Mason Rudolph needs just 244 yards to surpass Brandon Weeden as OSU’s career throwing leader.
Rudolph closing in on Weeden’s passing mark
STILLWATER — Back when Mason Rudolph contemplated his college destination, he found solid reasons to choose Oklahoma State, a place he only visited once.
The school. The community. A winning football program.
Everything was nice enough.
Mostly, though, leaving South Carolina for a faraway locale like Stillwater came down to one major, if simple factor: the offense.
“It’s an awesome offense,” Rudolph said. “It’s why I came here.”
Well, the offense and all its toys.
“The sole reason I came here was to throw to people like James Washington and Marcell Ateman and Chris Lacy and Jalen McCleskey, the list goes on and on, the guys who have been here throughout my four years,” the Cowboys quarterback said. “It’s a fiery offense. And it’s a great team, from the top down. I don’t think there’s a better offense to be a part of if you’re picking a school.”
The fit has been fantastic, for both sides.
Rudolph, since taking over late in his freshman season, has restored big winning to OSU. And he’s thrived in the offense, now standing on the doorstep of becoming the school’s all-time passing leader.
Entering Friday night’s game at South Alabama, Rudolph needs 244 yards to pass Brandon Weeden and stand atop the Cowboys’ career passing list. Weeden currently sits No. 1 at 9,260 yards, followed by Rudolph’s 9,017. With a career average of 300.6 passing yards per game, and going against a defense that allowed 429 yards to Ole Miss last week, Rudolph’s ascension seems likely.
Rudolph downplays any record chase and his place in the awards talk, including the Heisman Trophy, always flipping focus instead on the team and its success.
“I could care less about individual awards, like I’ve said before,” Rudolph said. “My only goal is a Big 12 championship. If that was a benefit or a product of that success, I’d be thrilled. But that doesn’t cross my mind.”
Still, OSU’s success — backto-back, 10-win seasons with him as the full-time starter – is a direct result of Rudolph’s production, which is intertwined with his climb up the school records lists. And don’t mistake the South Carolina senior’s records dismissal for any kind of passive approach. As calm and calculating as he may appear, and he may actually be off the field, Rudolph is all business between the lines.
“He’s got an edge to him,” said OSU offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. “It’s not like he gets real nice on the football field. He’s a true competitor.
“He’s a really tough kid. He likes to compete. He likes to win. And you’re going to get his best effort every time. It’s very important to him. He takes it very personal.”
Pretty soon, OSU’s record book will be painted with Rudolph’s personal touch. And there’s another mark he may actually be able to take pride in: winningest quarterback. Already at 23-6 for his career, Rudolph is tied for second with Weeden among quarterbacks for career wins, needing six more victories to pass Mike Gundy for No. 1.
“It would mean a lot to us to know we helped him get there,” said receiver James Washington, himself charging up school records lists. “It’s something we don’t talk about much, but if it’s helping us get to the next level, I’m all for it.”
So the offense and its toys have been good for Rudolph.
And he’s been good for the offense.