Woods, Dez Bryant, Justin Blackmon, Hart Lee Dykes, James Washington, Adarius Bowman *takes breath*, and Josh Stewart. I’d argue his 2018 campaign was enough evidence to at least mention him in the top 10 talent-wise — and I’m fully bought in to him backing it up with another monstrous 2019 season.

5. A new-look offense. Mike Gundy did his best to assure folks at Big 12 Media Days that the offense in 2019 under new offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson will be a similar system as in year’s past, but I’d be lying if I denied excitement about what the coordinator change will bring. I’m on the record as a Yurcich truther, but I am already conducting the Gleeson train. He’s a play-calling wizard who thinks outside the box and utilizes schemes, players, smoke and mirrors to make magic happen. I think Gundy will allow him more freedom than he led on about, and I think the results will be really good.

6. The Gleeson hire. To add to the Gleeson hype, I’m just generally excited about what he can do. He’s a dynamic personality who we have already learned can recruit, and I think he’s smart enough — and has enough leverage — to earn some trust from his new mulleted boss. As he sets about in Year 1, I’m fascinated — but more so fired up — about how he ingratiates himself to the fans, to his fellow staffers, and to prospective student-athletes.

“Some of the offensive style is going to be very similar,” he told us at OSU’s media outing before fall camp. “There was a lot of overlap between Oklahoma State and Princeton in the way that modern football is played. The three things that our guys are going to be nauseous hearing from me every single day is that we want to be fast, physical and hungry. I think you’ll see that as it relates to the no-huddle, in the way that we compete. There’s going to be some physicality — some East Coast physicality — to what we’re doing. The motivational stuff — having hunger — is really important to me in this game.”

7. Excited Chuba is a footballer, not a bowler. Because, well, he’s really good at football and apparently horrendous at bowling. (Sorry, Chubes.)

8. The nonconference slate. It’s not exactly a murderer’s row, but a three-game opening trio of games before league play of Oregon State-McNeese State-Tulsa isn’t a bag of cupcakes, either. And best of all: OSU will get credit for playing a Power 5 opponent against the Beavers to open the season, but not-so-quietly, the Beavers are brutally bad. Win-win.

9. The Dickey project. Mike Gundy nabbed Charlie Dickey from the ranks of the unemployed earlier this spring to fill Josh Henson’s place after he left for Texas A&M. And things are working out really well. Dickey, a long-time Bill Snyder disciple, is already drawing rave reviews from insiders about his progress coaching up the offensive line, and he’s making significant in-roads as a recruiter while in Stillwater, too. His track record of doing more with less at K-State should carry over to OSU, and as a bonus, he inherited a full cupboard of talent to be successful in his inaugural season.

10. Knowles’ new approach. OSU’s defense ranked inside the top 10 in sacks last season ….

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The rest of the defense, though — yeesh.

“I’m definitely tweaking my approach,” said Knowles this week, nearly grimacing. “No doubt.”

11. Home games. Every other year, the schedule sets up real nice. The odd years. So 2019 looks real nice. Here are the conference foes set to come to Stillwater this season: Kansas State, Baylor, TCU, Kansas, OU. That’s quite a slate.

12. The new Jordan Brailford. Every once in a blue moon, there’s a player who transcends position. These players leave a path for their successors to only be referred to as their predecessor’s name, and not their position. Hence: the Jordan Brailford position. Jim Knowles spoke highly of both Brock Martin and Mike Scott this week, and I can’t wait to see who wins the Brailford spot.

13. How McKaufman bounces back. Receiver Patrick McKaufman was earning some serious buzz in camp last year before he tore his ACL. Now he’s back and healthy, and guess what? The buzz has returned.

14. Baylor is homecoming. Look, this is petty. But here goes: I get some serious chills when OSU beats the brakes off Baylor. In any sport. And with the Bears coming to town (a year after OSU lost to Baylor in near-impossible fashion!), I’m deeply pleased with this set-up. Mark your calendar: Oct. 19, 2019. It’s going down.

15. How the C.I.A. looks in action. Sean Gleeson said this about what he’s looking for in a quarterback: “We’re looking for a quarterback who can be competitive, intelligent and accurate — C.I.A.” I’m ready for whomever wins the gig to sport the OSU badge and a fake C.I.A. badge on the field.

16. Feisty Gleeson. Monday was just his first media appearance in a large setting, and Gleeson was kind. But this little snippet suggests he may have a little feistiness just below his surface. Some spunk. I’m here for him going on a mini-rant against Marshall Scott for asking 800 times about how the quarterbacks look in fall camp.

17. Bedlam finale. The world just feels right when OSU and OU play on the final Saturday of the season. And after a reprieve from that tradition, it’s back, baby! Nov. 30. OSU vs. OU. Winner … to the Big 12 title game?

18. Israel Antwine.  A long-time OSU pledge, Antwine flipped to Colorado just before signing day a year ago. He played as a freshman, then CU fired its coach and he transferred to OSU. Now he’s been granted an immediate eligibility waiver, and should be a key cog — or the key cog — of the OSU defensive front that is replacing nearly every starter from last year.

19. Taco Saturday. October 5, 2019 — a Saturday — shall henceforth be titled Taco Saturday. It’s the day OSU travels to Lubbock, America to face Texas Tech and the flying tortillas. If I were tech savvy, I’d program this LeBron video to say “TACOOOO SATURDAY!!”, but you get the point. (This game is guaranteed to be a night game, by the way, isn’t it?)

20. The season-opening scene. I get that Oregon State isn’t Florida State or Clemson or even a top-5 recognizable program in its own league, but yo, I’m very here for a Friday opener in Corvallis. Should be an awesome scene, awesome environment, and, presumably, an opening W. (OSU is favored by more than two touchdowns!)

21. Real talk with Kolby Peel? Kolby Peel is a huge personality, and OSU has already showcased him a bit on socials. Might we see a return to the old Real Talk with Ramon series featuring him?

Here’s a sample of his own stuff.

22. Who becomes head honcho at LB. Calvin Bundage is legit, Kevin Henry is underrated, and Amen Ogbongbemiga and Devin Harper are both ultra-reliable. But who emerges among them as the star? My money is Bundage because his talent is just insane, but the penalties and bone-headed plays that stacked up last season need to be limited.

23. Stars at No. 1. Ever since the Dez Bryant days, I’ve been enamored with seeing star players rock the No. 1 jersey. And OSU has not one, but two. On defense, it’s Calvin Bundage, my preseason pick to lead the team in tackles. On offense, it’s Landon Wolf, a darkhorse candidate to be the No. 2 receiver after catching 33 balls and racking up 362 yards receiving in 2018. Very here for the No. 1s shining!

24. No. 24, Jarrick Bernard. The Kolby Peel hype is real and I can’t stop it, but another freshman that was equally impressive last season in line to make a sophomore leap is Jarrick Bernard. He started each of the last nine games of the season at safety as a true freshman and ranked first among all freshmen with 59 tackles.

25. Being more multiple. If this were “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” I’d probably call Dustin Ragusa or Adam Lunt to try and decipher what Jim Knowles meant when he said this week he wants to be “more multiple” as a defense. My interpretation, in two words: less predictable. If OSU’s defense can show one look and execute another, then I think the Knowles era could take a significant step forward. With more experience as a coach at OSU and with a ton of returning starters in the defensive backfield, I think he’ll have options.

26. The C.J. Moore leap. I talked to an OSU staffer recently who told me that C.J. Moore, the crown jewel of OSU’s 2019 recruiting class, “had a great spring.” After redshirting 2018, the former top-150 receiver could be an X-factor as a redshirt frosh. Look at that Dru –> C.J. connection …

27. The dynamic corner duo. A.J. Green is on all the preseason watch lists you can think of, and Rodarius Williams has the talent to hold his own. I think that tandem could be the best cornerback duo in the 2019 season among all Big 12 teams.

28. More mullet. I won’t ever tire of it, and neither should you. This thing is here to stay and I am pumped to see it flossing in the wind on Saturdays.

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29. Freshman at LB. The top-end of the depth chart at linebacker is set with veterans, but the two incoming signees — Na’Drian Dizadare and Kam Farrar, both freshmen — are sleepers to earn PT. Per sources, the two have made strong early impressions and could potentially bypass redshirt years altogether.

30. Deondrick’s Heisman campaign. If any running back is winning the Heisman in 2019, it’s Chuba. But I sure love the optimism four-star signee and incoming freshman Deondrick Glass had when he committed to OSU in January.

I suspect Glass will start the fall pretty low on the depth chart — definitely behind Chuba Hubbard and Dezmon Jackson, and maybe even behind LD Brown and Jahmyl Jeter — but his talent is pretty unique. When he figures out where to go and what he’s doing, he’s going to rock.

31. Dave and John are back. John Holcomb and Dave Hunziker are broadcasting legends, and their commentary narrated my OSU football childhood. Pumped to know that football season signals the return of the duo to the radio waves, where fans from near and far (and from the press box) can follow along with their great reporting. How many broadcasters could do this in real-time as gracefully as Dave?

32. Oh, and Larry Reece, too. Football season is not football season without his deep, confident voice booming over the loudspeakers at Boone Pickens Stadium. It’s just not. Living legend.

33. Position changes. There are a lot of players who switched positions since last season, but Tanner McCalister’s move from corner to safety and LC Greenwood’s move from receiver to linebacker are the two I’ve got my eyes locked on. OSU’s been pretty fortunate with mid-career position changes over the years, so I’m curious to see how these two former recruits — both who were considered top-100 players in Texas (McCalister was a three-star, Greenwood a four-star) — fare at their new spots. If Jelani Woods’ move is any indication …. they’ll be fine.

34. … and Jelani! Jelani Woods signed with OSU as a 6-foot-7 quarterback, and now he’s entering 2019 as the starting Cowboy Back. And a pretty darn good one at that. What a career arc! He and Logan Carter, a former walk-on, should be a dynamic 1-2 punch.

35. Cornerback depth. I feel like every year we get excited about potential depth at corner, and then every year we see Ramon Richards take 9,000 snaps per game or A.J. Green get run into the ground with no subs. But this year might actually be different! Behind Green and Williams is JayVeon Cardwell, Thomas Harper, LaMarcus Morton, Kemah Siverand, Gabe Lemons, Bryce Balous — all guys with rotation (or even starter!) potential. I’m not expecting hockey lineup changes at corner, but I’m also not expecting the drop off between the 1s and the 2s to be like going from Chipotle to Qdoba, either.

36. Under-the-radar emergences. Guys we haven’t talked much about but probably will be in short order: Brock Martin, Tom Hutton, Bryce Bray, Dezmon Jackson, Jason Taylor II, Braydon Johnson, Pat McKaufman, Jordan McCray, Jacob Farrell, Tyler Lacy, to name a few. Probably more!

37. Graduate transfer impacts. South Alabama receiver Jordan McCray was a late addition to the roster, but word on the street is that he could be pushing for a starting spot at outside receiver dependent upon how C.J. Moore progresses and how Pat McKaufman looks coming off an ACL. Bowling Green transfer Kyle Junior, a DT/DE, should provide an early impact and depth, too.

38. Stone show. I was the driving force behind all the Dillon Stoner buzz last preseason, but I definitely wasn’t alone. In fact, it wasn’t crazy to peg him as the No. 1 going into 2018 before Tylan did Tylan things and Tyron finally got the ball thrown his way. Will things swing his way in 2019 as it was expected to last season? Stoner has trusty hands, elite route-running skills, and the benefit of experience with whomever wins the QB job. I’d buy some Stoner stock and cash it down the road when Tylan is getting quadruple-teamed and he’s grabbing 10 catches for 2-hundy and three scores by Week 4.

39. Chuba as No. 1. We saw it in a small sample last season, but Chuba as the No. 1 running back was delightful. In fact, some analytical measures suggest Chuba > Justice, which seems slanderous but might not be all that absurd. I need more data before I park my opinion there, but meantime, I’m just going to sit back with my Chuba shirt and enjoy the show.

40. RB … 3? I don’t know where LD Brown will fall on the running back depth chart, but if he’s No. 3 or 4 (or even 2!), then, well, I’m fine with that. This is a more-than-capable backup with big play ability.

41. Tylan contested catches. “The King of Contested Catches does it again” was a saying that could’ve been repeated dozens of times last season, and I’m ready for all of them again from Tylan.

42. Tulsa on the schedule. As a native Tulsan, I can fully appreciate the economic benefit, energy and excitement locally an OSU-Tulsa football game brings to the community. Having it in Tulsa this year rocks. Close enough for OKC fans to make the trip, and at the heart of a city where one of the state’s biggest alumni bases resides in. They’ll meet every year from 2024 until 2031 after an agreement this offseason, an eight-year extension that adds to games in 2019, 2020 and 2021 that are already on the schedule.

43. No mid-week conference games. OSU has won on a non-Saturday since 2011, but the only real non-Saturday game I can remember OSU losing — a Friday night game against Iowa State in 2011 — has scarred me for good. I’m OK with an season-opening game against Pac-12 foe Oregon State, but still not quite OK with facing any conference opponent during the week. So thank goodness there’s nothing on the board in 2019.

44. OSU’s Austin streak. In one of the most inexplicable trends in OSU football’s recent history, OSU has won five straight over Texas in Austin and can make it six this season to open league play on Sep. 21. If it’s extended, it’ll inject some serious momentum into the season and force us to reset some expectations.

45. Potential two-QB sets. Sean Gleeson has played two quarterbacks (and sometimes three!) in the same game, and sometimes at the same time. He’s creative. We’ve seen OSU use a two-QB system in the past, notably with Mason Rudolph and J.W. Walsh, but a two-QB system this year with Sanders and Brown would be endlessly fascinating. And unless one decidedly wins the job, it just might happen.

“We’ve never really talked about (using two quarterbacks), but if it fell in our laps, that’s what we’ll do,” Gundy said a few weeks ago. “If we get to a point a month from now, and we feel like both of them are playing well enough to play well in a game, or if neither one have taken the reins, then we’ll play both guys.”

46. Outperforming expectations. OSU is pegged to finish fifth in the Big 12 this season. I do not anticipate OSU finishing fifth in the Big 12.

47. That random close-call game. Every year there’s a game OSU has no business getting down in, and yet every year there’s inevitably one where they fall behind by two scores at halftime and everyone is looking around wondering what in the world it was they just watched. Who will it be this season? It often happens at home in a game OSU is picked to win, so my money is on K-State in Week 2 of the conference slate just randomly giving the Pokes a huge fight under new coach Chris Klieman.

48. More beef. Last year, there was this. What will this year bring? Anything short of an all-out brawl might be disappointing!

49. Newness. Maybe I’m overstating this a tad, but 2019 feels a little like a fresh start. There’s a ton of returning pieces — Mike Gundy, Jim Knowles, Chuba Hubbard, Tylan Wallace, Calvin Bundage among them — but I’m getting some strong fresh start vibes from everyone. Gundy seems rejuvenated, there’s guaranteed to be a new starting quarterback. This team is going to be entirely different from last year — and I think that’s mostly a good thing.

50. Redemption. OSU players and coaches this offseason have worn shirts with the names of every team that beat them in 2018 and used it as motivation for 2019. It’s corny, but I love a good redemption story.

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