Chippewas Skill Positions Will Challenge Pokes Defense, Give All of Us Answers

STILLWATER – One piece of advice to Oklahoma State fans leading up to the season opener on Sept. 1 with Central Michigan, the temptation is going to be to wallow in history lessons and talk about the revenge of beating the Chippewas for the injustice of that untimed down and hook and ladder “hail Mary” that resulted in an unforgettable 30-27 loss. 

Suffice to say that both the quarterbacks in that game, Cooper Rush for CMU and Mason Rudolph for the Pokes are now in the NFL with Dallas and Pittsburgh respectively. Rudolph under instruction through a pass intentionally out-of-bounds and was flagged for intentional grounding. The officiating crew from the Mid-American Conference mistakenly awarded CMU an untimed down and Rush threw the first leg of one of the most famous hook and ladder plays in college football history.

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Devastating loss for LB Chad Whitener and Cowboys.

The statement on the play and the game from the MAC and their officials supervisor:

"The Mid-American Conference officiating crew from Saturday afternoon’s Central Michigan at Oklahoma State contest made an error on the final play of regulation. The crew made a misapplication of the rule and should not have extended the contest with one final play. Despite the error, this will not change the outcome of the contest.” Bill Carollo, Coordinator of Football Officials, Collegiate Officiating Consortium

If you dwell on that storyline, then you will be missing this fact. Central Michigan is Oklahoma State’s toughest non-conference competition in the 2022 season. Chips head coach Jim McElwain returns solid talent mainly centered with the offensive skill positions, including his starting quarterback, the nation’s top returning rusher in Division I, another running back that was the original starter last season, the team’s top receiver from last season, and a big pass catcher that is a major threat.

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Richardson back to pass for Chips.

You start with Daniel Richardson, a serious throwing talent that is 5-11, 204-pounds and just a sophomore, but he completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 2,633 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2021. He threw only six interceptions. He doesn’t run much, but he is athletic enough to move around in the pocket and UCM uses plenty of RPOs in their attack.
 
"I can't say enough good things about him," McElwain said. "He's done nothing but stay steady and continue to get better. He's got a great understanding of what we're trying to accomplish. He understands the weapons around him and how to deliver the ball and how to be a point guard.”

McElwain loves the young Floridian’s leadership. He is the guy in the Chips locker room. 
 
"You hear people talking about it and what is it? D-Rich has it. There's a lot of things that go into that. He's got the makeup; he's got the DNA. He's got that quarterback moxie, the mentality, and I'll tell you what, I'm happy he's a Chip."

At running back, Lew Nichols III is the reigning NCAA rushing leader and 2021 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Nichols III is the alpha in the Chippewas' stable of running backs, he's hardly alone. 

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Nichols in Sun Bowl win over Washington State.

"We're going to go with Lew, that's not a secret," running backs coach Jackson said of the 5-11, 222-pound Nichols. "I think the guy can carry the load. He did it last year, but we're going to incorporate the other guys in the system."

Nichols III used his pounding style to lead the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing yards with 1,848 and in yards per game with 142.2. He was a workhorse with 314 carries and had 16 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 40 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns and ranked first in all-purpose yards with 2,186.

Yet Jackson has the audacity to brag about two younger backs on the team in sophomores Marion Lukes (5-9. 195) and Myles Bailey (5-10, 206).

"They're young guys, they're eager guys," running back coach Cornell Jackson said. "They have the speed and the agility; they can also help us on special teams returning punts and returning kicks. The thing I like about young running backs, especially these two guys, is they do an unbelievable job in pass protection protecting the quarterback."

That may be needed because the Chips will sport four new starters on the offensive line and Oklahoma State, nation’s leader in sacks last season can come after a quarterback. Richardson has some targets in Now, at receiver the Cowboys will need to be aware of veteran Dallas Dixon.

Dixon is the top returnee among the receiving corps. He ranked third on the team with 45 catches and was second with 701 yards and eight touchdown receptions a year ago. The 6-1, 196-pound senior from Phoenix, Ariz. is the clearcut leader in the position group and it's a role he has embraced.

"Doing what I'm supposed to be doing," Dixon said of his approach to the leadership role. "Leading by example, being in my playbook, having extra meetings and extra talks with the guys when I'm supposed to, making sure they're in their playbook, making sure everybody's understanding the offense."

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Wilson with touchdown catch in Sun Bowl.

The Pokes also need to be aware of Jr. tight end Joel Wilson (6-4, 250) that is a dependable pass catcher and serves as the security blanket for Richardson. If you are looking for similarities between this Central Michigan team and the one that pulled off that huge upset in 2016 Wilson may be one. That Chips team with Cooper Rush had a tight end security blanket with current New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin. 

i would ignore history, as Mike Gundy and his team will. The need to dwell on current events will be important with beating Central Michigan, a team that was 9-4 last season and Sun Bowl Champions beating Washington State.