Mestemaker And Barnes Showcase Offensive Fire Power In Spring Game

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State football gave fans a preview of the 2026 season on Saturday afternoon at Boone Pickens Stadium. The crowd of around 13,000 fans in the south side bleachers were treated to several explosive plays from both the offense and defense over several periods of both free-flowing drives and situational drills.

Coach Eric Morris was eager to get his team on the field to evaluate the growth that the players have shown over the spring.

“We want to get out there and be clean and efficient and be able to put a show on,” Morris said. “Especially in today’s era of college football I don’t think spring games are coaches favorite thing, but I think you’re always trying to build depth and that obviously is something really important.”

Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has the most talked about new player for the Cowboys all offseason. The apprehension was palpable in the stadium when he lined up to take the first snap of the day. The result was less than ideal as Mestemaker’s first pass was intercepted by Cameron Epps.

“I have no idea how he made that play,” Mestemaker said. “That’s what happens when you have good guys on the other side too.”

Morris was unphased by his quarterback turning the ball over early. After a scripted drive from backup Grant Jordan, Mestemaker was back on the field taking snaps.

“He responded and started throwing some darts,” Morris said. “After that we settled in offensively.”

Mestemaker won the crowd over a few drives later when he connected with Chris Barnes for a 98-yard touchdown after Barnes separated from his defender. Barnes finished the game with 141 yards.

“I was even with the corner and I have this saying that says if I’m even I’m leaving,” Barnes said. “You obviously want to have days like this. I wasn’t going in saying I had to have this or that, I was just capitalizing on opportunities.”

Barnes’ big play was the result of weeks of building a relationship on the field with his quarterback. That takes time but it is starting to take shape in the huddle.

“We just had to get used to each other,” Barnes said. “He had to get used to my speed and I had to get used to his arm and today it just connected.”

Barnes has been a pleasant surprise for the offense. His versatility in Morris’ offense was on display on Saturday.

“We knew he was super explosive in the return game and we have to use any way we can find to put the ball in his hand,” Morris said. “He’ll be a guy we really start moving around as we start game planning for people.”

The chemistry between Barnes and Mestemaker started as a question mark for the offense but now seems to be a strength going into the season.

“We started off barely completing passes,” Barnes said. “Now we are competing balls left and right so I feel like we are on the same page.”

Morris was mostly happy with the play of his offense and likes where his team is going into the summer.

“We probably didn’t the running game going as much as I would have liked,” Morris said. “Caleb Hawkins has had such a good spring and had some good tough yards and scored a touchdown but really didn’t bust one open.”

With Barnes and Justin Bowick doubling on the outside and joining North Texas imports Wyatt Young and Miles Coleman in the slot, the Cowboys should have plenty of firepower to bring wins back to Stillwater.

“Chris has been a little better than we expected and then obviously having Miles and Wyatt in the slot and them being dynamic,” Morris said. “When we kind of put it all together we’re just trying to get our best players on the field.”