Three Questions OSU Must Begin to Address in Spring Football

Officially, Oklahoma State’s football season will begin on Sept. 3, 2020. Unofficially, it began weeks ago when the coaching staff finalized the signing class and brought in early enrollees in preparation for 2020.

Optimism is oozing out of Stillwater, which is only a minor miracle considering OSU is coming off an 8-5 campaign. There is reason to buy stock. Those reasons are as follows, in order: Chuba Hubbard, Spencer Sanders, Tylan Wallace, great (good?) defense, defensive continuity … you get the picture.

There remains questions OSU must address before the season, however. Going from 8-5 to 12-1 or 11-2 or somewhere above the 10-win mark doesn’t come organically with returning players (in most cases). OSU must address depth, target upgrading positions and replace key starters. Here are three question marks OSU must begin addressing this spring in hopes of turning them in to exclamation points by the fall.

1. Who will spell Chuba?

As much as the fans, the media, Gundy and (probably) Chuba himself would love, he can’t log 350+ carries this season. Not with the NFL knocking at the door and on the heels of a 351-touch 2019 season. That puts the pressure on running backs coach John Wozniak to find a clear-cut, reliable No. 2 to spell Chuba.

Last season that was LD Brown, but this season there should be a healthy competition given how Brown performed overall. Between Deondrick Glass and a finally healthy Dez Jackson, OSU should have some intriguing options on who to give reps to when Chuba isn’t running wild.

2. Will QB2 be a rookie?

Odds are — unless Brendan Costello or Peyton Thompson take a firm hold of the gig — the answer is yes. Now the question becomes: will it be junior college QB Ethan Bullock or freshman Shane Illingworth?

Bullock has the experience after playing at South Dakota State then at the junior college level, but, no question, Illingworth has the pedigree. A 6-foot-7 QB, he ranked as a four-star, top-200 recruit coming out of high school and profiles as the future.

3. How do you replace AJ Green?

Maybe the least obvious question mark entering the spring among the others on this list, but certainly the one I’m most intrigued by. People sleep on Green — he was legitimately reliable and good. And now OSU, while it brings back most of its defense from last year, must replace him opposite Rodarius Williams in the starting lineup at CB.

Eyeball emojis on this, in particular:

Bernard has played safety since his arrival two years ago but is listed at CB on the spring roster. Given the depth at safety with Kolby Harvell-Peel, Tre Sterling, Tanner McCalister, Kanion Williams, Jason Taylor II and Sean Michael Flanagan, Bernard’s presence in the CB room should be a welcome one. He’ll challenge Thomas Harper (my current favorite to succeed Green) as well as Mizzou transfer Christian Holmes as the starter in 2020, and at the very least should provide quality depth for a key position.