A Vikings Fans Viewing Guide to CFB: Can Oklahoma State Rebound from 2021’s Heartbreak?
Josh Frey
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Just like the NFL season is fast approaching, we are nearing the day where college football teams will arrive on campus and begin their own preseason work. As a self-proclaimed NFL Draft nerd, I get almost as excited for the college football season as I do for the NFL season. Because of that, I am putting together guides for many of the notable college football programs ahead of the 2022 season. Whether you’re a seasoned college football viewer, or just getting into it for the first time, there is something here for everyone.
We’ve already gone through many of the major contenders in the AAC, the ACC. and we just finished up with the Big 10 this past week. Now, we head down south to cover the contenders in the Big 12. Next up on our tour of this conference is the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
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Overview
Oklahoma State transformed its football program almost overnight from one that sort of just sniffed around the middle of the Big 12 to one that could compete for a conference championship. After going into the season unranked in the opening AP Poll for the third time in four years, the Cowboys responded by going 12-2, winning the Fiesta Bowl, and finishing the season as the No. 7 team in the AP postseason poll, one of three Big 12 teams to make the top 10 in the final poll. The Big 10 was the only other conference to claim that many teams inside the postseason top 10.
Unfortunately, the Oklahoma State Cowboys just barely missed out on a Big 12 championship in 2021, quite literally, by an inch. That achievement went to Baylor after a goal-line stand in the conference championship game, but OSU returns with their ever-improving QB, some exciting receivers, and a new defensive coordinator to continue their defensive success into 2022.
2022 NFL Draft Prospects
- LB Malcolm Rodriguez, Round 6, No. 188, Detroit Lions
- LB Devin Harper, Round 6, No. 193, Dallas Cowboys
- CB Christian Holmes, Round 7, No. 240, Washington Commanders
Notable Transfers In
- OL Casey Collier (USC)
Notable Transfers Out
- RB Dezmon Jackson (Sam Houston)
- CB Jarrick Bernard (LSU)
- CB Tanner McCallister (Ohio State)
- DL Jayden Jernigan (Missouri)
2022 Schedule
- 9/1 vs. Central Michigan
- 9/10 vs. Arizona State
- 9/17 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- 10/1 @ Baylor
- 10/8 vs. Texas Tech
- 10/15 @ TCU
- 10/22 vs. Texas
- 10/29 @ Kansas State
- 11/5 @ Kansas
- 11/12 vs. Iowa State
- 11/19 @ Oklahoma
- 11/26 vs. West Virginia
Keys to 2022
Finding Production on Defense
The Cowboys lost two productive cornerbacks to the transfer portal in Jarrick Bernard and Tanner McCallister. Christian Holmes was selected in the NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders as well, leaving Oklahoma State without their top three performers at the position from a year ago. On top of that, their top two tacklers from 2021, linebackers Malcolm Rodriguez and Devin Harper, are in the NFL now as well, and their defensive coordinator left to take the same coaching job at Ohio State.
However, there is reason to believe that Oklahoma State can at least create a comparable defense in 2022 with former Auburn coordinator Derek Mason. Linebacker Mason Cobb has much to prove in his junior season after playing a limited role in just six games last year, but he seems poised to take over the starting job early on. Jason Taylor will be relied upon to be the veteran presence at the safety position as well.
Continued Growth from Spencer Sanders
The first two seasons from Spencer Sanders at QB for the Cowboys produced almost identical stat lines in the passing game. He completed and attempted the same exact number of passes in 2020 as he did in 2019 and threw for around 2000 yards with 16 TDs in 2019 and 14 in 2020. The undesirable label of “erratic” was quickly applied to Sanders after showing very little progression from year one to year two.
Then, 2021 proved to be the real breakout year for Sanders as a passer, and he put together over 650 yards and six scores with his legs in the running game. He passed for nearly 3000 yards and had 20 TDs through the air. To put the cherry on top, he was named the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl by accounting for 496 yards of offense and passing for four touchdowns against a Notre Dame team that allowed an average of just 19.7 points per game during the season.
For Oklahoma State to continue to contend for a Big 12 title in 2022, they will likely have to rely on Sanders even more, especially in big games. The senior QB will have to consistently step up in ways that he hasn’t been able to do thus far into his career. Both games against Baylor went dreadfully for Sanders in 2021, totaling just one touchdown pass compared to seven interceptions. This year, Oklahoma State has the unfortunate task of going into McLane Stadium and knock off the defending champs. Sanders doesn’t have to be perfect for them to do so, but he will need to play much better than he did last year.
My “Purple Player to Watch”
Across the Minnesota Vikings offensive line, there has been a trend of inconsistency and uncertainty over the course of the last decade-plus. This year, Garrett Bradbury looks to have real competition for the starting center spot from both Chris Reed and Austin Schlottmann, and Jesse Davis appears to be the Week 1 starter at right guard while Ed Ingram continues to familiarize himself with NFL level of play.
Simply put, if anyone gets hurt or struggles, the Vikings offensive line, and offense as a whole, is in trouble. It probably wouldn’t hurt to add some more versatility across the o-line in next April’s draft, and Oklahoma State o-lineman Cole Birmingham can do just that.
At 6’5, Birmingham is big and long enough to play pretty much anywhere on the o-line. This was evidenced in the fact that he started the 2021 season with Oklahoma State at right guard, and then swapped over to left tackle for the remainder of the year. He performed well enough protecting Sanders’ blind spot last year, and with continued progression from the o-lineman, he should garner interest from NFL teams next spring.
