What I'm Looking Forward To Seeing In the Spring Game

STILLWATER – We’re 24 hours away from the start of Oklahoma State’s Spring Game. It’s set to start at noon on Saturday, April 24 and will feature of plenty of things on and off the field.

On the field will be a wide-range of practice drills, 7-on-7 and two 20-minute halves set to display the progress made by the Pokes this spring.

Related: 5 Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s Spring Game

I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty excited about watching this year’s game. I’m not sure if it has to do with the fact they didn’t have one last year because of the pandemic, or if I’m just excited to see some more in-person football. Whatever the case may be, it seems like we’re getting closer and closer to normalcy and this game is just one more step in the right direction.

The first thing I’m really looking forward to seeing is the competition between quarterbacks Spencer Sanders and Shane Illingworth. Word on the street is Spencer is having the best spring of his career in Stillwater. The game has slowed down and he’s starting to see things across the field more clearly. His foot work has also taken a big step in the right direction and has seemingly picked up where he left off in the Cheez-It Bowl against Miami.

I’m excited to see that growth. Now, I understand it’s not going to an all-out game where we see the full strength of the offense and just how good they can be. It’ll be watered down and simplified. However, I do believe we’ll be able to see the growth because the defense is really good and will want to win the day. So, Spencer is going to have to work pretty hard to make his offense run efficiently.

On the other side, I’m excited to see the growth from Shane Illingworth. Showing up early in the spring last year, to not having a spring, to being thrown directly into the fire in the first game of the season after Spencer got hurt in the first few minutes of the game against Tulsa. He still has some growing to do, but Illingworth showed everyone he has what it takes to be successful at the D1 level.

The competition between quarterbacks this spring has been great for them, as well as the team. It’s driven them both to be better and I’m excited to see that show on Saturday.

I’ll be looking forward to seeing how the receiver room evolves without the surehandedness of Tylan Wallace and Dillon Stoner. Brennen Presley was exciting towards the end of the season last year and Tay Martin has a chance to show what he’s made of in the outside receiver role. Braydon Johnson has shown flashes during his time and I’m hearing really good things about the freshman receiver class, so there should be plenty of fireworks.

But if we’re being completely honest, I’m most excited to see Jim Knowles’ defense again. Sure, they lost Rodarius Williams, Amen Ogbongbemiga and Cam Murray, and those are big losses. However, Knowles’ returns Kolby Harvell-Peel, Tre Sterling, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Thomas Harper, Tanner McCalister, Jason Taylor II, Christian Holmes, Jabbar Muhammad, Malcolm Rodriguez, Devin Harper, Trace Ford, Israel Antwine and much more.

It was one of the best defensive units in the country last season and looks to be on a similar path this season as well. We’ll also get a chance to see some of the younger guys in action. Guys like freshman Collin Oliver and sophomore Mason Cobb.

Sure, both offenses will have some firepower, but get ready for the defenses to give Spencer Sanders and Shane Illingworth all they can handle and then some.