Oklahoma State Cowboys
Overall Rank: #9
#2 Big 12 Conference
2010 Record: (11-2, 6-2)
2010 Bowl: Alamo Bowl vs. Arizona (W 36-10)
Coach: Mike Gundy (47-29 at Oklahoma State, 47-29 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Todd Monken
Defensive Coordinator: Bill Young
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: Joseph Randle, RB, 452 yards
Passing: Brandon Weeden, QB, 4,277 yards
Receiving: Justin Blackmon, WR, 1,782 yards
Tackles: Brodrick Brown, CB, 77
Sacks: Jamie Blatnick, DE, 5.5
Interceptions: Shaun Lewis, LB, Markelle Martin, S, and Johnny Thomas, S, 3
Other Key Returnees: OT Levy Adcock, WR Isaiah Anderson, WR Hubert Anyiam, C Grant Garner, CB Devin Hedgepeth, DE Richetti Jones, LB Caleb Lavey, P-K Quinn Sharp, RB Jeremy Smith, LB James Thomas
Key Losses: K Dan Bailey, DE Ugo Chinasa, LB Justin Gent, RB Kendall Hunter, LB Orie Lemon, CB Andrew McGee
It has been a long road and Oklahoma State is oh-so-close to the top of the Big 12 and a BCS bowl breakthrough. But one hurdle remains – a crimson-and-cream, schooner-riding, in-state hurdle known as the Oklahoma Sooners. The big boys from Norman have taken eight straight in the Bedlam Series. If the Cowboys have dreams of finally winning the downsized Big 12, they probably will need to end that jinx when the rivalry resumes on December 3.
Strengths:
Offense, offense and more offense. Only Oregon and Boise State lit up scoreboards more feverishly last year than Oklahoma State. With 10 starters back, the guns of mascot Pistol Pete again figure to be blazing early and often. Back to lead the charge is quarterback Brandon Weeden. He burst on the scene last season with a record-shattering campaign that included 4,277 passing yards and 34 touchdowns. Weeden flirted with the idea of turning pro before deciding to stay for his senior year. The 27-year-old (he played several years of baseball before coming to Stillwater) enters 2011 as a Heisman Trophy favorite. Also in the mix for the coveted statue is Weeden’s top target, Justin Blackmon, who is perhaps the best wide receiver in the country. One look at his 2010 season says it all: 1,782 receiving yards (sixth-most all time), 20 touchdown grabs and at least 105 yards and one score in each of the Cowboys’ 13 games. Weeden has several other enticing options, including speedster Isaiah Anderson (18 yards per catch in ’10) and Hubert Anyiam, who had 42 catches two years ago before injuries hit last season. Making sure that Weeden stays in good condition is one of the finest offensive lines in America. All five starters are back from a unit that allowed a mere 10 sacks last season. A secret weapon for OSU is punter Quinn Sharp, who ranked second in the nation with an average of 46.2 yards per boot. Adding the placekicking chores this year hopefully will not tire out his leg.
Weaknesses:
The Cowboys might never get past that Sooners roadblock until they develop a defense like Oklahoma’s. While last year’s unit was not terrible, it still was the main culprit in the team’s two losses – 51-41 to Nebraska and 47-41 to Oklahoma. The Cowboys allowed a staggering total of 1,122 yards in those two games. In light of that fact, the loss of six starters might not be such a bad thing. Still, there are questions over who will step in and how they will perform. Of particular worry is the tackle position, where both starters from 2010 must be replaced. If there is one thing OSU does not want it is opponents running the ball down their throat and keeping their prolific offense on the sidelines, so whoever plays at tackle must get the job done. The same holds true at linebacker, where a new middle backer must be found. All-conference cornerback Andrew McGee is another departure, although sophomore Justin Gilbert appears ready to star. Offensively, the only starter who is not coming back was a real good one. Running back Kendall Hunter ran for over 1,500 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith have great potential, but it will be difficult for them to replace Hunter’s production. Finally, something needs to be done about the Cowboys’ kick coverage. Opponents brought back three kicks for scores last year and averaged a whopping 27.4 yards per return.
The Bottom Line:
Much has been made about the departure of Dana Holgorsen, the offensive mastermind who left for West Virginia. With all of the skill and experience on hand, the Cowboys’ attack should roll along just fine without its former coordinator. The real concern can be summed up in two letters: O and U. The Cowboys and Sooners appear to be on a collision course for the conference crown and a possible BCS National Championship Game slot. But that is only if Oklahoma State avoids some potential pitfalls along the way, namely road games at Texas A&M, Texas and Missouri. Even if they stumble once or twice, the Cowboys should still find themselves in a major bowl game. It just might not be the one they are hoping for.
Projected Bowl: Fiesta Bowl
2010 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 174.38 (36th in nation, 4th in conference)
Passing Offense: 345.85 (2, 1)
Total Offense: 520.23 (3, 1)
Scoring Offense: 44.23 (3, 1)
Rushing Defense: 133.69 (37, 2)
Pass Defense: 275.85 (115, 11)
Total Defense: 409.54 (88, 8)
Scoring Defense: 26.38 (61, 6)
Turnover Margin: .92 (11, 2)
Sacks: 2.23 (40, 5)
Sacks Allowed: .77 (7, 1)
Madness 2012 NFL Draft Rankings
#4 Justin Blackmon
#97 Levy Adcock
Madness 2011 Recruit Rankings
#66 Herschel Sims
#106 J.W. Walsh
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