Sean Gleeson Plans to Build Oklahoma State into QBU

Oklahoma State can claim its fair share of elite passers. Names like Brandon Weeden, Mason Rudolph and Zac Robinson are peppered throughout its record books, and their careers coincided with some of the most successful seasons in the program’s history.

And its current quarterback room is chock-full of potential. Spencer Sanders is the third-highest rated QB prospect the school has ever signed as far back recruiting rankings go, and Dru Brown, the season former transfer, has multiple years of D-I starting experience. Don’t forget Cali passer Brendan Costello who enrolled early for the spring.

But first-year offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson wants more.

With his first Oklahoma State fall camp (and first quarterback battle) getting underway this week, Gleeson has high hopes for the position both now and in the future.

“I want this place to be where the best quarterback in the country sits,” said Gleeson. “We won games at Princeton with that model — there’s a guy in New England right now who is a pretty darn good quarterback -— who has won a lot of games because his play is better than everyone else’s. That’s where we want to go.”

There have been some heavyweight QB names thrown around OSU as of late. Dru Brown recently likened running mate Spencer Sanders to Aaron Rodgers. Sanders drew comparisons between Brown and Drew Brees. Now their OC is planning on a Tom Brady-type reign in Stillwater?

(Coincidentally, that’s is how I imagine Gleeson when he walked into his Mike Gundy’s office after securing his own four-star Cali QB pledge, Shane Illingworth, this spring.)

As far as his current group goes, Gleeson is focused on getting them better now and distributing the ball to the bevy of returning dynamic playmakers.

“Right now, I think our quarterback group needs to enhance and accentuate all the great playmakers that you guys are talking about, the Chuba Hubbards the Tylan Wallaces,” said Gleeson. “We’ve got some really good skill kids.

“… We’ve just got to make sure that we don’t turn the ball over and we don’t make stupid decisions, and get those guys in space and let them score some points.”

It ties into a QB credo of sorts, C.I.A., which stands for competitive, intelligent and accurate. Three requirements for whoever takes snaps in his offense.

At Big 12 Media Days, Gundy talked about Gleeson being the entire package when it comes to bringing in and developing QBs.

“He’s young,” Gundy said. “He’s a good technician with quarterbacks. He’s got a bright personality. He’s good in homes at recruiting quarterbacks. We all know this. You can’t coach quarterbacks in our conference if you can’t recruit a player to get into our conference and have success you’re not going to be as good of a football coach. I think he brings all that to the table.”

On Monday, Gleeson also mentioned growing with his group as he gains experience at the Power 5 level and in OSU’s system. He wants to build on OSU’s legacy of fostering elite passers, and build it up “like what they’ve got in New England and like they have across the country where they win a lot of games and that guy’s leading the way.”

We still don’t know which guy will be that guy this fall, but based on what’s coming from the Cowboys’ new OC, the future looks bright behind center.