Oklahoma State Football: 2017 season preview, predictions

Offense

The Oklahoma State offense is experienced and explosive. They are led by senior quarterback Mason Rudolph and an upperclassmen-laden receiving corps and offensive line. Sophomore running back Justice Hill adds a touch of youth and a serious threat in the running game.

The Cowboys averaged 38.6 points per game last season on the back of the ninth-ranked passing offense at 323.9 yards per game. While those were actually both slightly down from the previous year, the running game improved by almost 50 yards to 170.6 yards per game and bumped up their total offense to 14th in the country at 494.8 yards per game.

That increase in the proficiency of the running game can be attributed to Freshman All-American Justice Hill. In his first year on campus, Hill ran for 1,142 yards and six touchdowns. He had the second most carries in the Big 12.

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The Oklahoma State receiving corps is the best in the country. The Cowboys bring back their two top receivers from last season. Senior James Washington had 71 catches for 1380 yards, second in the Big 12, and 10 touchdowns. Jalen McCleskey led the team with 73 catches. The now-junior had 812 yards and seven touchdowns.

They also return senior Marcell Ateman, who was the third leading receiver in 2015, but missed all of 2016 with a broken foot.

The offensive line is experienced and deep, anchored by Preseason All-Big 12 pick, tackle Zach Crabtree. Crabtree was named to the offensive team along with Hill and Washington.

The forgotten man

When you play in the same conference as someone like Baker Mayfield it’s easy to be overlooked. Mayfield is flashier, has played for the better team, and has made a trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony. However, Mason Rudolph deserves to be recognized nationally.

Rudolph threw for more yards than Mayfield last season at 4,091 yards. They both ran for six touchdowns. While Mayfield did throw for an absurd 40 touchdowns to Rudolph’s 28, Rudolph threw half as many interceptions while throwing 90 more passes. The senior’s 7-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio last season is astonishing with how many times he put the ball in the air.

This season it should be very interesting to see how their numbers stack up. Rudolph undoubtedly has the better weapons this time around. Mayfield will have to replicate his success without his two l,000-yard running backs and the best receiver in the Big 12 last season.