5 Thoughts on Oklahoma State's Spring Game
STILLWATER – I’ve been excited about watching Oklahoma State’s Spring Game since the start of spring football. I’m even more excited now that we finally have some details on the game. This has been a fun spring to watch as Spencer Sanders is having his best spring of his career, the offensive line is healthy once again, the running backs are loaded from top to bottom and the defensive unit is just as explosive as they were last season.
Also, with how football operated the past month, it finally feels like we’re starting to get back to some sort of normalcy, which is so great.
Related: Full rosters and Pokes Report’s projected depth chart for Saturday
Kickoff for the game is scheduled for noon this coming Saturday, April 24.
Here are my 5 Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s Spring Game.
The offensive rosters are loaded on both sides
It’s Orange vs. Black this year and both sides are going to be very fun to watch. The Orange team has Spencer Sanders, Logan Carter and Brennan Presley, Tay Martin and Blaine Green at receiver.
As for Black, you’ve got Shane Illingworth, Dezmon Jackson, Quinton Stewart and Braydon Johnson, Rashod Owens and Jaden Bray at receiver. Super explosive offenses designed to give the fans a show. I love it.
REALLY excited to watch the receivers this year, especially the young guys like Brennan Presley, Rashod Owens, Blaine Green and Jaden Bray.
Oh, and both sides are absolutely loaded on the defensive side as well
We saw some of the best defensive play last season from Oklahoma State then we’ve seen in a long time. The No. 1 scoring team in the nation and held opponents to less than 24 points and 260 yards a game. Nearly all of the guys from last year’s defense returned this year, so I would expect more of the same.
If there’s any indication to just how stacked the defense is, both Orange and Black looks like two starting defenses in the Big 12.
Black: Christian Holmes, Tre Sterling, Thomas Harper, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Na’Drian Dizadare, Mason Cobb, Jayden Jernigan, Israel Antwine and Kody Walterscheid. Yikes.
Orange: Korie Black, Jason Taylor II, Tanner McCalister, Kolby Harvell-Peel, Jabbar Muhammad, Malcolm Rodriguez, Lamont Bishop, Collin Oliver, Xavier Ross, Sione Asi and Tyler Lacy. Double yikes.
Mike Gundy gave us an insight into the logistics
This year’s game, I think, will be one of the best we’ve seen in quite some time. Gundy and Co. have planned a little 7-on-7 and two 20-minute halves with a half time. They’re even having the teams run out of tunnels like a Saturday game in the fall. Inject this straight into my veins.
“There'll be a break after the first 20, we'll have a five-minute break and then we'll turn around and play at another 20,” said coach Gundy. “We think that's what our fans want to see. They want to see football. They want to see it played the way that it's played during the season.
This year’s events are certainly fan-oriented
Don’t get me wrong, holding a spring game is definitely for the fans. And there’s always been things geared for the fans in previous years. But there’s going to be a block party on the north side of the stadium on Hall of Fame between Washington and Knoblock with a car show, food trucks, pictures with Pistol Pete, Bullet and BB, and a youth sports combine with team equipment.
Who doesn’t love food trucks and BB?
I think we’ll learn some things about the team
OK, there’s not going to be full on tackling, the quarterbacks aren’t really going to pressured and it’s going to be a controlled environment, but this has been a really good spring for a lot of guys, mainly Spencer Sanders. It’ll give us a look to see if he’s continued his progression from the Miami game in December. We’ll get our first look at the receivers without Tylan Wallace and Dillon Stoner. Will we get a glimpse at who’s taking over for Tylan Wallace? It’s certainly possible. We’ll also get to see how this defense operates without Amen Ogbongbemiga, Rodarius Williams and Cam Murray.
I guess give me all the orange-colored glasses because I’m really excited about this game.
