Spencer Sanders Literally and Figuratively Hurdled His Way to QB1 at OSU

STILLWATER — Spencer Sanders is “terrified” of planes, but that didn’t stop him from taking flight Friday night.

In Oklahoma State’s 52-36 victory against Oregon State, Sanders went up and over Beaver defensive back Omar Hicks-Onu on a run in the second quarter. The play raised a lot of eyebrows on social media, but it also raised some on the field.

The reactions to Sanders’ hurdle varied. Sanders called the leap instinctual, and Bryce Bray said he told Sanders to never do it again and to just run out of bounds. But Chuba Hubbard probably had the best reaction.

“I was like, ‘Damn!'” Hubbard said. “I did my little run fake, looked over, saw him in the air. I was like, ‘Hey bro, you might have to chill out with that. Be careful a little bit, you get a little too high, a little higher than I did. So, watch out.’ Nah, I’m playing. He’s a great athlete, so it was good for him.”

At his media luncheon Monday, OSU coach Mike Gundy didn’t seem too distraught on his quarterback taking a few licks. Gundy said there were three times when Sanders initiated unnecessary contact, but to an extent, you have to let an athlete of Sanders’ caliber play his game.

Sanders essentially echoed that Tuesday.

“It hasn’t entered the conversation,” Sanders said. “I feel like they’re going to let me … play my game. I feel like that’s good.

“I should slide more. I’m definitely not like Chuba or the receivers, I know they can take a lot more hits than me. I’ve gotta get down sometimes.”

Apart from people wondering whether Sanders should jump over people or step out of bounds, or slide or put his shoulder down to get a few more yards, Sanders’ first college football game was great.

He completed 79 percent of his passes for 203 yards and three touchdown and ran for another 109 yards. The offense Sanders captained scored 52 points, and the Cowboys left the Pacific Northwest 1-0.

Sanders has been a fan-favorite since signing his letter of intent. It seemed destined that he was next in line coming in as a highly-touted freshman the season Mason Rudolph left to become a Pittsburgh Steeler. Obviously the timeline was a little longer than some imagined with Taylor Cornelius leading the Pokes in 2018.

Starting this season hasn’t come easy either for Sanders, with Dru Brown battling with him for much of fall camp. Hubbard, who knows a thing or two about being in position group with other capable players, said the battle with Brown was good for the redshirt freshman gunslinger.

“I think Dru was good for him,” Hubbard said. “Dru was really great. Dru is a great leader. They both work hard, and they pushed each other. We saw it every day in fall camp in how they trained and stuff. They’re good for each other. I think if they didn’t have each other, it’d be different.”