Oklahoma State’s first game-week roster squeeze came with some real decisions attached.
Head coach Eric Morris said Tuesday that only 76 or 77 players would make the trip for the Cowboys’ Week 1 opener against Tulsa, and the process was tougher than just filling out a depth chart. He pointed to the usual non-conference flexibility, noting that the roster gets trimmed even more once Big 12 play begins, when Oklahoma State faces West Virginia on Sept. 26.
Morris also said the final spots on the bus came down to the practical stuff: the heat expected on game day, the balance of the depth chart and those “four-team special teams players” who can cover multiple kicking and punting roles. In his words, those players would be the last six or seven to make the trip.
The participation chart from the game showed which Cowboys were actually involved, and the list was spread across every position group.
At running back, Tre Page III, Caleb Hawkins, William Mason, Ayo Adeyi and Dennis Moody III all appeared. The wide receiver group included Justin Bowick, Miles Coleman, Chris Barnes, Wyatt Young and Terrence Lewis, while Carson Kolb, Morgan McPhaul and Bodie Boydstun were the tight ends listed.
Up front, Oklahoma State used Johnny Dickson III, Tyler Mercer, Joseph Hanson, Shaun Torgeson, Jakobe Sanders, Desmond Magiya, Ashton Lepo, Jacob Sexton and Isaiah Bowman on the offensive line.
The defensive line rotation was heavy: Malik Charles, Saadiq Clements, James Williams, Keviyan Huddleston, Billy Walton III, Enai White, DeSean Brown, Landon Dean, Jerry Lawson, Braylon Rigsby, Jaleel Johnson, Luke Webb, Iman Oates and DJ Jackson Jr. all showed up in the chart.
At linebacker, the names were Isaiah Chisom, Tate Romney, Dallas Winner-Johnson, Taurean Davis, Trip White, Ethan Wesloski, Gunnar Wilson and Jack Puckett. The secondary featured Evan Jackson, Mo Horn, Christian Bodnar, Quinton Hammonds, Kollin Lewis, LaDainian Fields, Kobi Foreman, Vincent Holmes, Bobby Deal Jr., Cameron Epps, Mose Phillips III, Markeith Williams and Cooper Lai.
Special teams duties were split among Sam Keltner at kicker, Lachie Pozzobon at punter, Nate Ost as punter/holder, Caden Yates and Nolan Akins at long snapper, and Joseph Kim on kickoff.
The players not listed on the participation chart included quarterback Luke Tepas, Grant Jordan and Broderick Vehrs; wide receivers Israel Polk, Jabarie Thornton, Kam Powell, Dayvon Standard, Malachi Jackson, Ty Watts, Matrail Lopez, Blake Hogshooter, Quincy Shelton and Rodney Harris II; tight ends Luke Logan, Oscar Hammond and Donovan Green; offensive linemen Kole Seaton, Simona Fuailetolo, Jamison Mejia, Caleb Hackleman, Braydon Nelson, Miguel Chavez, O’Ryan Mosley, Eli Holbrook, Kai Holec, Louie Canepa and Ja’Qwon Evans.
Also not listed were defensive linemen Fatafehi Vailea II, Carl'veon Young, Rashod Bradley, Xavier Mason, Savion Barthelemy, Landon Bland, Dominic Macon and Joey Quinn; linebackers Cooper Mailand, Beau Wendel, Christian Jones and Nygel Farsee; defensive backs Jeremy Cook, Braeden Presley, Maliek Bracy, Marrel Davis, Jeremiah Piper, Byron Stubbs, Hunter Trusler, Harrison Dempsey and Trudell Berry; and special teamers Gabe Pendyala at kicker and Nolan Akins at long snapper.
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The bigger sting for OSU is what the loss means in the long view. Tulsa has now beaten the Cowboys in consecutive meetings for the first time since the early 1950s, a small but unavoidable reminder that this rivalry has tilted the wrong way for the moment. And after the game, Tre Lamb sounded plenty comfortable with where his team stood, leaving Oklahoma State with the added frustration of wondering just how much worse the final margin might have looked. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Is Already Facing Heat After Eric Morris Debut
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The night also quickly turned into a test of depth and composure. Starting left tackle Jacob Sexton went down with a leg injury early, and Oklahoma State never found much rhythm afterward as the mistakes piled up and Tulsa kept hitting more timely gains. For a staff trying to establish a new identity, the concern now is not just the result, but how much fixing has to happen before the Cowboys can look like a team ready to compete in the Big 12. [Read more 🡒]