Oklahoma State’s second fall scrimmage is getting close, and the Cowboys are still sorting through a roster full of open questions before the Sept. 5 opener against Tulsa.
Two weeks into camp, though, a few trends are starting to show up. After hearing from head coach Eric Morris and his coordinators, there are already some players separating themselves - and a few who may be sliding.
The biggest surprise so far might be at tight end, where Morris said earlier this week that if the season began right now, there was a “good chance’ Kolb would be the starter. That’s a jolt, considering Kolb spent two seasons at Oregon State without playing a game at tight end. He’s actually a converted linebacker, and in high school he ran the 100 meters.
What has stood out is how quickly he’s picked things up. Morris said Kolb’s ball skills have improved, especially when he’s catching passes with traffic around him.
He’s also shown he can think fast and hold up as a blocker. Morris said Kolb wasn’t the tight end the staff expected to win the job, but the room was open enough for him to make a move because of the lack of experience and production there.
At receiver, Lewis is pushing his way into the picture. Morris has the benefit of knowing him from last year at North Texas, and this week he said the sophomore had put together his best “seven or eight practices in a row” since Morris has been coaching him. That kind of stretch has the staff ready to give him more and could land him on the two deep by the opener.
Lewis posted 184 receiving yards and three touchdowns last season for the Mean Green. Morris pointed to his practice consistency and the 60-yard post route he turned into a touchdown in the first scrimmage as signs he’s earning real playing time.
Up front, Morris said the “surprise of camp” on the offensive line is the redshirt sophomore from Portland State. He started for the Vikings last season and played more than 700 snaps, and he’s making the transition from FCS to FBS power conference football look manageable so far. Morris praised how he can move around the line, and right now he’s battling Ashton Lepo for the starting right tackle spot.
That development matters for Sanders, whose path to a starting role looks much murkier now. He made six starts last season and is the only returning offensive letterwinner from last year, but Morris made it clear that Tyler Mercer is “for sure” the center. Sanders doesn’t appear to be part of the guard competition either.
He still has a role. Sanders can help at both guard spots and at center, and Morris also mentioned special teams, where the Cowboys want “four-unit players” to round out the game-day roster. Sanders could fit that description.
Kolb’s rise also changes the picture for Hammond and Green, two tight ends many expected to be starters or co-starters. Morris has said the tight ends will have different responsibilities, so this doesn’t shut either one out. But it does underline how open the room was entering camp, and how valuable steady reps have become.
Hammond brings two seasons at North Texas and knows the offense, though he missed last season because of injury. Green is in his fifth year in college football and has 22 career catches.
Both still have value. Right now, though, Kolb appears to be ahead of them.
On defense, Cassity spoke with the media last week and discussed a number of players the staff is working with. Morris, when asked about Saturday’s scrimmage, kept his comments broader.
The message from that side of the ball is pretty clear: there aren’t many jobs that are truly settled. And if anything is locked down, it probably won’t be until game week.
Morris gave real clarity on the offensive line. He didn’t do that with the defense, which says plenty about where this new staff is with a roster full of new faces.
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