Spring Practice Report: Kasey Dunn Looking for the Flagship Perimeter Receiver

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State went through their third practice of the spring on Thursday and now the players have a big gap between practices as the next practice will be on Tuesday (March 30) and the pads will come out with it. Thursday’s (March 25) practice was in “shells” helmets, jerseys, and shorts. Like the previous two there was still work in inside drill, seven-on-seven, one-on-ones, and position drills. There was a team period at the end and some of the top prospects on offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Kasey Dunn’s list of players to take over major roles catching the football showed up.

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Martin with a catch during spring practice.

Tay Martin had a long catch for a touchdown. When last seen Martin had a big second half in the Cheez-It Bowl win over Miami, Fla. with six receptions for 73-yards. Surprise, surprise as Brennan Presley made two big plays in the team period, both on short catches that he used his speed and escape instincts to take to the house. Presley had six catches for 118-yards and three touchdowns in the Cheez-It Bowl against a good Miami secondary.

“For the first time in awhile I don’t have a returning perimeter guy, you know that blip in there between James (Washington) and Tylan (Wallace), but we knew Tylan was a talented guy and felt good about where we were going. Didn’t know he was going to have the year (2018) that he did,” Dunn said of not having a “for sure” outside receiver to lead the way and being asked who that player might be. “To answer your question, Tay Martin is up there, transfer from Washington State. He played last year and is improving and certainly putting himself in a position to play that role. Langston Anderson is another one and then we have two young guys in that I think are going to be pretty good. Blaine and Bryson Green have shown up right away. I’m excited about them, but they are still true freshmen and you just don’t know until you see them running with college competition. Jaden Bray is another young guy that is come in that is very talented. A true freshman, so we will see.”

Dunn is most concerned with establishing his depth chart on the outside.

“Right now my focus is getting the X and Z nailed down,” Dunn said of his priorities. “Like I said I think we are going to be really sound inside and like I said, those guys are easy to get the football to. It’s how do we get the perimeter guys the ball.” 

That and Dunn has a combination of guys inside that include his most veteran receiver back and probably his most electric player.

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Presley catching balls off the Juggs machine in practice.

“You know with (Brennan) Presley he is an inside, slot receiver so it is always easier to get that guy the football,” explained Dunn on Presley and the slot. “You can toss it to him, flip it to him, reverse it to him and inside routes are always less intricate than the perimeter. He is certainly going to be a weapon for us and so is Braydon (Johnson). We have played Braydon inside and outside and he is inside right now. We are just trying to set it up for some of the younger guys to get us on track with the perimeter spots.”

Dunn seems really confident with the slot or inside position. It’s the combination of Presley and Johnson. That would make about any coach confident. If you think about it, those are the two leading receivers from the last two bowl games as Johnson had the two big plays against Texas A&M in the 2019 Texas Bowl.

“Braydon is stepping into that role because of his age, and I think, well you guys would know better than me, that he has the themost returning production of anybody,” Dunn projected. “Of course, right now, and Brennan Presley. He’s a guy that goes out there and outworks everyone. Everybody loves him. He busts his ass everyday. Of course, he had a big game for us against Miami and we saw a glimpse of what he can be for us down the road. He is just such a positive kid and everybody loves him, so he easily steps into that role. Now, he just needs a little more production, a few more skins on the wall, and then everybody will buy in, but it’s Braydon and Brennan.”

Speaking of Texas A&M, former Aggies and Houston Oilers quarterback Bucky Richardson and his wife, Tracey, were there today to watch practice and see their son, new freshman John Paul Richardson. Richardson had a couple of big plays including a touchdown in the team period on Tuesday. 

“That was his birthday, so I think he was a little charged up,” said Tracey Richardson on the sidelines on Thursday.

Bottom line the receiver positions has plenty of talent and most assuredly answer, but the final depth chart will be determined over the spring and summer. Lots of competition and that is a good thing.