Oklahoma State Fall Camp Underway With High Energy but Short Practices

STILLWATER – Don’t worry, the work got done as the sweat was more than evident. Now, the fact nobody so much as strained a muscle or had to sit down and get covered in ice bags with the triple-digit heat on Wednesday afternoon meant the first day of Oklahoma State Football Fall camp 2024 was a success. 

There was a walk thru prior to practice as usual. Stretch started at 2:58 p.m. and the team was off the field by 4:20 p.m.

There were 119 players suited up and out for practice. Player No. 120 on the fall camp roster is former Alabama All-State kicker Drake Tabor. As we previously reported transfer kicker Sam Babbush from Charleston Southern University accepted a job offer and left last week. New special teams analyst and co-special teams coordinator Sean Snyder was aware of Tabor, had seen him kick, and suggested bringing him in. Tabor arrived during practice on Wednesday afternoon and is admitted in school and will be out for practice on Thursday following his physical and equipment being issued. He will wear No. 39. 

The Cowboys worked on PAT/field goal with ladder work during walk thrus and in practice. It was good to see Sean Snyder out there. We spoke for a while after practice. He is excited to be here. He said he expects his father, Hall of Famer and former Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder to make some games in Stillwater and of course, Oklahoma State plays at Kansas State on Sept. 28 in the second Big 12 Conference game of the season.

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Flores certainly looks the part.

In the limited time we had to shoot pictures and video I tried to hit the hot spots. The quarterbacks looked good. I had seen them on the field just a couple of weeks ago. I spoke with several coaches and analysts and like me, they are anticipating a very competitive and interesting battle between Garret Rangel and Zane Flores for the back-up quarterback spot on the depth chart.  

During team period later both quarterbacks as well as Bowman running with the ones had their high points. It was a fairly clean practice with bad throws into the turf being about the only negative. The first two days are in helmets and shorts. Shoulder pads will come on Friday and in the morning workout on Saturday.

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Jaleel Johnson on the sled with the defensive linemen.

I spent some time with the defensive line. It is a lot of fun to watch Paul Randolph coach as well as defensive line analyst Stan Eggen. With the new rule allowing for more coaches, actually unlimited, Eggen as an analyst can share his wisdom and like the veteran Randolph the defensive line is getting excellent coaching. Plus, it is the loudest area on opening day and many days. 

Jaleel Johnson, who you will see in the video as No. 95 is a 6-5, 265 pound very athletic weapon for the defense on the edge. 

You also see veteran Trey Rucker in a drill. The safeties are loaded and there are many options back there for Dan Hammerschmidt and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo. 

There is a good luck in a running back blocking drill at new transfer from Indiana (No. 24) Trent Howland and with the pan over to Ollie Gordon, you can see how big Howland is.

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Bowman in an early QB drill.

Finally, we had to let Bowman show off. His passing will be more accurate this season. I watched him work in the spring and some in the summer. He is going to be a better version of himself. That will be good news for this team that believes they can win the Big 12 and earn a CFP spot. As we’ve heard this summer some agree. Las Vegas doesn’t and other media don’t like Oklahoma State as well as Utah or Kansas State. 

Speaking of Utah, there were a few comments coming out Salt Lake City this week regarding Oklahoma State.

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Not from Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, but some early trash talk from Salt Lake City.

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham had nothing but compliments for Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State in Las Vegas at the Big 12 Media Days.

Senior back-up defensive tackle Tevita Fotu had this bulletin board material comment for UteZone.com.

"I heard they have the number one running back or whatever, but we will see about that.” 

Many Utah players were complimentary is calling that match-up in Stillwater on Sept. 21 (Big 12 opener) the game they were most looking forward to playing, but Miki Suguturaga and first-team running back Micah Bernard had some interesting comments.

"Oklahoma State. For sure they got a lot of good fans, Suguturaga said. “We'll see how they play through the season and then when we get there."

Somebody needs to remind him that is the conference opener.

"Oklahoma State. I heard they got a nice little hostile environment there and I love hostility," Bernard said.

Kind of makes you think a scrimmage a week from Saturday would be fun. They only do those kinds of things in the NFL.

Practice number two is tomorrow at 2:58 p.m.