Smith Shines, but True Separation Doesn’t Exist in Four-QB Race

STILLWATER — The last time Oklahoma State took the field in Boone Pickens Stadium, freshman Maealiauki Smith looked like the front-runner to start in 2025.

Saturday’s Orange and White Game did nothing to change that as Smith was responsible for two of three scoring drives in the entire scrimmage. The only other quarterback to lead his team to the end zone was Garret Rangel, but his should be marked with asterisks, considering it was a one-play 74-yard run from running back Rodney Fields.

“He executed,” said Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy of Smith. “He made some throws. Ran the ball pretty good. Not to repeat myself, but I think what y’all saw today is what I’ve been telling you I’ve been seeing. They’re all playing pretty good.”

Orange defeated White 14-10 despite Smith’s best efforts on Saturday. Here is a breakdown of each of the Cowboys’ quarterbacks.

Note: Stats from Saturday are unofficial, as the media combined forces to try to keep up with them.

Maealiuaki Smith (White Team)

Stats: Completed 6-of-10 passes for 54 yards. Eight carries for 2 yards and one touchdown.

Very unofficial average depth of target: 8.5

Smith tended to hone in on his first read on Saturday, but he still proved to be the most effective distributor of the football, hitting six different Cowboys in his three appearances. Every other quarterback was responsible for at least one three-and-out, but Smith’s only drive which failed to reach the end zone still saw the White Team gain 19 yards.

It’s worth noting, that drive began with Smith taking snaps deep in his own end zone. So, though Smith did get tackled behind the line of scrimmage on back-to-back plays to stall the drive out, in most games, avoiding a safety and picking up plenty of room for the punter would be considered a win.

The weird nature of a game that sees teams split not by depth chart, but by a coaches’ draft, impacted the stat lines for every quarterback. All of them, including Smith, would likely have been more successful if allowed to run through contact instead of being blown down at the slightest touch from a defensive player. 

Still, it’s hard to call this one anything but a win for the redshirt freshman who seems far from his ceiling. 

“Just the understanding of the offense, of what we’re trying to do,” Gundy said when asked how Smith has improved this spring. “When I say that, it’s very similar to what we do now and what we used to do with Meach. Quarterback is a big part of what we do in this system, always has been, and his understanding of what to do and when to do it is important. And he’s made strides.”

Garret Rangel (Orange Team)

Stats: Completed 5-of-6 passes for 48 yards. One carry for 8 yards.

Very unofficial average depth of target: 4 yards

Rangel was the first quarterback in for the Orange Team. His Oklahoma State career has been one less-than-ideal circumstance after another, and that proved true again on Saturday. 

He should have seen the field more, but his first drive was delayed after a special teams score kept the offense on the sideline. Then on his second drive, he was reduced to watching Fields tear up the field for a long touchdown on the first snap.

The other drives resulted in one three-and-out and what should have been another touchdown drive if quick whistles hadn’t prevented running back Kalib Kicks from scoring multiple times in goal-to-go situations.

Although Rangel didn’t get the time needed to prove himself, he also probably played the cleanest game from a decision-making standpoint. His only incompletion came on his first attempt when he rolled out of the pocket to the left and found himself immediately confronted by defenders. The defenders in coverage seemed to know their assignments well on this play, so throwing it out of bounds was the right call for Rangel. He finished the day throwing to four or five different pass catchers despite limited attempts.

Zane Flores (White Team)

Stats: Completed 8-of-15 passes for game-high 60 yards. Seven carries for a loss of 33 yards.

Very unofficial average depth of target (first four drives): 5.1 yards (would have increased dramatically if final drive could be included, but reporters were watching from the sidelines at that point).

Every other quarterback saw the field three times, but Flores got five opportunities on Saturday. If Flores was an afterthought in the quarterback race that wouldn’t happen.

Flores was the quarterback hurt most by the way the game was officiated. Quarterbacks were ruled down on contact, or in some cases if contact was imminent. In a live game, some of those would have been positive gains, perhaps even big plays. Because of this, it’s hard to take much away from his performance on Saturday. He completed a 16-yard pass on 4th-and-6 to start the game’s final drive. If given time, Flores might have led the White Team to a game-winning touchdown. Instead he threw an interception on a hail Mary attempt that made it to the end zone within reach of a receiver who was correctly covered up by the defense.

Flores targeted at least five different pass catchers, but he focused heavily on receiver Da’Wain Lofton (at least five targets) and Gavin Freeman (at least three).

Hauss Hejny (Orange Team)

Stats: Completed 5-of-5 passes for 33 yards. Four carries for a loss of 4 yards.

As the team’s only new quarterback Hejny should have been the headline event for the fans who braved the wind and rain. Instead, Hejny rarely saw the field for similar reasons to Rangel, making it tough to evaluate his ability to win the starting job.

More than most, if not all the other Cowboy quarterbacks, Hejny wanted to use his feet in the game to extend plays. In a live setting that could prove to be a game-winning attribute, but against a Cowboy defense that did a good job chasing the quarterbacks around on Saturday it limited his chances to shine. 

Because of when he got in the game, it’s impossible to break down his average depth of target, but it was probably the shortest of all the quarterbacks.

Receiver Sam Jackson V praised Henjy as Rangel for their elusiveness after the scrimmage.

“From what I’ve seen so far (this spring), the other two haven’t really had to get out of any jams, but Garret and Hauss, those are the ones who have had to get out of a jam and make plays on the field,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the team hasn’t worked in ones, twos, and threes this spring, which has allowed him to work with all four quarterbacks this spring.

“He’s kind of played like he can run and get himself out of some situations,” Jackson said of Hejny. “He’s a little younger too. But Garret, he’s the one who’s gonna sit in that pocket and just find out where to get it to. But you got Zane and (Smith), too. And as you can see today, they were throwing (the ball) around. But it’s, I think it’s gonna be a tough decision, for sure.”

Although some quarterbacks got more time or did more with their time than others, none of them looked like they should be considered a definitive front-runner or afterthought where the competition is concerned. Based on Saturday and his body of work, it would be surprising if Smith isn’t at least a top-three option on the Cowboys depth chart next year.

It sounds like Gundy doesn’t think this competition needs clarity anytime soon, even though the Cowboys only have one more week of spring practice.

“Well, I mean, we won’t be able to do that (create a depth chart) for a while,” Gundy said. “We’re not in a position to do that. I would think that going into August, you certainly have a two-deep. Then you’re gonna have to work through the first eight or 10 practices to figure out who your guys are.”