‘I stick through it’: Cowboys WR Anderson navigates grueling road to recovery | Sports

Oklahoma State wideout Langston Anderson was headed towards the bus when Mike Gundy tried to cheer him up.

In the aftermath of their 37-16 loss at Kansas in Week 9, the Cowboys weren’t planning on sticking round Lawrence for too lengthy. With hanging heads, Gundy and Co. wished to board the buses and begin their trek again to Stillwater – rapidly.

But the 18th-year coach didn’t need Anderson to go too quick.

“‘Hey, look, be careful walking to the bus,’” Gundy informed the redshirt junior. “‘Cause if we can keep you healthy – you made a few plays for us – it’d be nice to have you next week.”

The Pokes’ loss to the Jayhawks served as Anderson’s first significant motion in almost two full seasons after breaking the identical foot in 2020 and 2021. He couldn’t assist however take what Gundy was giving.

“I don’t blame him,” Anderson mentioned. “(I broke it) last year in pregame, like, when does that ever happen?”

Never, actually. A freak accident of kinds is sort of exceptional.

Anderson had loads to look ahead to forward of the 2021 season. He had labored his means again from a damaged foot the yr prior. He had earned his spot as a beginning receiver. He was prepared to get to work.

He knew one thing wasn’t proper in warmups earlier than the Cowboys’ season opener in opposition to Missouri State. What he didn’t know is that his season can be over earlier than it ever began.

“I run one more fade, I catch it. All I did was walk, felt something pop. But my adrenaline was going, and I’m like, ‘It’s not that bad,’” Anderson mentioned. “Five minutes later, it started to hurt real bad, and I was like, ‘All right, this is not like a regular twist.’”

Anderson later came upon that he broke the identical foot he had simply recovered from, which means he was going to enter this season as a fourth-year participant who had beforehand appeared in solely three video games.

His absence final yr made room for then-freshmen wideouts Bryson Green and Jaden Bray to make their mark, with Green displaying out to the tune of 12 catches for 139 yards receiving and two touchdowns and Bray tallying 13 catches for 250 yards and two scores.

As the switch portal runs rampant throughout the offseason these days, it could’ve been straightforward for Anderson to switch after this system’s youth stepped up. He may’ve moved on.

He didn’t, although. and neither did the coaches.

“It means a lot. I mean, the coaches just – they have a lot of new freshmen coming in, a (few) playmakers, and they still believed in me,” Anderson mentioned. “It’s a blessing to have that support from them. and my teammates, too.”

Anderson additionally thought of dropping soccer altogether. There have been darkish days through back-to-back season-ending accidents, and the doubt began to creep in.

“There was times throughout the year where you’re just like, ‘Man, two years back-to-back, this gonna happen again? When will my foot get right?’” Anderson mentioned.

But within the hours main up to Gundy’s heartfelt jab, Anderson answered each query and slammed the door on any uncertainties he had.

He appeared in two video games throughout the nonconference portion of the Cowboys’ schedule, however nothing got here of these. Against Kansas, nevertheless, he confirmed what this system’s been with out for the higher a part of his 4 years in Stillwater. He confirmed the participant he may be when wholesome.

A 13-yard catch on OSU’s second drive marked his first reception since 2019. And he finally completed with three catches for 61 yards.

“That’s what we brought him here for,” Gundy mentioned. “It’s the first time we’ve gotten that out of him. … He’s been healthy and made a few plays. It was nice.”

Anderson was a key goal for true freshman quarterback Garret Rangel, who began in opposition to the Jayhawks instead of an injured Spencer Sanders. It wasn’t something totally different for the 2, although.

While Anderson has been working his means again up the ranks, and whereas Rangel has been settling into his first yr with this system, the duo has spent loads of time training with one another on the identical unit.

“Man, it just goes back to this summer during fall camp and spring ball,” Anderson mentioned. “We just been doing this for a minute, so it just felt like secondhand nature.”

Anderson is hoping his Week 9 efficiency isn’t an outlier. He needs to routinely make performs on Saturdays. He needs to be a difference-maker for the Cowboys. That’s what he got here to Stillwater to be, and that’s what he needs to be for the rest of his time right here.

After staying the course on a road to recovery that grew bumpier and bumpier, Anderson is now on the straightaway. And he’s not planning on slowing down anytime quickly.

“I stick through it, and I’m thankful for the coaching staff and the players for just sticking with me,” Anderson mentioned. “Now, I’m healthy, and it’s good to be back out there and give my best.”

Follow News Press sports activities reporter Jon Walker on Twitter @ByJonWalker for updates on Oklahoma State athletics.