Three things to watch in Cowboys’ spring game
STILLWATER — It’s somewhat of a new era for the Oklahoma State football program, and fans will get their first look at a Cowboys team without Mason Rudolph, James Washington, Marcell Ateman and others. Here are three storylines to watch in Saturday’s spring game at Boone Pickens Stadium:
Quarterbacks and format
The Cowboys’ biggest position competition this offseason had its first round in the spring. Taylor Cornelius and Keondre Wudtee spent practices competing to up their stock as the Cowboys try to find Rudolph’s replacement at quarterback. However, Wudtee suffered what coach Mike Gundy called a bruised shoulder and sternum and will be unable to compete in the spring game. With graduate transfer Dru Brown and high school signee Spencer Sanders not arriving on campus until the summer, OSU has only two quarterbacks available for Saturday’s game. As a result, instead of a standard OrangeWhite game with the roster split, Saturday’s event will instead serve as an scrimmage between OSU’s offense and defense with Cornelius and John Kolar splitting snaps.
New-look defense
During the offseason, Gundy elected to change defensive coordinators, replacing Glenn Spencer with Duke’s Jim Knowles. In the pass-heavy Big 12, Knowles’ 4-2-5 defensive scheme will give the Cowboys an extra defensive back. As a result, Kenneth Edison-McGruder is moving from linebacker to his original safety position. Knowles spent the spring implementing the new look, and although it won’t be fully integrated after only 14 spring practices, Saturday will provide fans with their first opportunity to get a look at what Gundy was hoping for when he made the change.
Chuba’s chase
OSU returns the Big 12’s leading rusher from a season ago in Justice Hill. J.D. King and LD Brown will try to improve in what will be their sophomore seasons. But the most exciting facet of the spring game when it comes to running backs could be Chuba Hubbard. The Canadian speedster will make his debut after redshirting last season and figures to provide a different element to OSU’s running back corps in 2018.