Spencer Sanders Will Miss Missouri State

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State starting quarterback Spencer Sanders will miss the Cowboys’ opening game against Missouri State due to COVID-19 protocols. This was first reported by the Cowboy Radio Network.

Sanders was taking the number one snaps throughout fall camp and came into the fall following spring practice as the identified top quarterback on the depth chart. However, Sanders reportedly has not practiced since last week.

Sanders was out of practice last week and immediately sophomore Shane Illingworth was promoted to working with the first offense. Ironically, it was Illingworth in his freshman season who came into the game in relief of both an injured Sanders and Ethan Bullock to help rescue the win against Tulsa.

The 6-6, 235-pound dropback passer was four-of-five for 79-yards in the comeback 16-7 win over the Golden Hurricane. With Sanders out, Illingworth was the winning starting quarterback against West Virginia (15-of-21 for 139-yards) and against Kansas on the road (17-of-23 for 265-yards and three touchdowns.

The sophomore out of Norco, Calf., Illingworth is more than ready to relieve this time from the start than he was a year ago. Illingworth has had strong practices since learning of his move up the depth chart. His practice on Wednesday was really outstanding.

This is a huge disappointment for Sanders, who has worked extensively in the spring, summer and throughout fall camp to improve his already strong passing and running skills and best prepare himself for this season. His decision making had been excellent throughout spring football and fall camp. Sanders was also coming off two of his best career performances with a 20-for-30 effort for 347-yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in a 42-3 win at Baylor and 27-of-40 for 305-yards with four touchdowns in the 37-34 Cheez-It Bowl win over Miami, Fla.

“Guys that play 20-30 games in a college career is pretty good from a standpoint that you don’t see a lot of young men that can stay healthy enough and put themselves in a position to do that. He could go on to, at some point, he could play over 40 games,” Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy said of his quarterback at his news conference for the opening game with Missouri State. It is unknown if Gundy knew at that point that Sanders starting the season opener was in jeopardy.

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

Shane Illingworth, shown in the spring game where he threw three touchdown passes.

Either way, the bonus in the situation is Oklahoma State has a week-plus to prepare for the situation and an experienced back-up that is unbeaten as a starter to jump in. It is also important to note that the Cowboys just started using scout teams to imitate Missouri State on Friday and in that practice, it was Illingworth that was already taking the reps with the first team offense.

It is likely that freshman Gunnar Gundy or possibly Bullock would be the back-up for the Missouri State game behind Illingworth.