2020 Has Given a Glimpse Into the Future of the Offensive Line

STILLWATER – Everyone knows 2020 hasn’t exactly been rainbows and roses. It’s been filled with some ups and a lot of downs; just ask Oklahoma State football. This was supposed to be one of the best years in program history with a Big 12 title appearance and a possible CFP appearance as well. Chuba Hubbard, Rodarius Williams and Tylan Wallace announced they were coming back, the offensive line looked solid and had great depth and the defense returned 10 out of 11 starters and had great depth as well.

Then before the season even started, they lost three offensive linemen, one to medically retiring and two were kicked off the team for breaking team rules. Then, in the first game of the season, they lost two more to injury and dealt with even more injuries throughout the rest of the season.

Quarterback play has been up and down this season, Hubbard has dealt with injury this season and is nowhere near where he wants to be in terms of performance and the Pokes lost their starting kicker to injury as well.

However, what this season has given us is a glimpse into the future of the offensive line. While play this season hasn’t been exactly stellar, guards have had to play tackle and vice-verse, a lot of second, third and even scout teamers have had to play this season. The future of the position has really had to step up and make the most of a rather poor situation.

“We started out the year and it’s just been a crazy year in general,” said redshirt freshman Preston Wilson. “Having to deal with coronavirus for sure, then having to deal with injuries. So, you’ve got to be ready for anything. That’s really what coach told us at the beginning of the season, everybody’s got to be ready and when things happened, we just had that ‘next man up’ mentality, get your butt in there and get ready to play. You’ve got to know your stuff and everybody had to learn and study different positions and play things they were used to in order to get the job done. So, everybody’s done a really great job of having that ‘next man up’ mentality and being ready for whatever this season has for us.”

Preston Wilson is one of those young pups that’s been thrust into a role he was a year or two away from being in. A redshirt freshman out of Argyle, TX, Wilson has really grown throughout the season. He still has a ways to go, as do all the younger guys, but he’s given it his all despite being thrown into the fire.

“It’s been crazy [for me] because I started out the season running with the threes and subbing in with the twos and now, I’m going with the ones,” said Wilson. “I’ve always had to have that mentality, just be ready, your time could happen at any point. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen at the end of the season, it could happen next year, it could happen whenever. So, I just had to be ready at all time just like everyone else; Josh [Sills] has had to move out to tackle, [Jake] Springfield had to step up at the beginning of the season at the other tackle, just things we didn’t expect. But everybody’s done a great job of stepping in and playing their role and finding the position.”

Wilson’s done a great job of stepping up this season and he gives a lot of the credit to offensive line coach Charlie Dickey and his brothers on the offensive line.

“Just playing for a coach like coach [Charlie] Dickey, he helps me a ton and gets me ready to play,” said Wilson. “Without him, I wouldn’t be able to do it. Without being able to look up to the older guys, when Teven [Jenkins] was here, Josh [Sills] is here, Ry [Schneider’s] here, [Hunter] Woodard, all the guys, [Jake Springfield], everybody’s holding me accountable. Even if we’re the same age or not, everybody’s holding each other accountable and trying to hold each other to a higher standard. That’s kind of what we live by: hold each other to a higher standard, don’t be satisfied with being average, be great and try to be the best.”