Boone: Five Predictions For Oklahoma State Sure to Come True in 2018

2017 was an absolute treat, friends. I made predictions and, as expected, almost all of them turned out to be completely wrong.

So what better way to ring in the new year than with some #takes that will, without question, make me look like a total idiot come December stand the test of time. I’m fired up, so let’s get into this.

1. Spencer Sanders will start at QB in 2018

The Taylor Cornelius truthers will be out in full force after this one, but I just don’t see any way Sanders doesn’t win the job. Like right away.

He’ll step foot on campus, go through a week’s worth of practice, and already have the keys to the offense.

Gundy’s face lit up like an LED bulb when he talked about the four-star Denton product at signing day and made it clear he’s not afraid to start a freshman at QB. All signs point to Sanders being the favorite — and unlike Rudolph’s 2014 campaign, I think he gets the nod from day one simply because his talent and ceiling is higher than any QB on the roster.

2. OSU Hoops Makes a Deep Postseason Run … in the NIT

This is no knock on Mike Boynton. Based off the roster he inherited (and the roster he’s opted to trim the fat on midseason), an appearance in the NIT would be nothing to turn your nose up on.

I think Boynton can do the same as what Jamie Dixon did at TCU when he led the Frogs to an NIT title before becoming a nationally ranked team in the following season.

This roster’s got last place in the Big 12 written all over it, but I think the coaching staff has other plans. A deep run in the NIT could foster some positive momentum going into the 2018-19 season, and I wouldn’t count them out to make some postseason noise — even if it likely won’t be in the Big Dance.

3. Mike Boynton lands a five-star

Mike Boynton, self-proclaimed obsessive over recruiting, has been in on some big fish early in his tenure but hasn’t yet closed the deal.

But with a year under his belt and relationships that will have been fostered since he took over, I think he will, at some point, land a big name. My bet is that it’s a point guard — he needs someone who can come in and lead the program right away a la Trae Young.

4. OSU produces two 1,000 yard rushers

Yes, I realize what this might mean for prediction No. 5 (don’t skip down!). But I think OSU’s offense will be significantly run-focused in 2018 — more so than maybe it ever has been under Gundy — and Hill and the combination of Chuba + J.D. King will be all the better for it.

If I’m making a blind guess now, I’d say Chuba takes over RB2 responsibilities while King gets goal-to-go action, leaving Chuba as my guess to go over 1,000 yards in 2018.

That’d be pretty incredible for a former semi blue-chip recruit who didn’t see the field at all in 2017, but I think it can happen. In Henson I trust to develop and replace Zach Crabtree, Brad Lundblade and Aaron Cochran.

5. Justice Hill will win the Heisman

I will be beating the HEI5MAN drum as hard as anyone until he hoists the trophy next season.

Hill was unbelievable in 2017 — and, to be honest, he might’ve been borderline Heisman finalist good if OSU hadn’t gone all-in on Rudolph’s campaign. He rushed for 1,467 yards and 15 TD’s as a sophomore, and I expect him to make an even bigger junior leap as OSU evolves into a smash-mouth offense riding him as Spencer Sanders gets acclimated to life in the Big 12.