Could QB battle build intensity throughout OSU?
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson says he wants the battle for the Cowboys' quarterback job to be a dogfight, and his reasoning goes beyond the realm of choosing a starter.
“I want training camp to feel like a dogfight, because I think it's gonna harden our team and make us tougher and more disciplined,” Gleeson said. “We're gonna get somebody to come out of that thing and I'm excited.”
The quarterback battle that began last spring resumed with the start of preseason camp Thursday evening inside the Sherman E. Smith Training Center, with fifthyear senior Dru Brown and redshirt freshman Spencer Sanders setting the stage for what could be an intense competition throughout August.
The intensity is what Gleeson hopes will spread throughout the team, in positions that are up for grabs and those that aren't.
Star receiver Tylan Wallace buys into Gleeson's theory.
“I feel like if they see those two guys going at it competing for a spot, and the same situation's going on somewhere else, they're gonna realize, `OK, those guys are really competing, so I need to do the same to get my spot.
“That'll bring the true competition out in guys to see who really wants to play.”
Brown was at the front of the quarterback line Thursday, though both players are expected to get equal work with the first- team offense for now.
“Both guys are going at it,” Wallace said. “It really is gonna be a dogfight to the end to see who's gonna be out there.”
Philip Redwine-Bryant earns scholarship
Oklahoma State linebacker Philip Redwine- Bryant' s Cowboy career has come with plenty of titles.
Wide receiver, safety, special-teamer, linebacker.
Now, he can finally drop one tag: walk-on.
The senior from Harker Heights, Texas, received the news last week that he will be on scholarship for his final season. At 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, he will remain a key factor on many of OSU's special teams units as he has the past two seasons, and he'll be a valuable reserve at linebacker.
“Congratulations to Philip,” OSU defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Jim Knowles said. “He was a great special teams guy, but he has made improvements at linebacker since I've been here.
“He's gotten bigger, stronger, faster. He's gonna have to provide depth for us there.”
Cowboys receive votes in coaches' preseason poll
In terms of votes received, Oklahoma State was the sixth Big 12 team in the coaches' preseason rankings released Thursday.
OSU did not appear in the top 25, with only three Big 12 teams — No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 10 Texas and No. 24 Iowa State — earning a spot in the poll. TCU and West Virginia also received more votes than the Cowboys.