Positions preview Friday, August 12, 2022
Encouraging depth at O-line, youth at running back and cowboy back spring, while Preston Wilson, who started OSU’s final seven games at left tackle, recovered Braden Bush from a shoulder injury. BeStaff Reporter tween injuries and exits, the O-line depth fell into the single digits in April. Some mending has ocDuring spring practice, curred. Freshmen are on camno other position attracted more pus and transfers have arrived attention than the offensive since then. The roster now lists line. And not for great reasons. 21 offensive linemen. The offensive front was “We’ve got a full room uncomfortably thin with the right now, everybody’s healthy,” departure of six players, includ- Wilson said. “It’s great to have ing a pair of seasoned veteran a lot of depth that we’ve had.” starters in left guard Josh Sills Depth was a common and center Danny Godlevske problem in 2021 as well, and because of exhausted eligibilthe Cowboys often had to mix ity, along with the transfers of and match the line from game promising prospects Hunter to game. But stabilization took Anthony and Tyrese Williams. place in the summer, and now Then, right guard Hunter it’s full steam ahead. OSU Woodard underwent surgery in coach Mike Gundy said the January to repair a torn laoffensive line is not high on his brum, which limited him in the list of concerns and that he’s
comfortable with the group. “I’ve said this for years,” Gundy prefaced at OSU’s media day, “We need three guards, three tackles and two centers to make it through a season and hope that we don’t have to go any further than that.” That’s why Gundy feels at ease. That depth and experience is there. Wilson expects to take over at center, a position he has not played much of but was called on by offensive line coach Charlie Dickey to take over early in the spring. Better yet, there will be experience behind Wilson in Joe Michalski, who appeared in all 14 games last season and started the final four at center. The left tackle spot was manned by Cole Birmingham in 2021, but a knee injury in the spring puts his availability in
question. Caleb Etienne, a redshirt junior, didn’t play much a year ago in his first year in the program, but has physically developed, dropping as much as 40 to 50 pounds, per Gundy. Now, he will need to help fill the gap. At the opposite guard spot, Jake Springfield has 16 career starts. The most experienced man in the trenches is Hunter Woodard, a redshirt senior who has 22 starts (second-most on the offense behind QB Spencer Sanders) and is frontrunner for the job at right guard. Taylor Miterko, a redshirt junior, will battle for snaps in the rotation with highly touted JUCO transfer Tyrone Webber, as well. “We don’t have to go any further than that when you deal with maturity and experience and toughness, and I think we have that right now,” Gundy
said.
Cowboy offensive line projected starters: Left tackle: Caleb Etienne, redshirt junior, 6-foot-7, 325 pounds Left guard: Taylor Miterko, redshirt junior, 6-foot-6, 295 pounds Center: Preston Wilson, redshirt junior, 6-foot-5, 295 pounds Right guard: Hunter Woodard, redshirt senior, 6-foot-5, 300 pounds Right tackle: Jake Springfield, redshirt junior, 6-foot-5, 310 pounds Key Reserves: Joe Michalksi, Casey Collier, Tyrone Webber, Jason Brooks, Eli Russ
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File Photo The depth of OSU offensive line will be a key storyline entering the 2022 season.
Devon Energy announces Sports Lab initiative with OSU and OU event was surrounded by OSU and OU softball and football players participating in a Sports Mallory Pool lab with the kids, performances Staff Reporter by the Cowboy Marching band, the Pride of Oklahoma, the pom and cheer squads from both universities and a tailgate Devon Energy announced celebration afterward. Pistol a new partnership with the Pete and Boomer and Sooner University of Oklahoma and also made an appearance along Oklahoma State University with the Sooner Schooner and Thursday morning in an effort Bullet. to influence the youth in OklaPresident of Oklahoma homa through STEM education. State University, Kayse Shrum, The initiative, Sports Labs, will spoke with The O’Colly at the be an incorporation of sports event. As a former junior coland science into a learning lege athlete with a background program that will excite young and career in medicine, Shrum kids about STEM and sports. talked about the importance of A press conference was both science and sports. held Thursday morning at the Devon Tower in downtown Oklahoma City and over 200 employees, kids, fans and stuSee Sports Labs on 8 dents were in attendance. The
Mallory Pool Devon Energy announced a new partnership with the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University in an effort to influence the youth in Oklahoma through STEM education.