Daily Bullets (December 21)

Crown Jewel

While four stars like C.J. Moore and Sean Michael Flanagan (by some services) were cause for joy, Spencer Sanders is the headliner with a great possibility of early returns.

While (Spencer) Sanders doesn’t arrive in Stillwater until June, he appears to be destined to become the third Gundy-coached quarterback to start as a first-year freshman. Wes Lunt did it in 2012 and Mason Rudolph in 2014.

J.W. Walsh was a brilliant football athlete but an inconsistent passer. Zac Robinson was an effective option QB who developed into a 65 percent passer. Until he was supplanted by Rudolph this year, Robinson had been OSU’s career leader in total offense.

With Sanders, Gundy gets the athleticism and run-game wherewithal of Robinson, but Sanders already is outfitted with an elite arm. The only blemish on Sanders’ qualifications is that he twice has sustained a knee injury. [TulsaWorld]

It’s hard to imagine a more ideal scenario for a freshman quarterback to take over. I still hold Corn Dog will start but a 2012 Mississippi State game J.W. Walsh taking over for Clint Chelf-pace could be in play.

Mike Gundy on Spencer Sanders. pic.twitter.com/81eGhfNJzD

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) December 20, 2017

Guilty By Comparison

There have been glowing comparisons thrown around about the 2017 recruiting class – and one comparison sets the bar high.

It gives the Cowboys a class that 247Sports ranks 26th nationally. That is Oklahoma State’s highest-ranked class since the 2011 class (J.W. Walsh, Josh Stewart, Ryan Simmons, David Glidden, James Castleman, Jimmy Bean, Desmond Roland, among others) ranked 25th. [TulsaWorld]

We couldn’t get away without one last 2011 comparison, right?

OSU and NCAA Notes

Jenni Carlson digs into the effects on the early recruiting class….Cowgirl Basketball put up a hundred plus on Monday night….50 states ranked by percent blue-chip recruits….Marcus Arroyo is locked up through 2020….Defense carried the Pokes over the Cane on Monday night….Big 12 using Facebook to show a basketball game

VT was a dude.

.@BallOut_96 looks back on his draft experience and how his transition from high school to college football helped him grow.

Walk & Talk Fueled By @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/dYzXhiYTl7

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 19, 2017

Illegal in Payne County.

Gundy: "We had a couple poachers last night. They failed." #okstate

— Mark Cooper (@mark_cooperjr) December 20, 2017

Markel Brown doing some work in the G League.

WINNERS.

Markel Brown drops 20 and the Blue beats the Suns! pic.twitter.com/Z60LBIlHZR

— Oklahoma City Blue (@okcblue) December 20, 2017

A great irony in college football.

/Sees "Welcome to the family!" 5,000 times today

/Watches exodus of assistant coaches over the next two months.

— Ben Kercheval (@BenKercheval) December 20, 2017

What You Missed On PFB

• Check out the Pokes’ newest recruiting class
• Mike Gundy’s not afraid to play a freshman
• Mike Gundy is a big fan of the early signing day
• Catch the notes from Gundy’s signing day presser
• How Gundy used a helicopter to his advantage

Other Stuff I’m Reading

• Is the tech industry evil?
• Doesn’t sound like OKC is looking to move Paul George

Some special gals. Can you imagine this as the halftime show at Gallagher-Iba?

OMG the Golden Grannies in Milwaukee. LFG. pic.twitter.com/UcmVZNXOVa

— Paige Dimakos #DraftQueen (@The_SportsPaige) December 20, 2017