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Scouting Oklahoma State Pt. 3: Cowboys’ key players to watch

© Nathan J. Fish-USA TODAY Sports

What Oklahoma State players should Sun Devil fans be familiar with before tomorrow’s Week Two matchup against the Cowboys?

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This is the third and final part of our scouting report. See parts one and two below:

Scouting Oklahoma State: Cowboys’ Week One notes and stats

Scouting Oklahoma State Pt. 2: Cowboys’ Strengths and Weaknesses

See Oklahoma State’s Week Two game notes here: https://okstate.com/documents/2023/9/4/2-Arizona_State.pdf

Oklahoma State depth chart

Key Players to Watch

The three quarterback-rotation headlines the Cowboys offense. Info on each quarterback copied from the last article.

#7 QB Alan Bowan (R-Sr., Michigan Transfer)

Week One Stats:

  • 13/24 for 80 yards (0 TDs, INTs) | 2 rushes for -2 yards

Strengths:

  • 24-year old veteran who had a lot of game experience at Texas Tech before transferring to Michigan
  • Assumed starter going into year, developed chemistry with wide receivers
  • Now listed as the Week Two starter after coming in second last week

Weaknesses:

  • Rushing ability
  • Inaccuracy (only completed 54% of passes)

#12 QB Gunnar Gundy (R-So.)

Week One Stats:

  • 7/9 for 106 yards (0 TDs, INTs) | 2 rushes for 20 yards

Strengths:

  • Mike Gundy’s son
  • Accuracy (78%)
  • Got more comfortable as he got settled in

Weaknesses:

  • Inexperience
    • Played sparingly in four games last year going 19/39 for 274 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions

#13 QB Garret Rangel (R-Fr.)

Week One Stats:

  • 10/15 for 118 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT | 3 rushes for 18 yards

Strengths:

  • Started Week One
  • Played in four games last season, started three when Sanders was injured
  • Ability to scramble
  • More confidence than last season

Weaknesses:

  • Had five interception to four touchdowns last year and threw a bad interception on the first drive last week

Much like at quarterback, the Cowboys also run three running backs. Ollie Gordon and Elijah Collins were the highlights of Week One.

#0 RB Ollie Gordon (So.)

  • OSU’s returning leading rusher from last season (was third on team with 308 yards)
  • Week 1 stats: 7 carries for 44 yards and a TD

#24 RB Elijah Collins (R-Sr., Michigan State transfer) 

  • Rushed for 1,506 yards and 11 TDs from 2018-2022 with Spartans
  • Week 1 stats: 8 carries for 42 yards and a TD

#80 WR Brennan Presley (Sr.)

  • Honorable mention All-Big-12. OSU’s leading receiver last season (67  catches for 813 yards and two TDs). Team-high six catches last week for 54 yards and a TD

#88 WR De’Zhaun Stribling (Jr., WSU transfer)

  • The Cowboys’ second top option comes from Washington State. Stribling had 95 catches for 1,073 receiving yards and 10 TDs in the last two seasons with the Cougars. Had a team-high 73 receiving yards in Week One on four receptions

#67 LT Cole Birmingham (R-Sr.)

  • Allowed a lot of QB hurries in Week One, highlighted by one a fourth down on the very first drive, which led to a batted-ball interception.

#92 DE Nathan Latu (R-Sr.)

  • Tied for first on the team with six tackles and had a team-leading 1.5 sacks in Week One
  • Last season: 14 tackles (4.5 for loss) and second on team with four sacks

#1 LB Xavier Benson (R-Sr.)

  • OSU’s top returning tackler. Had 76 total tackles (four for loss), two pass break-ups (PBU) and eight QB hurries last year
  • Week One: four tackles, one TFL, one PBU, one QBH

#5 DB Kendal Daniels (R-So.)

  • 2022 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year after he had 71 tackles (6.5 for loss), five PBUs, four QB hurries, three interceptions and a forced fumbled
  • Week One stats: six total tackles

#2 CB Korie Black (Sr.)

  • Blocked both of Central Arkansas’ FG attempts last week
  • Also had three tackles and one PBU
  • Last season: 25 tackles and four PBUs

The Sun Devils and Cowboys kick off their Week Two matchup at 7:30 p.m. MST at Mountain America Stadium. The game will be televised on FS1.

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Brendan Mau is a Phoenix Suns insider and college sports reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau

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