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Oklahoma State Football: Ranking the 10 best players on the roster

By Andrew Miller

Oct 1, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Jalen McCleskey (1) scores a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns during the first half at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Jalen McCleskey (1) scores a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns during the first half at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 29, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) throws a pass in the first quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes during the 2016 Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) throws a pass in the first quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes during the 2016 Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Picking between James Washington and Mason Rudolph for the top spot among Oklahoma State’s most talented players on the roster was a tough one. Yet, there’s no denying the single most important player to the Cowboy offense, and that’s Rudolph. He had a spectacular 2016 campaign, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns with only four interceptions.

Rudolph will have to improve his play on the road in 2017, but the discrepancy between his statistics in 2015 and 2016 is large. And that trend is encouraging for Oklahoma State fans entering 2017. Rudolph only threw for 21 touchdowns with nine interceptions in 2015 and 3,770 yards. The number of touchdowns improved by seven and the number of interceptions decreased by five between 2015 and 2016.

Considered among the best NFL Draft prospects in college football, Rudolph could establish himself as the best quarterback in the 2018 class if he has an impressive 2017 season. However, he’ll have to be better than quarterbacks such as UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Washington State’s Luke Falk, Wyoming’s Josh Allen, USC’s Sam Darnold and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield.

Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: Way-too-early edition

More than anything, Rudolph will have to beat the Oklahoma Sooners for the first time since his freshman campaign back in 2014. That’s the biggest key to Oklahoma State finally reaching that next level in 2017. Another team that Rudolph will have to finally get past is the Baylor Bears, the only Big 12 team he is winless against in his career.

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