Cowboy Football Fares Well in Decision Season

STILLWATER –- Let’s call it “Decision Time” as classes will start at Oklahoma State on Tuesday, Jan. 19 following the Monday Martin Luther King Day. Since Oklahoma State finished the season with the 37-34 win in the Cheez-It Bowl, and even before, Cowboys players were making decisions on their immediate football future.

The NCAA opened up more options for players that survived this COVID-19 pandemic season or chose to opt out before it began. Players, including seniors, redshirt seniors, seniors with an extra-year of eligibility already in hand all had the option of staying in college and playing another season. Seniors returning for next fall will be excused from the 85-scholarship count, meaning schools will have more players on scholarship than 85. However, next season, players returning for another year will count against the 85 limit meaning decisions will likely need to be made.

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Following the Cheez-It Bowl head coach Mike Gundy and his staff have been monitoring decisions by players that can come back.

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy and his staff seemed to have made out as well as could be honestly projected when it comes to players returning for next season. There were seniors needing to make decisions, but there are always those decisions that need to be made by draft eligible underclassmen. 

By the way, in something that really had not been reported much the NFL would not issue draft grades requested for seniors. Citing the fact that seniors are reasonably expected to go into the draft and also the competitive aspect of preparing for the draft, the NFL claimed it would bog down the player-personnel and scouting departments of their teams. Eligible underclassmen could still get draft grades from the NFL. 

There were no real surprises on offense. Pokes Report actually did a speculative three-deep depth chart for the 2021 season several days after the Cheez-It Bowl and we have only had to go back in and edit it once, after safety Kolby Harvell-Peel announced he was entering the NFL Draft. Then we went back and plugged him back in after he decided to come back

Okay, looking at it in the rearview mirror and only one prominent player remaining are we expecting an announcement from and that is running back LD Brown. Brown would benefit from a season of being at the top of the depth chart, a season where he stays healthy, and he could still make some extra spending money through the name-image-likeness opportunities. Brown is a prominent player and has a very engaging personality making him a natural for commercial work or public appearances.  

There were six expected departures from the offense with running back Chuba Hubbard, offensive tackle Teven Jenkins, and transfer receiver Dee Anderson gone before the end of the regular season. Hubbard and Jenkins had injury-riddled seasons. Jenkins played through a number of injuries and now has declared out of the Senior Bowl. Anderson was also hurt a lot and never contributed. 

AP Jerry Larson

Dillon Stoner’s Baylor game makes for a great resume’

Tylan Wallace, Dillon Stoner, and center Ry Schneider answered every bell. Wallace is a high draft pick as is Jenkins, who has been projected as high as first-round. Hubbard will definitely hear his name in the draft. Stoner could hear his name but would be a strong free agent candidate. Anderson and Schneider will need a team to like what they see. 

Offensive Expected Departures

It was somewhat unexpected when slot receiver Landon Wolf put himself in the portal. Elected a captain by his teammates and a proven contributor, the only reason I see for him leaving is he wants to be the top dog at the slot and that certainly looks like it will be Brennan Presley. Jelani Woods said he wants to be closer to him in Georgia. Virginia is closer, but not by much. Dayton Metcalf was engaged during last season, has his degree, and is ready to move on with his life. 

Unexpected Offensive Departures 

Rod Aydelotte

Tay Martin (4) is a real key returnee for the offense.

Looking at the players coming back, all three could play key roles as Tay Martin showed in the second half of the Cheez-It Bowl what he can do in the Cowboys offense. He will be the mentor and alpha for the younger receivers in the program and those just entering here in January. His leadership will be huge.

Logan Carter becomes the number one returning cowboy back. Josh Sills was a leader on that very young offensive line. He will do so again and welcomes in transfer center Danny Godlevske to assist. Both Carter and Godlevske have high NFL potential. LD Brown, as mentioned above, could really stack his NFL resume’ with a productive season.

Key Offensive Retainees 

• still waiting on an announcement

Like Hubbard and Jenkins, corner Rodarius Williams was hurt and it made sense for the senior to opt out of the end of the season and work on getting healthy for his NFL future which I believe is very bright. Williams may have helped himself as much as any other player with the exception of Tylan Wallace this season. 

I believe all four expected departing defensive players will be drafted or at the least get into an NFL off season or training camp. Several NFL scouts have told me they like the way Murray has developed. Ogbongbemiga makes so many plays. Bundage has a unique and explosive skill set. 

Defensive Expected Departures

There were no unexpected defensive departures in the end when the NFL Draft decalration deadline came and went. Safety Kolby Harvel-Peel was in this category when he announced he was leaving, but then on Monday (deadline) he announced he was coming back instead. With his hamstring issues in the 2020 season we that was a smart call. He has a strong potential for an NF future, but he needs another season to fortify that opportunity. That makes this next sentence resonate even more.

Oklahoma State Athletics

Devin Harper will combine with Malcolm Rodriguez for a dynomite linebacker pairing.

The returning talents and production from the defensive retainees is awesome! It started with Malcolm Rodriguez, who is only a junior and was looking forward to getting his degree and finishing college football with his best friend in defensive end Brock Martin. Then when Devin Harper, always a favorite of the analytics folks at Pro Football Focus, decided to come back that secured a strong starting linebacker pairing and the leadership and examples to help the likes of Na’Drian Dizadare, Kamryn Farrar, Mason Cobb, Jeff Roberson, and others. 

Tre Sterling is only a red-shirt junior but with his explosive playmaking season the NFL would have found a place for him to develop. See above to see what Harvell-Peel means in playmaking. Another college season and both Harvell-Peel and Sterling will be more than ready to play on Sundays. Missouri transfer corner Christian Holmes may have made a million-dollar decision. He has the size the NFL wants and another college season with even more reps against the offenses in the Big 12 and he will be more attractive.  

Key Defensive  Retainees

Second Thought Defensive Retainee

Because of COVID-19 and this past season there will be more “Decision Seasons” in the future. They likely won’t be as hard because I see more and more players decisions being defined before the end of the future seasons. Also, with future seniors likely counting against the 85-scholarship limit there may not be as encouragement for as many players to hang around another season.