Why Oklahoma State Football Can Win 10 Games in 2018

Optimism is rightfully stunted surrounding the Oklahoma State football program entering 2018. You can blame Mike Gundy’s most recent mullet trim for that, if you’d like, but most will point towards the loss of the record-setting QB-WR tandem in Rudolph and Washington as reason OSU doesn’t appear slated to produce a seventh 10-win season since 2010.

Last season it was a foregone conclusion, as OSU entered the 2017 season as a trendy pick to win the league outright. This season, though, with an untested QB, a new-look defense, and the unknown of what a re-made receiving corps. might look like, there are more questions than answers. There’s a chance this team can bottom out circa 2014 if the pieces don’t fit.

There’s also a chance this team glues like Elmer’s and puts together a successful season, bucking preseason expectation off its rocker as Gundy is wont to do.

Given Gundy’s track record, I tend to lean towards the latter. Six 10-win seasons will get you the benefit of the doubt — and then some. Here’s why I’m buying stock in OSU and drinking all the kool-aid.

OSU’s defense might rock

OSU’s returning cornerback duo of Rodarius Williams and A.J. Green is reason enough for optimism in a league that airs it out more than Uncle Rico, and trust me, I’m all-in, but my optimism surrounding the defense lies in the defensive line.

Anchored by Darrion Daniels at defensive tackle, OSU is loaded across the board. Cole Walterscheid, Trey Carter, Jarrell Owens, Jordan Brailford, Enoch Smith Jr. — from left to right, this unit has no glaring weakness.

The defensive unit as a whole isn’t as deep as the defensive line, but the starting unit is rock solid. The Cowboys return seven starters on defense in total, and each player we’ve talked to this preseason has raved about what the 4-2-5 allows them to do. Freedom to create, they say. More turnovers and sacks created, I translate.

That running back room … woooo

We’ve almost exclusively chattered about the QB depth chart this preseason, but boy oh boy did Marcus Arroyo set this running back position up for success in 2018 and beyond (?) Justice Hill is back with Hei5man hopes, J.D. King is back and lifting MACK trucks, which seems like a good sign he’s ready for a sophomore breakout, and Chuba is allegedly faster than ever even after packing on some pounds to withstand the grind of the Big 12.

I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say OSU has the best overall running backs unit in the league entering the season, though I do think OU is a close runner-up. This unit’s strength is a big reason why I’m so comfortable with my next reason ….

Oklahoma State has 3 QBs

Taylor Cornelius is Oklahoma State’s starter. Dru Brown is QB2. And super frosh Spencer Sanders, who has shown he doesn’t at all look out of place this fall, I’m told, is slotted as QB3. That’s three starting level quarterbacks on OSU’s roster!

I’m not here to pine for one QB over another, but if Cornelius is the guy as Gundy has said he is, I think he’ll be solid. Not only does he know the offense as well as any QB on the roster, but he has three dudes coming out of the backfield in Hill, Chuba and King to rely on, and an offensive line that has a chance to be better than Mason Rudolph ever stood behind in his four seasons. If Corndog can’t translate knowledge of the offense into W’s, I think Hawaii transfer Dru Brown will get his shot.

No matter how that battle plays out, OSU is in much better hands than people may think at the QB position entering 2018.