Special Honors for Some Special Players Heading into Week Two

TEMPE, Ariz. – Oklahoma State is about nine hours away from kicking off with Arizona State Saturday evening at Mountain America Stadium on the Arizona State University campus. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. (central) between the Cowboys and the Sun Devils. When Oklahoma State starts the game there will be some special contributors for the preparation that may not get the credit. They did get credit from the Cowboys footbll staff.

Oklahoma State football

Special Teams Players of the Week for the Cowboys.

Gabe Rodriguez and Cooper Lai, two preferred walk-ons that were honored as the Offensive Scout Team Players of the Week. That is freshman quarterback Zane Flores from Gretna, Neb. at the top and he gets the credit for being the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week. Defensive? That’s right, Flores imititated Arizona State quarterback Jaden Rasada all week preparing the defense. Flores was very good and should be. I honestly think Flores is better than the “high priced” NIL talent and five-star recruit. Flores (6-4, 200) is bigger than Rashada (6-4, 195) and I believe more accomplished. The difference is that Flores is from the heartland and Rashada is from California and received a lot more publicity in high school. Shame on the recruiting media and star granters on that front.

Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics

Zane Flores in fall camp.

Flores has been really good as an early arriver in spring and also played well in opportunities in camp. He is running the scout team this fall and, yes, very much helping the defense get good looks. Flores has the talent to run and be very competitive, while he has a gun for an arm and can make all the throws. If Oklahoma State was in the same boat with quarterback issues as Arizona State then Flores might have been a answer. The Sun Devils are more quarterback challenged than the Pokes. Their transfer candiate Drew Pyne from Notre Dame has a hamstring injury.

Flores is on the travel squad this season and with the Cowboys in Tempe. You have to keep a player like Flores engaged, especially a player that will be in competition for the quarterback role as soon as the 2024 season.

Gabe Rodriguez is the undersized, talented, and physical younger brother of All-American and now Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and Cooper Lai is a talented freshman safety from Tulsa Cascia Hall.