Veterans Impressed with Stephon Johnson Jr. and Freshmen
STILLWATER – I’m not going to give you an injury report. Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman didn’t give one on Tuesday during his weekly news conference. You know Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy did not go player-by-player with injury updates on Monday. Suffice to say for now, both teams are going to have to trust some back-ups and among those they will trust will be some true freshmen. It happened for Oklahoma State last Saturday in the 41-34 comeback win over Texas. One freshman, in particular, came up really big.
His teammates and people at practice in fall camp including early like the Extreme Camp attendees saw Stephon Johnson Jr. He was making some highlight catches from day one. That is why he jumped to the head of the class although fellow freshmen Talyn Shettron and slot receiver Braylin Presley were also held in early high esteem.
“You’re going to see Boogie at the Z,” offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn told the Cowboy Radio Network crew on Thursday. “We don’t have a choice, but I think he’s ready.”
He was as Johnson moved the chains and more with six receptions for 90-yards. One catch, in particular, he is shown in between veteran Texas defensive backs out playing them for the football. He should have gone over 100-yards and helped set up another touchdown with a catch in the second half that was reviewed, and the call stood. For all the Longhorn fans claiming bias on the officials because of the penalty count, that review should have been reversed because Johnson had the catch.
“His confidence is through the roof, and I think that is a big thing for freshmen,” veteran slot Brennan Presley said of Johnson. “Most freshmen, of course, your confident in high school but coming to new scenery and stuff. I think most freshmen wouldn’t be able to grasp the stage like he did, but his confidence is through the roof, and it has never wavered since he’s been here. He knows who he is, and I think that is the biggest thing. It has propelled him in this spotlight right now and I think it is going to carry him all the way through college.”
Johnson Jr. will have no problem speaking up for himself with the media. As a first-year player in the Oklahoma State program he is not yet able to do interviews. The head coach has always been concerned with playing freshmen, but Johnson Jr. is different.
“He’s played well in practice, but when you play freshmen, the two things I get concerned about is, first, they get banged around, nicked up, can get hurt, it moves fast,” Gundy said after the win over Texas specifically about the speedy Johnson. “And they’re freshman playing against grown men. So, (he) played very, very well and didn’t let the game get too big for him, in my opinion.”
Johnson Jr. wasn’t the only one as Ollie Gordon continues to advance and looks like he may be ready for a regular role at running back. Cornerback D.J. McKinney has played in four games. Shettron and the younger Presley played against Texas. Freshman corner Cameron Epps from St. Louis played against Texas. Then there are a bunch of red-shirt freshmen making big statements on the field.
“I mean we’ve had a lot of young guys step up, offense, defense, special teams, everywhere on the field,” said offensive guard Taylor Miterko, who doesn’t always get to see the finished product until the next day in video. “To see those young guys step into the roles that they have and not break under pressure and step into it like they’ve been doing it forever is really good to see. I’m so proud of those guys because when you have freshmen that have to play there is always that (doubt) thought in the back of your head, but these guys have been trained so well.”
Yes, they have by the coaches, by the strength staff, and by their older teammates. It’s a good support system and it bodes well for the rest of this season and beyond.