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Oklahoma State Football

Dezmon Jackson is More Comfortable Going Into Year Three

August 19, 2021
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STILLWATER – One of the main questions surrounding the Oklahoma State offense as we get closer to the start of the 2021 season involves the running back room. It’s not so much a question of talent, as it is where the touches are going to go based on the immense depth.

John Wozniak returns three backs from last season, starter LD Brown, Dezmon Jackson and Dominic Richardson, the latter two received heavy doses of carries later in the season. They then brought in Utah State transfer Jaylen Warren, who’s earned snaps throughout the spring, summer and into fall camp.

One guy who’s looking for a breakout season is redshirt senior Dezmon Jackson. The first couple of years on campus for Dez were adjustment years; trying to get used to the bigger sizes and speeds, as well as the physicality of everything.

Dez burst onto the scene for the Pokes last season against Texas Tech as he carried the ball 36 times for 235 yards and three touchdowns. His performance was only the fourth time a Cowboy player rushed for at least 230 yards against a Big 12 opponent since 2000.

Dez said he didn’t really get comfortable in his role until towards the end of last season, so I’d expect some of the confidence of the Tech game to really shine through in 2021.

“He’s a little bit of a slasher,” said coach Gundy of Dez Jackson. “You don’t want to go out on a limb too much, but for his performance in the games that he played in [last year], he probably played as good as anybody in the country for the amount of reps he got in the games; his production. I’m somewhat hesitant and don’t say this a lot, but he actually plays better in games than he practices. He practices hard, but in games he slashes and seems to be more productive than he actually is in live settings in practice, which is kind of the important part of what we do. Now, there’s very few young men that I’ve come across in my career that were actually able to do that. But there is a big role for him on our team with what he brings to the table and when we put in him games last year and asked him to be successful, he was very successful.”

Coach Gundy’s right, there aren’t many guys out there who perform better in a game than they do in practice. It’s kind of a rare trait considering guys who don’t practice well, or don’t like to practice typically don’t see the field during a game.

“Actually, I’ve always referred myself as not really a practice guy; I don’t know why, but when I’m at practice it don’t really click to me, but when I get on the field [in a game], it’s easy. I think it’s just my adrenaline going knowing it’s game day, playing with my teammates, playing in front of fans and just doing something I love.”

Not only was that evident against Tech, but it was the following week against TCU as well as he rushed for 118 yards and one touchdown on 29 carries.

It’ll be interesting to see how the running backs room shakes out during fall camp, but I’d fully expect to see a healthy dose of the agile slasher out of El Dorado, AR throughout the 2021 season.

Discussion from...

Dezmon Jackson is More Comfortable Going Into Year Three

2,477 Views | 2 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by Ostateman
CaliforniaCowboy
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What's the verdict here Poke fans?

Do we really have a loaded backfield that is going to pound our foes into the endone, or is that mostly media hype and wishful thinking?

They're all career backups and hopefuls waiting for something.... maybe Jackson was just waiting for his Brandon Weeden moment when the coach realized he's a gamer and not great in practice... maybe... hopefully.

The rest? We accustomed to 1,000 yard rushers (or 1,500 yard rushers)

Brown? played behind Hill then was passed by Hubbard... now he's the goto guy?

Warren? Senior transfer from Utah State, never more than 600 yards in a season. So great out of JUCO that Utah State picked him up!

Richardson? He had an okay freshman campaign for #4 kid out of Oklahoma. His claim to fame is 169 against a half-team in COVID plagued Baylor. (of his 223 total yards)

Is this really the buch that carries us over the top?

Where are the Justice Hills, the Keith Tostons, the Chuba Hubbards etc. waiting to break through?

What do you folks think? Is this a loaded backfield as we're being told, or is it some solid kids that can get the job done?

Ostateman
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Cali,
So much depends on our OLine.

When you mention whether it's true talent or just hyping the season like we and every other team in the land does for it's rabid fans. It's what we want to hear really.
The reality for fans and teams is usually around game 5.
We heard so much about the improvement of our OLine in past years only to have those lofty dreams dashed due to injury.

We've watched as a one-year-wonder Hubbard starts playing safe and protecting his pro career. We'd have been much better off with him leaving a year early IMO instead of allowing some hungry kid that wanted a chance to prove himself an NFL prospect too
.
As for me, I have resigned myself to the fact that the professional sports writers and talent evaluators and coaches that pick the top teams are much, much better at it than we fan posters/arm-chair quarterbacks.
I, like most college football fans, are very optimistic. I'm such an optimist, I continue to play golf year after year after year. If you're a golfer, you'll know what I mean.

I'm not sold on our QB situation quite yet. Spencer Sanders would love to come out and be a hero like we want him to be, but he's battling his playing history. Everyone one this team is wanting to prove worthy of the hype that is heaped on them by our coaches.
We'll see if this year is different. But those professionals that do their picking for a living (especially the Vegas guys) are there for a reason.

But I do believe in miracles.
I know there are rules, but do we really want to follow them now?
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