Gundy: ‘Nothing’ can be done to scheme around OL struggles
STILLWATER — Mike Gundy is a man of many metaphors.
For quarterback Taylor Cornelius alone, Oklahoma State’s coach has broken out comparisons to a golfer on the driving range not yet to the first tee, a timid Little League pitcher and a 3-point shooter searching for rhythm. Monday, Gundy veered off sports to describe how there’s “nothing” he or his offensive staff can do to scheme around the Cowboys’ poor offensive line play.
“There’s several things in a car,” Gundy said. “You’ve gotta have transmission. You’ve gotta have a radiator. You’ve gotta have fuel pump. So that’s part of the piece of the puzzle.”
Despite a collection of talented running backs, including preseason All-Big 12 selection Justice Hill, the Cowboys rank sixth in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game in games against FBS opponents. Cornelius completed only four of his 14 second-half pass attempts for 29 yards Saturday. Gundy has cited the offensive line’s struggles as the primary reason behind any of OSU’s offensive deficiencies.
“You try to improve it,” Gundy said. “You can’t just change who you are, and I don’t think we necessarily need to. I think we have to look at where we’re at and continue to improve on what we’re doing, and that’ll make it better.”
Wallace added to Biletnikoff Award watch list
Tuesday, OSU sophomore receiver Tylan Wallace was added to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to college football's top pass-catcher. James Washington, who Wallace backed up last season, won the award in 2017. Justin Blackmon was the Biletnikoff Award recipient in both 2010 and 2011. In Saturday's loss to Texas Tech, Wallace achieved something only Washington and Blackmon had in OSU history, recording his third straight 100-yard receiving game as an underclassman. Wallace's 442 receiving yards rank eighth nationally.
Semifinalists for the award will be announced Nov. 12 with three finalists selected Nov. 20. The winner will be announced Dec. 6.
Abbott a semifinalist for Campbell Trophy
OSU senior Britton Abbott was named one of 180 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes the top scholarathlete in college football.
The National Football Foundation will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 31, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 60th NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. The winner, whose postgraduate scholarship will be increased to $25,000, will be announced Dec. 4. Candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Abbott, a Cowboy back, caught four passes for 69 yards last year. A former walk-on from Liberal, Kansas, Abbot was put on scholarship before the 2017 season. He has been a first-team academic All-Big 12 selection and was a second-team academic All-American last year. OSU center Brad Lundblade was a finalist for the award last year.