Cowboys thin at linebacker,
With injuries thinning out the depth at linebacker, Oklahoma State is turning to a safety for next Friday' s season opener at Oregon State.
Junior safety Malcolm Rodriguez was listed as one of the Cowboys' two starting linebackers on Friday's depth chart ahead of senior Calvin Bundage, who recently returned from a back strain but will likely be limited early.
“That's t he one ar ea we have limitations right now,” OSU coach Mike Gun dy said. “We've had a few guys get dinged up, so we need the depth there.
“His body is bigger now. He was able to moved own. To acertain extent what they do is like the position he's playing anyway.”
Rodriguez, a Wagoner product, started 10 of t he 1 3 games he played last season and was the Cowboys' secon d-leading tackler with 83. He' s listed at 205 pounds on the roster, but Gundy said Rodriguez is now in the range of 212- 215.
“If you were going to draw one up, you' d want him at 225 and be able to run like he does,” Gundy said. “His agil - it ya nd speed will be a big advantage for him there. His size could be an issue. We'll see how it works .”
With Rodriguez moving to linebacker, T re Sterling moved into the starting role at safety.
OSU' sdepthc hart also had another twist.
Bryce Bray is listed as the starting right guard after he was battling for the left tackle position. Dylan Galloway is a top the depth chart at left tackle.
But even that could change in a week. New offensive line coach Charlie Dickey is still moving players around to find the right fit. Bray has practiced at both positions.
Hubbard, Brown to return kicks
Running b ac kL D Brown was pumped Thursday night to break some news of his own.
OS U' stop two running backs will open the year returning kicks.
“Mean dC hub a are back there ,” Brown said .“We worked on that. We begged Coach Gundy for that, so we'll both be back there this year. Be on the look out for that, first game.”
Brown and C hub a Hubbard spent the offseason campaigning to serve as the Cowboys' primary kick returners, and it became official Friday afternoon.
“They want to be back there ,” Gun dy said. “So, l et them have at it and let them work together. They want to try to touch the ball as much as possible.”
Brown, who is regarded as one of the fastest players on the team, returned two kicks last season and played sparingly at running back. Hubbard averaged 22.2 yards on 53 kick returns last season, but he also wasn't the starting running back.
Gun dy wasn' t concerned about the risk of injuries for his primary ballcarriers.
“So, is there concerns? Always,” Gundy said .“Those concerns are somewhat less if they want to be back there, they want to do it. Anything can happen at anytime, so if they want to play it, they want to do it, they' re fast, they' re physical, let` em have at it .”
Gundy says Ford, Jernigan could play
A few names of true fresh men expected to play this season have popped up over the course of pres ea son camp.
Cornerback Thomas Harper and linebackers Na'drian Dizadare and K am ry nF arr ar have been the most popular.
But Gun dy threw out a pair of defensive line men, Trace Ford and Jay de nJ er ni gan, who could be asked to provide depth to the in experienced group.
Ford, the Edmond Santa Fe product, is a 6- foot -3,227- pound defensive end. He' s backing up Brock Martin and Mike Scott. Jernigan is on the roster as a 6- foot, 300- pound defensive tackle, but is on t he depth chart as a third- string end behind Tyler Lacy and Amadou Fofana.