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Oklahoma State Football

Cassity Believes in Part, You Do It for Mom. Talking Senior Day

November 23, 2022
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STILLWATER – It would be real easy to chuck it in on Saturday when West Virginia comes to Boone Pickens Stadium for the home and regular season finale for the 2022 Oklahoma State football season. The record is now 7-4 after losing last week to Bedlam rival Oklahoma 28-13. For the second time this season the Pokes have fallen out of all the rankings including the CFP where they were No. 22 last week. What are you playing for at this stage. How about Mom, is it important to play for Mom? Oklahoma State Cowboy back Braden Cassity will walk for Senior Day and his mother Colleen Hartman, who was married to former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Mike Cassity. When Braden was young the Cassity family was in Stillwater as Mike was working for then OSU head coach Bob Simmons.

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Colleen Hartman, Braden’s mom.

“It makes you think,” Cassity said when asked about his mom and what an active role she has had in his career. “I have a soft spot about that. My mom raised me and did everything for me. She means everything to me.”

He said he knows she will be crying when he walks out for Senior Day. Cassity also knows his potential last time out as an Oklahoma State player on the home field needs to be a win.

“One hundred percent right, it has to be a win,” he said. “We haven’t lost here in a long time (14 straight wins) and I think that is something all the guys are taking pride in. Then it’s Senior Night.  It didn’t me until last night, ‘This might be my last game in BPS.’ It really does get you thinking. I think everyone has bought in. You can sit around and mope about last week or you can move on. I think we’ve all moved on.”

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer
Ben Kopenski teams with Kendal Daniels on the play.

Like Cassity, senior defensive end Ben Kopenski, a former walk-on that has achieved major playing status and a scholarship, can come back but he isn’t taking anything for granted.

“We always talk about defending Boone (Pickens Stadium) and we’re 6-0 this season,” Kopenski, who has 10 total tackles with 3.5 sacks, a pass deflected and eight quarterback hurries. “For our fans, the fans are a big part of it, we want that win for them and for us. It means a lot. I have another year and that is something that I am definitely considering after talking with my coaches and thinking about my future. It is still going to mean a lot for me to walk out on Senior Night with my teammates and family.”

Nose tackle Sione Asi does not have another year. Like defensive end Brock Martin, kicker Tanner Brown, wide receiver Braydon Johnson, and others he is a super senior. This is it. Asi, who is from Reno, Nev. originally is married and has a young daughter. His life has changed here a lot. He has been a dedicated and a major contributor in a tough position. Still, with all that he has experienced it feels like his time as a Cowboy football player has flown by.

Sione Asi
Asi with his wife and daughter.

“I agree. It has gone by fast and so much has happened, so many ups and downs,” Asi expressed. “A lot has happened, and I have grown a lot in my time here. This will always be a special place to me.”

It is a special place. That is why it is likely that a number of these guys could be back and walk again, just like the six players that will be walking again before the game with the Mountaineers. They walked before the Bedlam win in 2021. Obviously, quarterback Spencer Sanders is the player that most are curious about, but who will be back from this group to walk again before the season finale in 2023?

Seniors Walking for Saturday’s Senior Day (alphabetical order) 

  • Can come back for another season
  • Xavier Benson
  • Lamont Bishop
  • Braden Cassity
  • Sean Michael Flanagan
  • Alex Hale
  • Thomas Harper
  • Vance Hooper
  • Tom Hutton
  • Ben Kopenski
  • Tyler Lacy
  • Spencer Sanders
  • Carson Shelton
  • jason Taylor II
  • Samuela Tuihalamaka
  • Kanion Williams
  • Hundter Woodard
  • Zeke Zaragoza
Jersey # Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Home Comment
99 Sione Asi DT 6-1 310 Reno, Nev. Very productive player in his career
1 Xavier Benson LB 6-2 224 Texarkanna, Tex. Started this season and has had an up and down season
11 Lamont Bishop LB 6-2 235 Country Club Hills, Ill. Physical player that could help next season
49 Tanner Brown PK 6-0 180 Saugus, Calf. Has had one of the best seasons ever for an OSU kicker
90 Braden Cassity CW 6-2 240 Austin, Tex. Starter at Cowboy back and loyal and dedicated player
98 Brendon Evers DT 6-2 295 Bixby, Okla. Injuries have hampered a very productive career
18 Sean Michael Flanagan Saf. 6-1 210 Charleston, Ark. Good tackler that would be good to have back
19 Alex Hale PK 6-0 204 Point Frederick, NSW, Australia Two years off knee injury may be ready to kick again
13 Thomas Harper Saf. 5-11 180 Knoxville, Tenn. Would be great to have him back after injury cut short this season
53 Matt Hembrough DS 6-3 220 Lisle, Ill.  Best deep snapper in school history
36 Vance Hooper WR 6-1 195 McKinney, Tex. Walk-on transfer will accept officer commission in U.S. Army
29 Tom Hutton P 6-3 201 Newborough, VI, Australia Older punter will end career and move with wife back to Australia
8 Braydon Johnson WR 6-0 205 Arlington, Tex. Speedster had his best season despite injuries
52 Ben Kopenski DE 6-1 255 McKinney, Tex. Former walk-on that would be a strong factor if returning 
89 Tyler Lacy DL 6-4 285 Sachse, Texas I believe he is going to the NFL
9 Brock Martin DE 6-3 245 Oologah, Okla. One of the toughest Cowboys ever
15 Rylen McQuarters WR 5-7 173 Tulsa, Okla. Son of R.W. McQuarters was contributor
3 Spencer Sanders QB 6-1 210 Denton, Texas He is supposed to announce decision soon
64 Carson Shelton OL 6-4 290 Denton, Texas Not sure what he will do
81 C.J. Tate WR 6-0 185 Oklahoma City, Okla. Has run out of eligibility
25 Jason Taylor II Saf 6-0 215 Oklahoma City, Okla. I think he will opt for the NFL Draft.
35 Samuela Tuihalamaka DT 6-1 305 Riverside, Calf. Another decision that could benefit Cowboys
12 Kanion Williams Saf 6-0 190 Dallas, Texas Talented on special teams as well and would be a good player back
70 Hunter Woodard OG 6-5 300 Tuscola, Ill. Engaged and looks to get married and start his post football life
63 Zeke Zaragoza DS 5-10 205 Ontario, Calf. Looks to return as the DS for next season

 

Discussion from...

Cassity Believes in Part, You Do It for Mom. Talking Senior Day

1,989 Views | 5 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by Doug Gosney
TUSKAPOKE
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Thanks for the hard work and fun times!!! Good ride Cowboys!!! GO POKES!!!
Calpoke
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Are some names missing in your chart?
Zach Lancaster
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Staff
Calpoke said:

Are some names missing in your chart?
Yeah, that's really weird. Not sure why they didn't show up, but I went in and fixed it. Should be correct now.
Roughrider
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Glad we are honoring Spencer Sanders on Saturday. We need to support him for all he has done for us. Wish him well in the portal and I hope he wins a national title somewhere next season.
Doug Gosney
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Good article RA. Thanks. What are your portal predictions? Not names (although we can all guess) , but just general feel if we have normal breakage or something more systemic? I'm concerned. Thanks.
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