OSU receivers preparing for big secondary, man coverage Multiple possibilities at right guard for OSU

While Missouri’s offense might resemble some of those Oklahoma State faces in the Big 12 Conference, the Tiger defense is built more for the SEC’s style of football.

That applies to the secondary as well, where Missouri fields bigger, more physical defensive backs than the Cowboys might be used to.

“The Big 12, it’s usually smaller, quicker guys,” OSU sophomore receiver Dillon Stoner said. “The SEC, bigger guys, kind of a more bully technique on the line. That may be a little bit of an adjustment.”

At the same time, Missouri also likes to put its defensive backs in single coverage, which the Cowboys don’t get to see a lot of.

“They ran a lot of man coverage this season, which as an offense at Oklahoma State, we love to see,” said OSU receiver

Tylan Wallace, who was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. “We’re gonna try and take full advantage of that.”

Thanks to Chuba Hubbard’s emergence, Oklahoma State knows who will fill in for running back Justice Hill, who chose to skip the Liberty Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Replacing right guard Larry Williams, the sixth-year senior who also decided to bypass the bowl game, is a different story. Seniors Deionte Noel and Shane Richards have both played the position at times this season, and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich mentioned starting left guard Marcus Keyes and reserve walk-on Ry Schneider when addressing the vacancy.

“We have some depth at offensive line,” Yurcich said. “Those guys are all capable of playing the guard position, and we expect all those guys to perform very well when called upon.”

Missouri travels to Ole Miss for practice

With the heavy rain that had been predicted to hit Memphis on Thursday, Missouri coach Barry

Odom planned ahead, arranging for the Tigers to practice in the indoor facility of SEC opponent Mississippi.

The Tigers’ regular practice site at Rhodes College does not have an indoor facility, so Missouri bused the team about 65 miles south to the Ole Miss campus in Oxford.

Oklahoma State, which is practicing at the Memphis University School, had access to a small indoor facility and adjusted its practice schedule to accommodate being able to have some of the players in the indoor and some on the regular field.

“It was more of a mental day for us, and a lot of special teams work,” Yurcich said.

[PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN] Oklahoma State inside receiver Dillon Stoner, right, says the Cowboys Liberty Bowl opponent, Missouri, has a bigger, more physical secondary than OSU is used to facing in the Big 12 Conference.