OSU Football: Larry Williams Still in Limbo, Other Linemen Sitting Out This Spring

Oklahoma State’s offensive line is in the midst of significant turnover with three of its five starters in Brad Lundblade, Aaron Cochran and Zach Crabtree having exhausted their eligibility. And a fourth lineman, who could boon the rebuilding line as it tries to protect a new starting QB in 2018, is still unclear about his future.

Larry Williams, who began both 2016 and 2017 penciled as the Cowboys’ starting right guard, saw each season come to an abrupt halt due to injury.

Following OSU’s third spring practice, Mike Gundy spoke about the where Williams and OSU stand.

“They’re making a decision on changing the rule,” Gundy said. “If the rule changes, I would say there’s probably a 95-percent chance that he would be active next year.”

In 2016, Williams flourished through the first five games of the season before a knee injury sidelined him until the Alamo Bowl. In 2017, he went down with a broken leg ahead of OSU’s Big 12 opener against TCU.

After receiving permission from the NCAA to partake in OSU’s Pro Day while their decision looms, Williams talked about the waiting game he’s been stuck in.

“I’m kinda just in a little gray area,” Williams said at OSU’s Pro Day. “Am I leaving? Am I coming back? I’m really just waiting on them to see how it’s going, and I’m just going to keep working until then.”

Keyes, Galloway Sitting out of Spring Ball

That O-line which is already thin on experience will be without a couple of returning contributors in Marcus Keyes and Dylan Galloway that Gundy stated would miss the spring after surgeries in which Gundy said they “cleaned up some shoulders on those guys, just general wear and tear…”

This situation may end up a blessing in disguise if Williams is granted his medical hardship waiver and on the assumption that Keyes and Galloway are both good to go in the fall. It would provide a lot of young and inexperienced offense linemen to get plenty of reps before entering the summer, which could pay off this fall.