Season Grades: OSU’s Receiving Corps Lived up to Its Billing

What will you remember most about this season? The near comebacks? The missed opportunities? What could have been?

Those will definitely sting for a while. But once some time has passed and Oklahoma State football becomes whatever it is that Oklahoma State football becomes in two or five (or 10) years, I think what I’ll remember most about 2017 is just how special this offense was. That starts with its QB and the Cowboys’ biggest strength — a deep and talented wide receiver corps.

We knew this group would be special and coming into the season, now let’s grade it through 12 games.

Production: A+

Eight different wide receivers have caught a pass for the Cowboys this season, and probably half of them could vie for a No. 1 spot at most schools. How many of them will eventual suit up on Sundays? That remains to be seen. But there’s little doubt that this has been the most talent-rich group to ever come through OSU.

James Washington should be announced as the school’s second Biletnikoff winner next week, and he and Marcell Ateman are OSU’s first 1,000-yard receiving duo, through 12 games. Washington needs just 69 yards in the Cowboys’ bowl game to pass Rashaun Woods as the all-time leader in receiving yards.

The Cowboys led the nation by a sizable margin in passing offense, and the receivers have helped this team reach historic levels on offense. Not much to gripe about in the numbers department.

Big Plays: B+

I had to grade on a curve here just because a couple more big plays and the Cowboys might be playing Oklahoma this Saturday for a conference title. But the Cowboy receivers made plenty of bingeworthy plays, none more than Marcell Ateman.

We started calling him “Moss-Ell” after Texas Tech, and now I’m this close to calling the former Pro Bowler and soon-to-be Hall of Fame inductee “Randy Marce.”

Blocking: A-

The Cowboy receivers continue to take pride in doing the dirty work. After the loss of one of its best downfield blockers, Jhajuan Seales, a year ago, the group didn’t skip a beat.

And it came from everyone: Marcell, the Prez, Chris Lacy and even the younger guys like Dillon Stoner and freshman Tylan Wallace showed they weren’t afraid of a little contact.

Check out this wicked hit by Stoner against West Virginia.

Overall Grade: A-

That may seem like a harsh grade for this group but, again, grading on a curve given its talent and upside A Big 12 title was the goal and OSU most definitely fell short. That’s not all on the Prez and Co. but everyone shares in the blame. Overall, a great group had a great year.

The Future is bright

Though losing probably the best OSU WR duo ever in Washington and Ateman, there is still plenty of talent returning in 2018.  Tyron Johnson should be one of the top targets for whoever is slinging it in Stilly next year. Stoner has been the most impressive youngster of the group, and Jalen McCleskey will bring senior leadership as well as his big-play ability.

Tylan Wallace and others like Tyrell Alexander have just gotten their feet wet, while stashed away have been outside targets like LC Greenwood and Patrick McKaufman who can take over for departing rangy receivers Ateman and Chris Lacy. The Cowboys will also welcome four-star Tulsa Union rookie C.J. Moore who may be the best of that group of tall targets.

We're looking back at each group of Cowboys' contributions to the regular season. First up: receivers. #okstate #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/9q9GTSuckU

— Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) December 1, 2017