Three positions of concern for Cowboys,
STILLWATER — With players set to report on Wednesday and the first practice of pres ea son camp on Thursday, the Oklahoma State football season is at the doorstep.
The Cowboys open camp with some questions to answer and position battles to settle.
Let's take a look at a few of each:
Three positions of concern
Defensive line: Quarterback is the biggest question among fans, but OSU has a pair of quality players competing for the job, with talent around them to ease the transition into the lineup.
The defensive line will be all new starters, matching a few guys who played in backup roles last season, plus a pair of transfers and a couple red shirt freshmen. Coaches Joe Bob Clements and Greg Richmond have the task of finding four starters, plus developing depth to maintain a solid rotation to handle fast-paced Big 12 offenses.
Linebacker: Not as scary a situation as the defensive front, because OSU has more experience. Calvin Bundage has played in 35 games, with Dev in Harper, Kevin Henry and Amen Ogbongbemiga playing significant backup time.
But Bundage, Harper and Henry have battled injury issues at times, and depth behind them is thin. Players such as former walk-on Philip Red wine-Bryant and true freshman Na'drian Dizadare will have to help fill out the depth chart.
Return game: The Cowboys have been without afield positionflipping re turner for a couple years. Identifying who will be in those roles this season is critical. Dillon Stoner has established himself as a reliable punt returner, though he isn't the flashy type. He averaged 5.6 yards on 11 returns with a long of 14 last season, but limited catastrophic mistakes.
Chuba Hubbard was clearly the best kickoff returner last season, averaging 22.2 yards per
return. But he's slotted in as the featured back in the offense, and submitting him to the additional punishment a return man takes could be something OSU hopes to avoid. That leaves a collection of other players to compete for the role, including LD Brown, Landon Wolf and Kemah Siverand.
Three players with big opportunities
Ry Schneider: The walk-on offensive lineman from Minco started one game and played in a couple others last season. He held up well, and came out of spring as the top option at right guard. But he'll have a couple young players, primarily redshirt freshman Hunter Woodard, in pursuit of the starting job.
Jordan McCray: The signing of the 6-foot-6,
187- pound graduate transfer receiver from South Alabama wasn't one that sent shockwaves through Cowboy country last spring, but the veteran — now in an offense t hat will provide more opportunities for his skills to be put to use — will have a chance to climb the depth chart. Competition for the Cowboys' only vacant receiver spot will be a tough one, with McCray, junior Patrick McKaufman and redshirt freshman C.J. Moore in the mix.
Kevin Henry: The senior linebacker came on strong late last season, earning a start in the Liberty Bowl. He has the size and speed to play either linebacker position, and has established himself as a vocal leader among the group. A starting j ob could be on the table with a strong August.