Daily Bullets (December 13)

Insider Info

In a tremendous piece on the information exchange at college football’s award shows, some intel was given to Cowboys on Virginia Tech. And it was encouraging information.

When West Virginia wide receiver David Sills V arrived in Atlanta, he already had a Virginia Tech scouting report ready to go, knowing that fellow Big 12 pass-catcher and Fred Biletnikoff Award finalist James Washington would be looking for an assessment of the Hokies’ secondary. Washington was joined by his Oklahoma State teammate, QB Mason Rudolph. Sills and the Mountaineers lost to Tech in Week 1, 31-24.

“They are long and physical at the corners,” Sills told the Cowboys of Tech, against whom he hauled in 94 yards receiving and a pair of TD catches. “We had them at their best, at their healthiest. They’ve had some injuries and suspensions, but they are older guys, they’ve been in that system a long time. They keep plays in the front of them, so you’ve got to figure out how to get behind them deep at least a couple of times. But guess what? That’s what James and Mason do best. I think they got excited when I told them that.” [ESPN]

Long, physical corners that like to minimize deep balls? Sign me up for that matchup.

Don’t Sleep on Dillon

Dillon Stoner was listed by ESPN as a breakout player to watch in bowl games.

Virginia Tech is well aware of James Washington, the Biletnikoff Award winner, as well as red zone force Marcell Ateman and speedster Jalen McCleskey.

But the Hokies can’t lose sight of Stoner, Oklahoma State’s next emerging star. The freshman recorded touchdown catches in each of his final three games and was targeted much more late in the season. [ESPN]

Is Stoner the next star at wideout? It’s always seemed like he was more in the vein of the Josh Cooper/David Glidden that had premier value but wasn’t perceived as the next Dez/Blackmon/Washington. He could be David Sills-y by the time it’s said in done – and that’s top shelf.

WATCH: Mason Rudolph goes 76 yards to Dillon Stoner to give #OKState a 24-3 lead! pic.twitter.com/mJf8B8IQZm

— Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) November 25, 2017

OSU and NCAA Notes

Mike Gundy gives the Big 12 stability….Winners and Losers (K-State) from the coaching carousel….Mason Rudolph joins a couple of southeastern guys as Jason Witten Award finalists….CRFF guys talk 2018 QB in Stillwater….Marcus Arroyo signed a three-year deal at Oregon as offensive coordinator 🙁

There’s some confidence!

Per @BovadaLV, 93 percent of the public is on #OKState (-6) against Virginia Tech. That's the highest percentage for any team in a bowl game.

— Mark Cooper (@mark_cooperjr) December 12, 2017

It’s not No. 1 in offensive efficiency but an identity is forming.

Defense is a mentality. #letswork

? 29th in turnover %
? 38th in scoring defense
? 42nd in turnovers forced
? 46th in defensive efficiency pic.twitter.com/mmMXdtDyvn

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) December 12, 2017

Good for the Red Raiders, that’s a nice bump.

Texas Tech’s defense, in @SBN_BillC’s explosiveness metric (points per successful play), went from 111th in 2016 to 41st in 2017. Huge leap.

— The Solid Verbal (@SolidVerbal) December 12, 2017

Gundy took Sumlin’s place with the Oklahoma Swagcopter.

https://twitter.com/GundyChild/status/940402855822938112

That ten-year number still scares me.

After speculation he would jump to FBS, Mike Houston has instead signed a 10-year extension at James Madison https://t.co/sRDomDoYOw

— Zach Barnett (@zach_barnett) December 12, 2017

What You Missed on PFB

• Check Porter’s five thoughts on the 2017 season
• Take the poll: who will get the 2018 QB snaps
• Cox grades out the offensive line’s performance and outlook
• Carson and Porter talk with Adam Lunt about the season, the draft and up-and-comers
• How much will the Pokes new big man help out?

Other Stuff I’m Reading

• The Warriors most important non-All Star doesn’t play a minute (If Boogie had found KD in that tunnel…)
• Lebron-to-Houston would be insane
• Former Facebook-exec goes scorched earth on social media