Friday, April 15th 2016, 5:11 pm
Oklahoma State has set the rosters for its annual spring game which will be played tomorrow. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. at Boone Pickens Stadium. Here are some players to watch from each team. Follow this link for the full rosters.
Orange Team
Chris Carson and Jeff Carr – the orange team features starting quarterback Mason Rudolph and most of the expected O-line starters. Although it’s just a scrimmage, we’ll see if the running backs have improved and if they’re able to find any gaps to run through.
Gyasi Akem and Kenneth Edison-McGruder – one of these two could become a starting outside linebacker in the fall. Both played sparingly as backups last year. Akem is a former four-star from Broken Arrow and McGruder an under-the-radar recruit who is making the switch from safety to star linebacker this year.
Derrick Moncrief – a huge safety who transferred from Auburn and sat out last year due to NCAA transfer rules. The former top-ranked Juco safety will have just one year in Stillwater so it’s a safe bet he’s ready for some game action.
Madre Harper and Malik Kearse – two newcomers looking to crack the rotation at cornerback, Kearse and Harper will go against Jhajuan Seales, Chris Lacy and four-star receiver-turned-cowboy back Keenen Brown.
Every offensive lineman – Salako, Crabtree, Robinson, Wilson, Lundblade and Noel all need to assert their experience against the Black Team front seven. Mason Rudolph can’t get sacked 30 times again.
Black Team
John Kolar and Taylor Cornelius – Mason Rudolph’s lanky backups are both listed on both Orange and Black teams. At least one of the two will take most of Black Team’s snaps and regardless who gets the most, we’ll get a chance to evaluate the backups now that J.W. Walsh is gone. Three-star Keondre Wudtee enters the mix this fall so Kolar and Cornelius would be wise to show out every chance they get before the athletic freshman arrives.
Bryce Balous and Darius Curry – the young corners have their work cut out for them going against Rudolph and Orange Team’s James Washington, Marcell Ateman, Jalen McCleskey and Blake Jarwin. The good news is they’re surrounded by most of the first-team defense on the Black Team. Curry was a role player in 2015 who will be fighting for a starting job. Balous looks to establish a spot in the corner rotation.
Larry Williams – the newcomer who has received the most attention in the spring could start at guard immediately in 2016. We’ll see how Williams does against rotation defensive tackles Darrion Daniels, Eric Davis and Ben Hughes.
Keenen Brown – the aforementioned cowboy back is now 6-foot-3, 242 pounds and has good hands. He’s grouped with another young cowboy back, Jordan Frazier. Brown will need to prove he can do more than just catch the ball to get on the field this fall.
Kevin Henry – the redshirt freshman was one of OSU’s top recruits a year ago. Like McGruder, he’s made the conversion from safety to linebacker and hopes his speed and coverage abilities translate into rotational playing time.
Format
The game will be played with 10-minute quarters with coaches determining clock management. The ball will be spotted at the 25 after scores but each half will begin with a kickoff. Punts, field goals and PATs will be played but without a rush from the defense. All punts will be fair caught.
Players sitting out
CB Ashton Lampkin, LB Kirk Tucker, WR Austin Hays, K Ben Grogan, LB Jordan Burton, RB Sione Palelei, LB Chad Whitener, LB Brian Ciszewski, OL Brett Wilson and DT Vili Leveni.
April 15th, 2016
November 13th, 2024
October 28th, 2024
October 17th, 2024
December 12th, 2024
December 12th, 2024
December 12th, 2024
December 12th, 2024