STILLWATER – One of the huge focuses for Oklahoma State football and for those that follow it during the off season was quarterback Spencer Sanders. The immensely talented quarterback in his third season as the starter for the Cowboys is a former Gatorade Texas High School Player of the Year during his explosive performances and winning days as the quarterback at Denton Ryan High School. Sanders is a good looking, confident young man. Exactly what you want at quarterback, but it is also the kind of personality that can be abrasive to some. It is not to Sanders’ teammates and anyone questioning the work ethic will find the answer is he busts his butt every day.
Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer
Sanders leaps high on his touchdown run vs. Kansas State.
"He is who he is. He's the Tasmanian Devil, right? He runs all over the place, he's able to do a cartwheel, get up, and throw a completion,” explained Gundy, who you can tell really likes Sanders and his makeup. “He almost fell down and put the ball on the ground on the naked (boot) the other day for no reason, that's just who he is. He plays competitively. He plays full speed. You have to be willing to accept certain things in a game with him because you're going to get the other. He's the same guy, that's who he is, except he just understands a little more."
Same guy, but after completing 22-of-34 passing for 344-yards and a pair of touchdowns plus another rushing touchdown, Sanders is 43-of-73 on the season with four touchdowns to just one interception.
"He's matured considerably. He was better last year, and he's even better this year,” Gundy said of Sanders. That comes with experience. He's at a position that takes and deals with a lot from different angles. What I was referring to with him is you have a very competitive, humble, and unselfish person who loves to play football. I've never heard him say a bad word about anyone on our team. I never heard him complain about not having healthy linemen last year and I've never heard him complain about not having healthy receivers this year. He just goes and plays. He's first-class and he's got character; he's humble and unselfish.”
A great example was in the first half of the Kansas State game, you could see Sanders’ frustration on a pass play where he was trying to get the ball to Rashod Owens. Sanders came off the field with Owens and was talking to him all the way to the sideline and beyond. No finger pointing, no yelling, just working to get on the same page with the play and the route.
Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer
Sanders runs into red zone early in the game.
"He's just a good kid,” Gundy added. “He never complains, he's happy with where he's at, he loves being here, and he loves to play football. He doesn't point the finger at anybody, and if he makes a mistake, he's willing to say he made a mistake. If not, they talk about it, they move on, and that's a sign of maturity."
It is showing up and after the first couple of games with limitations around him, Sanders is enjoying the process on what is so far an unbeaten season with No. 21 Baylor up next.