Oklahoma State’s secondary remains in flux heading into Saturday’s game against Iowa State, with starting free safety Quinton Hammonds listed as questionable for a second straight day.
The Cowboys and Cyclones released their second player availability report on Thursday, and Hammonds’ status was unchanged. Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris said earlier this week he was hopeful Hammonds would be able to go, and that optimism still hasn’t been shut down.
Hammonds has started every game at free safety for the Cowboys this season, and he left Saturday’s game against Colorado after suffering an injury that sent him to the sideline with his arm in a sling, according to Cowboys Radio Network. Morris has not gone into detail about the injury, but he has continued to sound upbeat about the possibility of Hammonds playing this week.
If Hammonds can’t suit up, Oklahoma State has a few options, but none of them are set in stone. Bobby Deal Jr. and Markeith Williams are next on the depth chart, though Morris did not say who would draw the start.
Another possibility is a change elsewhere in the back end, especially with Mose Phillips III already removed from the depth chart after a season-ending injury. Cameron Epps is listed as an “OR” at boundary safety with Evan Jackson, who has started the last two games, so Morris could also shift Epps or Jackson if needed.
Williams saw a few snaps against Colorado, while Deal was mostly working on special teams, where he has been a steady asset all season.
The Cowboys are already down tight end Carson Kolb, who was ruled out after leaving Saturday’s game in a walking boot on his left foot. Oklahoma State has not specified the injury. Wide receiver Dayvon Standard and defensive tackle Landon Dean are also still questionable.
Iowa State had its own notable change on Thursday, with backup quarterback Conner Moberly being ruled out. That leaves former Cowboys quarterback Zane Flores as a possible backup behind Jaylen Raynor on Saturday.
QUESTIONABLE: S Quinton Hammonds, WR Dayvon Standard, DT Landon Dean
OUT: CB Beni Ngoyi, DE Caden Crawford, DT Ka'Mori Moore, QB Connor Moberly
In Other News...
Oklahoma State Suddenly Has A Tough Iowa State Decision To Make
Oklahoma States first player availability report for the Iowa State game offered an early look at how thin the margin can get late in the season. Tight end Carson Kolb will miss the matchup after suffering a left foot injury against Colorado, while safety Quinton Hammonds, wide receiver Dayvon Standard and defensive tackle Landon Dean are listed as questionable. Cornerback Beni Ngoyi, defensive end Caden Crawford and defensive tackle Ka'Mori Moore are already ruled out, giving the Cowboys a short list of healthy options at several spots.
That leaves Eric Morris and his staff sorting through the tight end depth chart with more urgency than they likely wanted heading into a game that already carries plenty of weight. Morris addressed the injury situation and said lineup changes are on the table at tight end, where Oklahoma State will need to piece together a plan without Kolb and manage the ripple effects elsewhere on offense. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State's Defensive Rebuild Is Starting To Turn Heads In Recruiting
Oklahoma States defensive rebuild is starting to pick up real momentum on the recruiting trail, and the latest additions suggest the staff is getting traction beyond just plugging needs. Cornerback Jlynnd Kellow, a three-star prospect from Willis High School in Texas, and linebacker Bryson Brown of Stillwater, Oklahoma, both joined the class after backing away from prior commitments, giving the Cowboys a pair of defensive pledges with some local and regional appeal.
For a program trying to show progress under new defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity, those kinds of flips matter because they signal confidence in what the staff is selling. Kellow had been headed to Mississippi State, while Brown had been committed to Baylor, and Oklahoma States ability to pull both into the fold gives the defensive class a little more weight as the rebuild continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State's Recruiting Surge Just Picked Up Another Intriguing Sign
Bryson Browns decision gives Oklahoma State another notable win on the recruiting trail, and it comes with a bit of local flavor. The linebacker from Stillwater had been on Baylors commitment list before ending up with the Cowboys, a move that adds to the sense that Oklahoma States momentum under Eric Morris is starting to show up beyond the field.
Brown is the second defensive player to commit to Oklahoma State in recent days, giving the Cowboys a noticeable lift on that side of the ball. The timing matters, too, with Baylor moving on from Dave Aranda and Oklahoma States strong start under its new coach helping create a more appealing picture for recruits who are looking at stability, opportunity and a program on the rise. [Read more 🡒]