Jaden Bray Talks Quarterbacks and More

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State had their thirteenth practice of fall camp on Friday. So, what had changed since the start of camp. Well, we know a lot more about Sesi Vailahi at running back. The freshman was pushed into duty in fall camp with some not serious injuries to Jaden Nixon and Elijah Collins. The 5-11, 200-pound freshman looked good running and catching the ball. We know more about the defense, which from all accounts has looked good. Then at receiver the light has really come on for four-star recruit in the 2022 class Talyn Shettron. Transfer Leon Johnson III has made tremendous strides and freshman Tykie Andrews of Enid looks a little like the freshman version of his high school head coach Rashaun Woods. 

So, what hasn’t changed? Head coach Mike Gundy said it to the media on Thursday after practice 12. The quarterbacks are still battling. Gundy said all are playing well, but nobody has made a clear cut move to be “the guy.”

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The quarterback watch freshman Zane Flores rip it in practice this fall.

That means transfer Alan Bowman, red-shirt freshman and starter of three games last season Garret Rangel, and hometown lefthander Gunnar Gundy are all still in the mix. All three practiced well on Friday. Bowman moved the offense well and had a scoring pass to Andrews. Gundy threw the ball well and hit DeZhaun Stribbling on a long touchdown. Garret Rangel may have completed the most passes on the day and had a beauty to tight end Ian Edelman that was fun to see.

“it doesn’t matter who is in for me at all. I think all the guys do a great job of getting the ball where it is supposed to be,” said veteran wide receiver Jaden Bray coming back from an injury filled 2022 season. It is great to be out there and have three quarterbacks, really four quarterbacks that can all get in and do the job well.”

Is it hard right now working with all three quarterbacks as they rotate with the first, second, and third offensive units?

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Bray celebrates with teammates on a touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame.

"It's not hard at all, answered Bray, who when healthy in his freshman year had 13 receptions for 250-yards and two touchdowns. “Whoever gets the job, gets the job, but the quarterbacks that we do have, all of them could be in that position and start for us. It's just great seeing them work every day. It's great to have those quarterbacks push each other every day to be great. It's great to have those guys."

Saturday could go a long way in determining something in the quarterback race as the Cowboys are expected to scrimmage in the final Fall Camp workout before classes begin on Monday.

Guess what? It may not matter as much who the quarterback is if he has a healthy receiver corps. The likes of the crazy athletic Jaden Bray and DeZhaun Stribbling combined with physical receivers like Blaine Green and Rashod Owens. The team’s leading returning receiver is speedy and elusive slot Brennan Presley and coming on strong is Shettron and 6-5, 210-pound Leon Johnson III.

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Bray has changed numbers this season to No. 5.

We have healthy wide receivers which we haven’t had in two years,” Gundy said. “It makes us a faster team on that side of the ball.”

“Trying to stay healthy is a concern,” Bray said as he got hurt in fall camp last year, came back and got hurt against Texas Tech, came back again at OU and then was down for good. “I don’t really look at last year because I feel like I’m stronger than what I was before I got injured. I don’t let injuries hold on to me for long.”

You know how I know when a player is really loyal and true and doesn’t just sing those words in the alma mater because his team does. I can tell when he says more about a teammate than he does himself. Bray passes that test as we got him talking about young Talyn Shettron and he loved answering that question more than any other.

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Shettron in practice. 

"Talyn, every day he's getting better. He's working. I can tell he's hungry everyday, especially coming off the injuries he has had. It's been hard, but I've never seen somebody work as hard as him as well,” Bray preached. “Every day someone tells him something, he works on it. Super humble guy. Just being alongside him and seeing his progression has been great."

Oklahoma State really needs Jaden Bray to stay healthy. They need it for so many reasons including making the eventual starting quarterback look good.