Oklahoma State Running Back Depth Stretched for Big 12 Championship Game
ARLINGTON, Texas – It’s always a long football season and part of the nature of the sport are injuries. Oklahoma State comes into the Big 12 Championship Game today against Texas in fairly good condition health-wise. The biggest concern would be running back where the depth has thinned out behind the nation’s leading rusher in Ollie Gordon II. Back-up running back Jaden Nixon is out and Michigan State transfer Elijah Collins is still dealing with an ankle sprain. Collins activity did pick up toward the end of the practice week and he could see action today, if needed. The most solid back-up is true freshman Sesi Vailahi. The 5-11, 200-pound freshman from Salt Lake City (West), Utah played in the fourth quarter at UCF and carried four times for 20-yards. He has been a player that everyone has been impressed with since he arrived in the spring. His style is similar to former Cowboy and current Pittsburgh Steelers back Jaylen Warren.
Collins hasn’t played since the Bedlam game and he has 30 carries for 142-yards with two touchdowns. He has also caught a pair of passes for 19-yards.
Out for this game on offense is still wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling with a wrist. The cast is about to come off and he can be expected back for the bowl game and will be able to play and not impact the red-shirt he will get for this season. Offensive lineman Jason Brook Jr. is out with a knee injury and will return in the spring.
The rest of the offense is good to go with bumps and bruises but all set for the 11 a.m. kickoff with Texas.
On defense, the only name to add is defensive end Nathan Latu, who had an ankle injury and has been practicing and getting treatment this week. Latu should be good to go and is probable, but may not be full speed.
The players on defense out are all out for the season and include safety Lyrik Rawls with a knee, linebacker Justin Wright with a knee, and nose tackle A.J. Ridener, also with a knee. Everybody else should be good to go.