Camp Countdown Day -9: Important Dates and Tight Ends Will Play a Greater Role
STILLWATER – Perhaps while you are reading this thousands of Oklahoma State fans, visitors, and probably a few Oklahoma State Cowboys football players are crammed onto Elm Street in Stillwater for the block party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of world-famous Eskimo Joes. That is a pretty cool thing as is the start of fall camp for the Cowboys. All of us are ready to wash out the taste of last season’s 3-9 finish. Head coach Mike Gundy has an all new on-the-field coaching staff and 65 players that were not part of the program a year ago. Most of those players came out of the transfer portal and that includes three transfer portal tight ends. Our feature position tonight also has a pair of freshmen to join veterans Josh Ford and Quinton Stewart.
Important Dates for Fall Camp
Thursday, July 24 - All Staff back in office
Sunday, July 27 - Report Day for all players
Monday, July 28 - First Practice of Fall Camp
Friday, Aug. 1 - First Practice in Pads and Start of Extreme Camp
Saturday, Aug. 2 - Media Day
Monday, Aug. 18 - First Day of Classes
Saturday, Aug. 23 - Start of Game Week Practices
Thursday, Aug. 28 - Season Opener hosting UT-Martin
The sophomore from Stillwater in Josh Ford (6-6, 265) is the man here. He has proven that he is an extra offensive lineman as a blocker and he is reliable and athletic for his big size receiver. Ford had a strong spring and he was chosen to go to the Big 12 Football Media Days as one of the three Cowboys players.
Ford knows he is an rare position as a sophomore to be one of the real leaders on this team and he has prepared himself for that job.
“Last year if I were to describe it in one word it was growing,” Ford said. “I grew every game. I was getting to know more and more, realizing what college football was like. Now, I feel I am more prepared to play, but also help those guys around me.”
“It is one game at a time,” Ford said sounding like coach. “We need a win and our first step is beating UT-Martin, that’s our goal.”
No looking at Oregon?
“No, I’ve watched video on them, but we are going to focus on UT-Martin and after that we’ll completely move forward with game two and Oregon.”
The tight end position will really be split in two and new tight ends coach D.J. Tialavea is familiar wit twoof the new guys, both more of the H-back style tight end in junior Will Monney (6-4, 235) and redshirt freshman Grayson Brousseau (6-5, 239). North Texas transfer and originally out of Collinsville, Okla. Oscar Hammond (6-3, 235) joined Monney and big tight ends Ford and Quinton Stewart (6-3, 250) in spring football.
My observations were being impressed. Offensive coordinator Doug Meacham has been known as a tight end afficionado in his offenses. He has a plan and it looks good.
Tialavea played in the NFL, primarily with the Atlanta Falcons and he brings some intensity to the tight ends room according to Ford.
I was skeptical at first, but I believe Meacham’s sometimes mad scientist and creative ways with some standard positions like a tight end will wreak havoc and be fun for the players and the fans.
