RB Warren returns for Oklahoma State
When Oklahoma State running back Jaylen Warren was sidelined in the Big 12 title game loss against Baylor, he knew he didn’t want to skip his final chance with his teammates.
Come Saturday, when the ninth-ranked Cowboys take on No. 5 Notre Dame, Warren is set to close his chapter with Oklahoma State at State Farm Stadium for the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.
“I think missing the last game kind of sealed my decision. I mean, I would play with these boys if we had five more games. I just like playing with them," Warren said. "The brotherhood we've created kind of sticks out for me. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep playing with them. Like this last week of practice has kind of been saddening, knowing it's my last week of practice with them.”
Having Warren back for the Fiesta Bowl adds depth back to the Oklahoma State offense after the Cowboys struggled against Baylor and tallied its second-lowest rushing total of the season (70) without Warren.
“There's no question. He was our go-to guy all year long. To have him back and available for this game, at least so we think, that's going to make a difference. The kid is a great player and he's a spark plug for our offense. And the kids love him and they rally around him,” OSU offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn said.
The transfer from Utah State fit in quickly with OSU’s offense and when healthy this season, Warren had five 100-yard rushing games. However, after battling ankle injuries in the final five games, Warren was ruled out in the title game. He ran for just 284 yards in the span of five games.
Additionally, dual threat quarterback Spencer Sanders set a career mark this season with 543 rushing yards, the most for an OSU quarterback since 2008. Sanders also was one of 13 FBS players with more than 2,400 passing yards and 500 rushing yards this year.
“If he just pulls it down and takes off running, they are going to have a hard time tackling the guy. Everybody does. He just has got to believe in his ability to do that,” Dunn said.
Containing an explosive offense
Other than the running game, Oklahoma State boasts weapons in the receiving corps with Tay Martin and Brennan Presley. Martin ranks sixth among active career leaders in the FBS in receptions with 228, and his 25 receiving touchdowns are good for eighth. The Washington State transfer leads with seven touchdowns on 942 yards. Presley, a key player on special teams, has 482 receiving yards with five touchdowns.
The well-balanced attack has allowed the Cowboys to average 36 points and 435 yards of offense in its past six games.
“Having guys that you can depend on like that is going to translate on and off the field, and so we were confident in each other. It definitely showed on Saturdays,” Martin said.
And the challenges OSU’s offense provides is welcome to one of the toughest defenses in the NCAA.
“It's great for the corners and safeties when you have a great match-up against the receivers. It's great for the defensive line when you have a mobile quarterback going against a great running back and an offensive line,” Notre Dame defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey said. “But it's just a great opportunity for us, for the whole entire defense. There's playmakers all over the field, especially the quarterback, running back, receivers, and everybody.”
Foskey fronted the fearsome defensive line with 10.0 sacks on the season, tying him at 16th in the NCAA and fourth all-time for most sacks in a single season in program history. Notre Dame’s defense ranks eighth in the NCAA with 40.0 sacks for the season, while 15 different players have recorded a sack.
“We got smart kids and they do a great job with the stunts and pressures. When you have really good pass rushers, you don't have to be overly creative, just get them in certain positions and utilize their talents the right way,” Notre Dame defensive line coach Mike Elston said.
The status of the group’s retention will have to wait for now as Foskey said he’s focused on the game at hand, but will announce his future plans for next season before Jan. 17. Defensive tackle Kurt Hinish will not have eligibility remaining after this game.
New role, new bus
Even when hired internally, transitions to head coach aren’t always smooth. Take Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, for example, who was promoted from defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in early December after Brian Kelly departed for LSU.
While Freeman’s hiring was met with applause from the team, his defense is still giving him grief about the change of duties and shortened time with them, along with the added perks of becoming the head coach.
“I tell him he's changed all the time,” Hinish said. “For example, the defense rides on bus two and the defensive coordinator rides on bus two. And the first day we got down here, he was not on bus two. And so I FaceTimed him to let him know he was on bus one and let him know that he's changed.”
The bond between Freeman and his defense hasn’t changed as he lets the linebackers group know that he will always be a linebackers coach. On the season, Notre Dame’s defense as whole has outperformed opponents all season. The Fighting Irish are the only team in the NCAA to have two games this season with multiple defensive touchdowns against Power-5 opponents.
“Selfishly, we want him and his influence as much as we did before, but we also know the influence that he can bring to the team as a whole,” Notre Dame linebacker Drew White said.