Brennan Presley One of Two Former Oklahoma State Receivers to Lead in NFL Preseason Week 1
STILLWATER – Week one of the NFL Preseason is in the books and we all know it really isn’t about the final score and winning as much as it is about performing well and doing what it takes to make an NFL roster. Several former Oklahoma State players including one that resided on the practice squad the majority of his first season and another that finished his college career elsewhere, led their teams in receiving this weekend. Mason Rudolph was near perfect starting for the Steelers and across the field, a former OSU star defender is doing what it takes to finally prove to the Packers that he belongs. Performance and not the final score is what matters most in August in the NFL.
Now, that was maybe not the case at rainy Soldier Field in Chicago on Saturday as former Oklahoma State receivers coach, offensive coordinator, and close friend of longtime head coach Mike Gundy, Todd Monken made his debut as an NFL head coach with the Cleveland Browns. Monken, most recently the offensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens, was coaching in Chicago, close to where he was raised and where his father was a legendary championship winning high school coach. The stadium at Lake Park High School is named after Bob Monken.
The Browns surged to an early 10-0 lead over the Bears with many of the Monken family and friends there to watch. However, the Bears came back for a 34-10 win. Monken was emotional about coaching in his native Chicagoland. The team plane flying into Chicago flew over Lake Park High School and Bob Monken Stadium. Todd Monken got choked up talking about it on the Cleveland Browns radio pregame show. He was level headed about it all after the game.
You have to remember with all of these player performances, they are not only doing it to prove they belong on the team they are playing for currently. When cuts are made, teams are always scouting and might want to pick them up off waivers.
All-time Oklahoma State leading receiver Brennan Presley and former Cowboy receiver that finished at Ole Miss De’Zhaun Stribling led their teams in receiving and were impressive.
Former OSU defensive end Collin Oliver, a fifth-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers has battled injuries and this is a key preseason for him to show the Packers he belongs. He started that well against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaking of the Steelers, quarterback Mason Rudolph into his ninth season in the league, was impressive going 10-of-11 as the starter for Pittsburgh. Aaron Rogers was held out and Rudolph is working to be next up when Rogers retires after this season.
Nick Martin at San Francisco and Ollie Gordon II in Miami both started their second seasons on a high note.
I loved seeing former Oklahoma State walk-on turned two-time captain Parker Robertson notch a tackle in his preseason debut for the Denver Broncos.
Former Oklahoma State and current Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, who went on to play at both Washington and then Oregon had a stellar effort in New Orleans against the Saints. He had six tackles all unassisted.
The most interesting story might be back in Cleveland where rookie punter Wes Pahl was the holder for the Cleveland Browns and kicker Andre Szmyt. Pahl also punted twice for a 43-yard average. You see the Browns see Pahl as valuable as their best holder on kicks and a player that can back-up both as a punter and kicker and may be the kickoff guy.
Here are all the performances in NFL Preseason Week one by former Oklahoma State players:
| Amen Ogbongbemiga | LB, Detroit Lions | 4 tackles, 2 unassisted, 1 TFL |
| Thomas Harper | Saf/CB, Detroit Lions | 3 tackles, 3 unassisted, 1 pass def. |
| Tay Martin | WR, Detroit Lions | 1 rec. for 14-yds, 1 tackle |
| Mason Rudolph | QB, Pittsburgh Steelers | 10-of-11, 93-yds. 101.9 QBR |
| Anthony Goodlow | DE, Pittsburgh Steelers | 1 tackle, 1 unassisted |
| Collin Oliver | LB, Green Bay Packers | 5 tackles, 1 unassisted |
| Jaden Nixon | RB, Green Bay Packers | 4 car. for 1-yd, 1 rec. for 6 yds. |
| De’Zhaun Stribling | WR, San Francisco 49ers | 7 rec. for 63-yds, 9.0-ypr |
| Nick Martin | LB, San Francisco 49ers | 8 tackles, 3 unassisted |
| Kendal Daniels | LB, Atlanta Falcons | 3 tackles, half sack, 1 QB hit |
| Parker Robertson | Saf, Denver Broncos | 1 tackle, 1 unassisted |
| Ollie Gordon II | RB, Miami Dolphins | 7 car. for 39-yds, 5.6-ypc |
| A.J. Green III | CB, Miami Dolphins | 1 tackle, 1 pass def. |
| J.P. Richardson | WR, Chicago Bears | 2 rec. for 34-yds, 17-ypr |
| Tylan Wallace | WR, Cleveland Browns | 1 KOR for 23-yds. |
| Wes Pahl | P, Cleveland Browns | 2 punts, 43-yds avg, 1 I-20 |
| Trace Ford | DE, NY Giants | 2 tackles, 1 unassisted, 1 TFL, 1 pass def. |
| Korie Black | CB, NY Giants | 1 tackle, 1 unassisted, 2 pass def. |
| Brennan Presley | WR, LA Rams | 4 rec. for 58-yds, 14.5-ypr, 2 KOR for 29.5-avg. |
| Jabbar Muhammad | CB, Jacksonville Jaguars | 6 tackles, 6 unassisted, 1 TFL, 1 pass def. |
