Colorado is staring at a tricky assignment on Saturday, and Deion Sanders made it clear the focus starts with Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker.
The Cowboys may not be ranked in the AP Top 25, but they picked up the 26th-most votes in the week 7 AP Poll, with Mestemaker driving a lot of that momentum. Through six games, he’s completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,940 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Sanders did not shy away from the praise when he met with reporters Tuesday. He described Mestemaker as one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 and in the country.
"The kid can spin it he could flood out spin what we wanna do is get him uncomfortable get him off his spot. . . . He's a phenomenal quarterback man.
The kid could spin it. That's why the coach was compelled to bring him over there with him.
He's a bonafide leader. We got to get him off his spot and make him uncomfortable, but because if he sits back there, even on the boots, when he gets his feet set, he's extremely accurate," said Sanders
Sanders doubled down on that view moments later.
"Knows his offense like the back of his hand, and he can get it done," the Colorado coach continued. "It's one of the best in the conference as well as in college football to me."
The Buffaloes coach also pushed back on the idea that Mestemaker is a run-heavy quarterback. Yes, he has used his legs - including in Oklahoma State’s win over Oregon - but Sanders sees a passer first. Mestemaker has 21 carries for 142 yards and is third on the Cowboys behind running backs Caleb Hawkins and Ayo Adeyi in rushing.
"I don't know if we call this kid a running quarterback. This kid, his best attribute is him throwing the football.
He can run. He's shown the ability to run.
He's had a tremendous gain in a couple games, but I don't see him as a running quarterback. I see him as a guy that can, that has escapability, but he wants to throw first."
The numbers back up that assessment. Mestemaker has been sacked only five times in six games, and with two rushing touchdowns, Colorado has to account for him in the red zone as well. But the bigger challenge is obvious: stopping Oklahoma State’s passing game with Mestemaker at the controls.
Oddsmakers are leaning toward the Cowboys, listing Oklahoma State as a 13.5-point favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook. Colorado, though, has already shown it can hang with top Big 12 teams after upset bids against No.
8 Texas Tech and No. 10 Utah came up just short.
Now the question is whether Sanders and the Buffaloes can spring the surprise on the road.
In Other News...
Oklahoma State Heads To Colorado With One Warning Fans Cant Ignore
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Oklahoma State will also have to navigate the matchup without senior safety Mose Phillips III, who is out because of a shoulder injury. That leaves another hole in a defense already asked to do plenty, while the Cowboys continue sorting out special teams after Braylin Presley stepped in as a kick returner. Those are the kinds of details that can swing a tight game, and they are part of why this visit feels a lot less comfortable than Colorados record might suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Ethan Wesloski Just Put Oklahoma State On A National Stage
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Wesloskis path makes the honor even more notable. He graduated magna cum laude from North Texas and is now working on a masters degree while also making himself a central part of Oklahoma States defense this season. The finalists will gather at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in December, where the winner will be announced, and Wesloski has positioned himself as one of the names worth watching when that night arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces A Big Test After Last Weeks Troubling Questions
Oklahoma State heads into Saturdays Big 12 matchup with Colorado still sorting through the fallout from last weeks loss to Houston, and the Cowboys will have to do it without one of their key defensive pieces. Coach Eric Morris pointed to the defensive line and quarterback Drew Mestemakers play as areas that drew his attention after the setback, a reminder that this group is still trying to steady itself before the schedule tightens any further.
Colorado brings its own questions into the game, even as Deion Sanders has continued to back quarterback Isaac Wilson through the early part of the week. The Buffaloes also have uncertainty in the backfield, with running back Micah Welchs status still up in the air after missing practice, leaving both sides with lineup concerns to manage in a conference game that already has a little extra edge. [Read more 🡒]