|
WR
Adarius Bowman |
|
|
2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Mike Gundy
11-13,
2 years |
2006
Record: 7-6 |
|
MISSOURI
STATE |
WON
52-10 |
at
Arkansas State |
WON
35-7 |
FLORIDA
ATLANTIC |
WON
48-8 |
at
Houston |
LOST
25-34 |
at
Kansas State |
LOST
27-31 |
at
Kansas |
WON
42-32 |
TEXAS
A&M |
LOST
33-34 (OT) |
NEBRASKA |
WON
41-29 |
at
Texas |
LOST
10-36 |
BAYLOR |
WON
66-24 |
at
Texas Tech |
LOST
24-30 |
OKLAHOMA |
LOST
21-27 |
INDEPENDENCE
BOWL |
Alabama |
WON
34-31 |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2007
Outlook |
Head
coach Mike Gundy’s third season
has the looks of another breakthrough
year for his Cowboys. After improving
from 4-7 in 2005 to 7-6 last year,
nine starters – including almost
every talent position player –
return on an offense that was one
of only two in I-A to average 200
or more yards per game both passing
and running. But offense has never
been the dilemma in Stillwater, especially
under their former offensive coordinator
(1994-‘95, 2001-‘04) and
former star QB (‘86-‘89)
in Gundy. We all know it’s tough
playing in the Big 12 South, but that
doesn’t change the fact that
State has to produce better defense
if they are to emerge from the division’s
bottom half. That is why they got
Tim Beckman, Ohio State’s CB
coach, to head the stopping unit.
It is easy to predict, especially
with all of the back seven starters
and most of the reserves there returning,
that improvements in coverage will
occur. And most would cringe knowing
that Beckman will be replacing the
entire starting front line…but
well-prepared reserves, like ends
Fountain and Peterson (who was All-Big
12 without starting), mean a new attitude
in the trenches under these leaders
will also go a long way toward improving
OSU’s win total. Four of last
year’s losses were by less than
a touchdown, giving promise that the
adjustments made for this year should
be enough to keep the Cowboys competitive,
if not challenging the conference’s
big boys weekly (possibly for the
division crown). Opening up in Athens,
even though it is after ripping SEC-brethren
‘Bama in the Independence Bowl,
will reveal any areas still needing
work. Oklahoma State will beat a few
seemingly better teams, and if they
can keep losses to seemingly worse
teams from again tripping them up,
a top 25 finish is in the works for
Pistol Pete and the Orange & Black
faithful.
Projected
2007 record: 7-5
|
|
OKLAHOMA
STATE
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4 |
DL
- 2.5 |
RB
- 4 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Bobby Reid, 148-267-11, 2266 yds.,
24 TD
Rushing: Dantrell Savage, 126
att., 820 yds., 8 TD
Receiving: Adarius Bowman,
60 rec., 1181 yds., 12 TD
Scoring: Jason Ricks, 10-12
FG, 47-49 PAT, 77 pts.
Punting: Matt Fodge, 50 punts,
44.9 avg.
Kicking: Jason Ricks, 10-12
FG, 47-49 PAT, 77 pts.
Tackles: Andre Sexton, 79 tot.,
57 solo
Sacks: Nathan Peterson, 8 sacks
Interceptions: Donovan Woods,
2 for 4 yds.; Martel Van Zant, 2 for
46 yds.; Perrish Cox, 2 for 21 yds.
Kickoff Returns: Perrish Cox,
25 ret., 23.8 avg., 1 TD
Punt Returns: Perrish Cox,
24 ret., 12.8 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
P
Matt Fodge
|
|
|
|
OKLAHOMA
STATE
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 9 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
D'Juan Woods-WR, Corey Hilliard-OT,
Kurt Seifried-OG, Mike Hamilton-TB (transferred) |
DEFENSE:
Darnell
Smith-DE, Ryan McBean-DT, Larry Brown-NG,
Victor DeGrate-DE |
|
|
2007
OFFENSE |
The
consistency and stability of this offense,
reflected in QB Bobby Reid’s first
full year as a starter, affords the Cowboys
a rather balanced foundation upon which
to build its point production. Not afraid
to tuck it and run to keep linebackers honest
(fourth in team rushing), the Houston-based
junior will still pass it about a third
of the time after finishing ranked eighth
in I-A for yardage per attempt/throw. A
year smarter will mean a better TD-to-INT
ratio (than 24-to-11) and a decrease in
other costly mistakes. Backup Zac Robinson
is the same dangerous dual-threat and manages
the offense well when inserted, so any injury
to Reid will not end this year’s hopes.
JUCO-transfer Dantrell Savage really helped
to reestablish the ground game, and teamed
with svelte soph Keith Toston, the speed
and power coming out of the Cowboy’s
backfield will force extra defenders into
the box. That’s when/how the three-,
four- and five-receiver sets become their
most effective. Senior Adarius Bowman, Big
12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, led all
Division I WRs (with more than 50 catches)
with his 19.7 yards per catch average. His
6’4 frame means he will still be the
‘go to’ receiver, but finding
the new No.2 guy won’t happen til
real game reps separate the cream from the
crop. Seniors Ricky Price and Tommy Devereaux
(4.36 sec in the 40) have earned their starting
slots, but keep an eye on Artrell Woods
after his strong spring. TE Brandon Pettigrew
earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention as a
sophomore, and we expect him and counterpart/classmate
Justin Waller to wreak havoc in coordinator
Larry Fedora’s crazy schemes. The
line sees Russell Okung bump over to left
tackle, and David Koenig crisscrosses to
right tackle from his starting left guard
slot of a year ago. Even with departures,
David Washington in the middle has junior
understudy Steve Denning now the man at
right guard. The depth up front is pretty
much green underclassmen, so health issues
amongst the bigmen – in this ever-toughening
conference – would hamper production
on this side of things. This was one of
the only two offenses to earn 200+ per game
both rushing and passing last year (other
was Boise State), and with most of the primary
components back intact in this modified
spread, there is no reason to believe this
offense can’t attain the same balance
while again finishing in the top 10 for
scoring.
|
|
TE
Brandon Pettigrew
|
|
|
OKLAHOMA
STATE 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Bobby
Reid-Jr (6-3, 235) |
Zac
Robinson-So (6-3, 205) |
FB |
John
Johnson-Jr (6-1, 255) |
Jeremiah
Burton-Jr (6-1, 250) |
TB |
Dantrell
Savage-Sr (5-9, 195) |
Keith
Toston-So (6-1, 210)
Julius Crosslin-Sr (6-0, 235) |
WR |
Adarius
Bowman-Sr (6-4, 220) |
Seth
Newton-Jr (6-3, 195) |
WR |
Anthony
Parks-Sr (6-1, 190) |
Jeremy
Broadway-So (6-0, 195) |
WR |
Tommy
Devereaux-Sr (6-0, 185) |
Artrell
Woods-So (6-1, 185) |
TE |
Brandon
Pettigrew-Jr (6-6, 260) |
Justin
Waller-Jr (6-4, 240) |
OT |
Russell
Okung-So (6-5, 290) |
Brady
Bond-So (6-6, 290) |
OG |
Noah
Franklin-So (6-5, 315) |
Michael
Booker-Fr (6-3, 310) |
C |
David
Washington-Jr (6-3, 305) |
Andrew
Lewis-So (6-5, 290) |
OG |
Steve
Denning-Jr (6-5, 300) |
Trent
Perkins-Fr (6-5, 285) |
OT |
David
Koenig-Sr (6-5, 290) |
Jacob
Secrest-Fr (6-5, 295) |
K |
Jason
Ricks-Jr (6-2, 200) |
.. |
|
|
2007
DEFENSE |
This
defense finds a new coordinator in Tim Beckman,
and it couldn’t have happened at a
better time. To break it down simply, the
Cowboys need frontline personnel to replace
all the starters that left. Otherwise, the
back seven comes back in full and should
be better due to both Beckman’s presence
and lessons learned in last season’s
rough showing. Senior Nathan Peterson is
one of three along the front that got a
brief starting nod in ’06; the Tulsa-native
earned All-conference honors at DE and was
second on the team in sacks (eight). Marque
Fountain was the top Cowboy for TFLs as
a reserve, so the other end spot looks secure,
too. Cummings and Chatham have less experience
and are both sub-300lbs inside, making pushing
matches against the league’s best
tough to win. Depth up front is young, but
its upside could swing the tide so OSU has
a better result at run stopping…sack
totals will be fine. The LBs boast two senior
starters – Johnson in the middle and
Nethon at strongside - and a nice mix of
youthful experience. Chris Collins and Pat
Lavine were both Freshmen All-Americans
last year on the outside, and all six on
the corps’ two-deep have started.
Former starting QB Donovan Woods moved to
free safety last year and has now moved
to the strong side LB spot in the spring,
but he has yet to be the leader he was on
offense. Hopefully, this much quality and
speed will help their underneath coverage
efforts. Coming from the other OSU (Ohio
State) as their cornerbacks coach, you can
bet Beckman will have the returning starters
sharp on the outside. The corners play almost
like safeties, helping in run support as
much as anyone on this side of the ball.
But more focus on will be put on smothering
opposing receivers after the secondary finished
an unacceptable 84th. Perrish Cox had a
breakthrough freshman campaign as an All-League
nickel back, but it was strong safety Andre
Sexton who was the most recent Big 12’s
Defensive Freshman of the Year. Progress
in spring ball has the DBs playing better
as a unit. The pieces are in place for the
defense to drastically improve, but in the
Big 12 - with Texas, Oklahoma, A&M and
Nebraska (not to mention the opener with
Georgia) on the horizon – seeing here
will be believing.
|
|
DE
Nathan Peterson
|
|
|
OKLAHOMA
STATE 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Marque
Fountain-Sr (6-2, 260) |
Derek
Burton-So (6-5, 265) |
NT |
Jeray
Chatham-Jr (6-3, 280) |
Tonga
Tea-Jr (6-0, 320) |
DT |
Maurice
Cummings-Sr (6-4, 265) |
Jonathan
Lewis-So (6-2, 290) |
DE |
Nathan
Peterson-Sr (6-2, 240) |
Rodrick
Johnson-Sr (6-3, 250) |
SLB |
Donovan
Woods-Sr (6-2, 215) |
Justin
Gent-Fr (6-2, 215)
Chris Collins-So (6-2, 235) |
MLB |
Patrick
Lavine-So (6-2, 210) |
Marcus
Brown-So (6-2, 240) |
WLB |
Jeremy
Nethon-Sr (6-0, 210) |
Alex
Odiari-Jr (6-0, 235) |
CB |
Martel
Van Zant-Sr (6-1, 210) |
Calvin
Mickens-Jr (6-2, 200) |
CB |
Jacob
Lacey-Jr (5-11, 175) |
Perrish
Cox-So (6-1, 180) |
SS |
Andre
Sexton-So (6-1, 205) |
Clint
Coe-Sr (6-2, 190) |
FS |
Quinton
Moore-Jr (5-11, 185) |
Ricky
Price-Jr (6-1, 190) |
P |
Matt
Fodge-Jr (6-1, 195) |
.. |
|
|
|
2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Kicker
Jason Ricks has to be considered one of the candidates
for the Groza watch list after missing only two
tries last year, and kickoff specialist Bruce
Redden has his back. Punter Matt Fodge seems to
out-kick his coverage a lot of the time, seeing
how he was eighth in I-A with his almost 45-yard
average but the team was 70th in net results.
Perrish Cox gets the nod at both return slots,
and that works after he proved worthy of the dual
role.
|
|