Brandon Weeden didn’t need long at Oklahoma State practice to come away impressed.
The former Cowboys quarterback spent time watching Eric Morris’ team last week, and the first thing that hit him was the pace. Weeden said there was “the juice, the energy was really good,” and he saw a practice that moved fast, stayed organized and kept players active.
In his view, there was “No wasted time,” with the group “flying around” and stacking up “a ton of reps.” He also pointed to a defense that brought plenty of energy and an offense with “some guys that are pretty electric.”
What stood out most, though, was how connected the roster looked despite all the turnover. Weeden said it is difficult to build that kind of cohesion with so many new faces, but the Cowboys “look like they're a pretty tight-knit group.”
The quarterback room naturally drew his attention, especially because, as he put it, “my son plays quarterback, so that's the only group he wanted to watch.” Drew Mestemaker left a strong impression. Weeden praised his anticipation, accuracy, arm strength and mobility, calling him “super-impressed” and noting that he is “very fundamentally sound” and “very cerebral,” with the ball coming out on time.
He wasn’t done there. Weeden said the Cowboys had four quarterbacks throwing together during an air period, and he couldn’t remember seeing that kind of collective arm talent since he was at Oklahoma State in 2007.
Brodie Vehrs, the freshman from Arizona, also caught his eye. “He can flat out rip it.
He's got a cannon,” Weeden said. Still, his larger point was that all four quarterbacks can really throw it, and he said Morris’ reputation with quarterbacks “speaks for itself.”
Weeden also liked what he saw from the receivers. Justin Bowick, Miles Coleman and Chris Barnes were the names he singled out, with Bowick described as “a big, tall, rangy guy” and the other two as more of a “Tyreek Hill style” that can threaten vertically and work underneath. Those three, he said, had burst and looked like legitimate big-play threats.
The offensive line was tougher to judge from one practice, especially with a few players out, but Weeden made clear it’s a group that will matter. “In order to the things they want to do offensively, they have to protect,” he said, adding that people around the program sounded confident in that unit. For him, health and consistency will be the key.
Weeden also saw plenty of the NFL influence Morris has talked about bringing to the program. He said the practice looked “100 percent” like an NFL-style workout, with no wasted motion, plenty of quality reps and much of the teaching saved for the film room afterward. Even when quarterbacks were off a period, they were still moving with the strength coach instead of standing around.
On defense, the energy was impossible to miss. Weeden said the defensive line won the day against the offensive line, while corners stood out and the linebackers showed experience. He singled out Greg Richmond, saying, “I love G-Rich,” and noted that Richmond was excited about the defensive line group he has.
By the end of the visit, Weeden’s takeaway was clear. He called Morris an “all ball” coach and said people around the program clearly love playing and working for him.
He praised Morris’ communication, his demeanor and the way he ran practice, then added that the coach brings “the perfect demeanor for Oklahoma State.” Weeden went even further, saying Morris mirrors the kind of teams Oklahoma State had in its best years in Stillwater and closing with, “Not enough adjectives to say how excited I am to know he's in Stillwater.
We're lucky to have him.”
In Other News...
Oklahoma States Tight End Battle Just Took An Unexpected Turn
Oklahoma States tight end room has become one of the more interesting camp battles under new head coach Eric Morris, and the race has taken a surprising shape. Oregon State transfer Carson Kolb has made enough of an impression in training camp that he is now viewed as the likely starter, ahead of fellow transfers Donovan Green and Oscar Hammond, after standing out with his quick processing and willingness as a blocker.
What makes Kolbs rise notable is the path he has taken to get here. He has not caught a pass over his previous two seasons, but the staff has clearly valued what he has brought in the early going, especially in a role that demands reliability as much as production. The next test will come in scrimmage settings, where Kolb has a chance to turn a strong start into something more permanent and settle a spot that still has a little more sorting out to do. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State May Lean On Freshmen Faster Than Fans Expected
The NCAAs new five-for-five eligibility rule is already changing how Eric Morris approaches fall camp at Oklahoma State, and it may speed up the timeline for true freshmen who would have once been tucked away for a year. With five seasons to play five seasons without the old redshirt model getting in the way, Morris has had to rethink how he evaluates newcomers and how quickly they can factor into a game plan.
That shift has put a few first-year players squarely on the radar, with quarterback Broderick Vehrs and running back KD Jones among the names being watched closely. For a staff still sorting out the best way to build depth, the new rule creates more flexibility, but it also leaves open a bigger question about how soon those freshmen can move from promising camp bodies to real parts of the rotation. [Read more 🡒]