5 Thoughts From Saturday's Spring Game
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State football held its annual Spring Game this past weekend and it went off without a hitch. There were no serious injuries, the fans seemed engaged, and I think we learned this defense has a chance to possibly be just as good as it was last season.
Sure, the offenses weren’t as explosive as a lot of people wanted, but it certainly gave us some insights into what this team could look like this upcoming season.
So, here are my 5 Thoughts on the Spring Game
Spencer Sanders showed some poise in the final drive
I get some of you weren’t impressed with the lack of high-powered offense, but if I really thought about it hard, I don’t know if deep down I actually expected to see any. You don’t want to show too much of what you’ve got, and you don’t want to try and get anybody injured. Spencer played about half of the first half and a little less than half of the second half. I’m not sure how hard he was playing (I’m not calling him out, it’s just a spring game), but if you go back to the final few minutes of the game/scrimmage, Spencer went 8-for-8 for 66 yards and touchdown on his final drive. He moved the offense efficiently and quickly down the field and put a touchdown on the board, which was the most exciting series of the entire day.
Related: How did the quarterbacks do on Saturday?
The running back room is going to be deep this season
If you left Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday feeling disappointed you didn’t see enough explosive runs from the backs and you don’t think they’ll be any good this fall, just remember, Dezmon Jackson and Dominic Richardson didn’t play. We saw that Jaylen Warren is a very fast and shifty back who has big-time playmaking abilities. Plus, we saw that Zach Middleton is a strong and tough back that should have a bright future with the program. I went into Saturday thinking the room was going to be three deep, but in all reality, it’s going to be at least four deep and possibly five deep depending on how Middleton continues to develop.
The defense has a chance to be just as good as last season
Other than a few big plays late when the third and fourth teams were in, the split defense played REALLY well on Saturday. Plus, like running backs, some of the top playmakers weren’t even out on the field. Trace Ford is still rehabbing, linebacker Devin Harper was out and so were a handful of other role guys. Each side limited the offensive units and were shutting down both the run and the passing game all afternoon. Combine these two back together and I feel they have a legitimate chance to be just as good as they were last season, and they were one of the top units in the country.
We got some good insight into the Z receiver role
While I don’t think anything is set in stone yet, I feel we got a pretty decent look into the outside receiver role on Saturday. Tay Martin is in shape and more confident and I think he’s going to be a mainstay at that outside Z receiver spot next season. However, he and the other outside receiver will certainly have some tough competition from freshman Jaden Bray. We’ve been hearing some great things about him throughout spring, and he absolutely delivered. He finished with four receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns. We didn’t get a chance to see the Green twins, but John Paul Richardson has a chance to play a big role inside this season.
Related: Big plays in the Spring Game revealed some immediate and future playmakers
The backup kickers should be better this year
Starting kicker Alex Hale continues to rehab the knee injury he sustained prior to Bedlam this past season, but Brady Pohl showed a lot of improvement on Saturday. I understand there’s nowhere near the amount of pressure in a spring game as there is in a regular season game, but Pohl went 4-for-4 on Saturday with a 39-yarder and two 48-yarders. He finished the 2020 season going 5-of-9 with a long of 38-yards. I don’t think any backup kicker truly expects to play, but he was thrust into a difficult situation against Oklahoma last season. As a redshirt sophomore, Pohl showed the kicker position is in good hands when Hale departs in a few years.
