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.