[my_unibots_shortcode_1]
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State soccer will quickly be again contained in the Sherman E. Smith Training Center for the beginning of fall camp subsequent Wednesday, which implies kickoff for the 2022 season is simply across the nook. In anticipation for the start of a brand new marketing campaign, it’s time to take a more in-depth have a look at the Cowboys by place teams. Up first is the quarterbacks.
STORYLINES TO WATCH
1. CAN SANDERS TAKE HIS GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL?
Spencer Sanders is about to start his fourth season because the beginning quarterback for Oklahoma State, however the redshirt senior must elevate his sport if the Cowboys are going to return to the Big 12 title sport and be a contender for the College Football Playoff. Sanders has been stable for the Cowboys since taking on in 2019, incomes first staff All-Big 12 honors final season. With a 24-8 (.750) file as a starter, he’s simply 9 wins away from setting a brand new program file.
Really, the one adverse in Sanders’ sport is a excessive price of turnovers. His ball safety within the pocket has improved, however interceptions stay a problem. Last season, Sanders threw a career-high 12 interceptions, together with 4 within the Big 12 Championship towards Baylor.
Spencer Sanders turnovers by season:
- 2019: 11 INT; 4 FUM (15 complete in 11 video games)
- 2020: 8 INT; 3 FUM (11 complete in 9 video games)
- 2021: 12 INT; 1 FUM (13 complete in 13 video games)
Despite the errors, the reward has outweighed the chance in terms of Sanders’ play-making potential. A dual-threat quarterback, Sanders has over 1,500 yards dashing with 10 touchdowns on the bottom. He averaged 51.4 yards per sport final season on a career-high 146 makes an attempt.
Sanders is a highly-competitive particular person and all the time appears to bounce again from a nasty sport. After his four-interception efficiency within the convention championship, Sanders responded with arguably his finest sport but within the Fiesta Bowl. Leading Oklahoma State to a 21-point come-from-behind win, Sanders racked up a season-high 371 passing yards with no interceptions and a career-high 125 yards dashing. He additionally had a season-high 4 landing passes.
More consistency and minimal turnovers will go a great distance in Sanders taking his sport to the following stage.
2. WHO WINS THE BATTLE FOR BACKUP QB?
There can be just a few place battles for beginning spots this fall camp, however maybe the most-important competitors for Oklahoma State will proceed at backup quarterback. Redshirt freshman walk-on Gunnar Gundy — son of head coach Mike Gundy — has a possibility to solidify his spot as QB2 behind starter Spencer Sanders with former reserves Shane Illingworth, Ethan Bullock and Peyton Thompson not with this system. However, true freshman Garret Rangel break up the second-team reps with Gundy this spring after enrolling early and will push Gundy for the backup function.
Sanders has but to play each sport in a season throughout his three years because the beginning quarterback for the Cowboys. He was sidelined for a majority of three video games in 2019, missed at the least a part of 4 video games in 2020 attributable to damage and sat out the opener in 2021 due to Covid-19 protocols.
Gundy was in a position to get just a few late-game snaps towards TCU final season, however didn’t try a go. During the spring finale in April, Gundy accomplished 17 of 24 (70.8%) go makes an attempt with an interception in the course of the staff interval. Rangel, who got here in as a four-star prospect from Frisco (Tex.) Lone Star, carried out barely higher, finishing 19 of 24 (79.2%) of his makes an attempt with a landing and no picks.
At Big 12 Media Days, Mike Gundy stated he all the time worries concerning the backup quarterback place, so making the proper choice on who will step in if Sanders is ever compelled out, even for a brief time frame, is essential.
“It’s always an issue,” Gundy stated. “We had Shane (Illingworth) last year that had a little bit of experience, not a lot. And now we’re in a position where we don’t have experience at all. What you’d like to do is be in situations to bring them along during the season, but that doesn’t happen much at quarterback. There could be a lot thrown on a player unexpected at any time now.”
WHO’S OUT? WHO’S IN?
OUT
Shane Illingworth (So.) — The Cowboys backup quarterback for the previous two seasons, Illingworth entered the switch portal in late January earlier than touchdown with Nevada on National Signing Day. The 6-foot-6 passer performed in a mixed seven video games throughout his time with Oklahoma State, making three begins. Illingworth accomplished 69 of 120 go makes an attempt for 939 yards and 7 touchdowns with two interceptions. Illingworth was rated as a four-star prospect popping out of highschool within the 2020 class.
Ethan Bullock (RSr.) — The former junior school switch noticed restricted motion throughout his two seasons with the Cowboys, enjoying in a mixed 4 video games. Bullock accomplished 13 of 23 go makes an attempt for 90 yards and an interception.
IN
Garret Rangel (Fr.) — The solely scholarship quarterback added to the Oklahoma State roster this offseason, Rangel arrived in Stillwater early for spring ball to get a soar begin on his improvement. The 6-foot-2, 181-pound true freshman was rated as a four-star popping out of Frisco (Tex.) Lone Star within the 2022 class. Rangel ranked because the No. 20 quarterback nationally by 247Sports.
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART
1. Spencer Sanders (6-1, 210, RSr.)
2. Gunnar Gundy (6-, 200, RFr.)**
** Walk-on
FIVE NUMBERS TO KNOW
24 — Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders has 24 profession wins as a starter for the Cowboys. He wants eight extra to tie Mason Rudolph for essentially the most by a beginning quarterback in program historical past.
6,911 — Spencer Sanders profession passing yards complete ranks among the many prime 10 for all returning Power Five quarterbacks from the 2021 season. His complete presently ranks fifth in Oklahoma State historical past and is 1,592 yards behind Mike Gundy for third-most.
20 — True freshman quarterback Garret Rangel was among the many top-rated passers within the 2022 recruiting class. He was thought of to be the No. 20 quarterback within the nation by 247Sports.
31 — Turnovers have been a problem for Spencer Sanders throughout his three years as a beginning quarterback for Oklahoma State. His 31 profession interceptions already ranks fourth-highest in program historical past and is eight shy of tying Tone’ Jones (1993-96) for essentially the most.
.865 — Walk-on quarterback Gunnar Gundy set a number of college information throughout his highschool profession at Stillwater (Okla.) and completed his preps profession with a .865 successful share as a starter (32-5). The Pioneers went a mixed 24-2 with runner-up finishes in each his junior and senior seasons.
Stay with GoPokes247 and 247Sports for the most recent updates on Oklahoma State soccer, basketball and recruiting
[my_adsense_shortcode_1]
story by The Texas Tribune Source link
[my_taboola_shortcode_1]
