The Open Week Should Bring Back Depth for Oklahoma State

STILLWATER – Depth at both the running back and LEO defensive end positions has been a little thread bare over the past couple of weeks for Oklahoma State. The Pokes lost DE Trace Ford before the start of the season to a torn ACL, both Brock Martin (elbow) and Tyren Irby (knee) have been out the past couple of weeks, as has running backs LD Brown and Dezmon Jackson (lower leg).

However, Jackson and Irby were both close to suiting up this past week, as was Martin, but all came up just short in the pregame testing.

However, with the open week this week for the Pokes, depth should look a lot better at both positions going into the Texas game on Oct. 16. There’s practice Wednesday afternoon, but the coaches are giving the team Thursday, Friday and Saturday off to relax and get well-rested.

"Well, we should, but I'm out of the prediction business,” Mike Gundy said on having Jackson, Irby and Martin back for Texas. “I thought we'd have [Dezmon Jackson] last week, and he couldn't go so. Brock Martin is pushing to play. He was trying to fraudulently sign his own parental release form last week. And then you have [Tyren] Irby that's trying to come back, I'm not sure. And the same with [Jackson]. So, there's guys that are right on the verge, and if we can get them up and moving around a little bit this week, then maybe next week when we get him into some team reps and try to get a few plays out of them at Texas."

As for running back LD Brown, he’s going to be out for an extended period of time.

"No, [LD Brown] won't be back against Texas."

While it hasn’t been an ideal situation, the remaining guys at the positions have stepped up in a big way. The running backs struggled to start the season, but Jaylen Warren filled in as the starter against Boise State and hasn’t looked back since. In the three games he’s been the starter, Warren’s combined for 466 rushing yards, 86 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Gundy has said repeatedly all season he doesn’t want to keep giving Warren 30+ touches a game, but he’s the only one producing. The other three backs have combined for just 139 yards and one touchdown on the season. According to Gundy, he also won’t stop and rest.

"He won't rest. I can try, but he's out here, he runs,” said Mike Gundy. “I tried to limit him when he gets a hand off to 15 yards, he run 40 yards, so I give up on him. I mean that's what you're supposed to do, but I'm trying to get him back, hopefully, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, he'll get caught. He just likes to play football. He loves to play, and he loves to practice."

Having Jackson back, along with Dominic Richardson, should give some much needed rest to Warren in future games.

On the defensive side of the ball, losing both Martin and Irby following the loss of Trace Ford was a big blow. Martin’s been a force totaling 13 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 3.0 quarterback hurries.

However, true freshman Collin Oliver has really stepped up in a big way. Just this past week against Baylor, Oliver recorded six total tackles, five of which were solo stops, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and three quarterback hurries. As DC Jim Knowles said last week, Oliver showing up in January was huge for him as he was able to adjust the college game much quicker than those that show up in June.