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Oklahoma State Football: 5 reasons Mason Rudolph is Big 12’s best QB

By Phil Poling

MORGANTOWN, WV - OCTOBER 10: Mason Rudolph #2 of the West Virginia Mountaineers drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the game at Mountaineer Field on October 10, 2015 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - OCTOBER 10: Mason Rudolph #2 of the West Virginia Mountaineers drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the game at Mountaineer Field on October 10, 2015 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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STILLWATER, OK – SEPTEMBER 17 : Wide receiver James Washington #28 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks to the crowd after scoring in front of defensive back Dane Jackson #11 of the Pittsburgh Panthers September 17, 2016 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK – SEPTEMBER 17 : Wide receiver James Washington #28 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks to the crowd after scoring in front of defensive back Dane Jackson #11 of the Pittsburgh Panthers September 17, 2016 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

4A. Running backs

No quarterback can truly be great without weapons surrounding him. Luckily for Rudolph, there’s a plethora of play-making Cowboys at his disposal.

Getting the brunt of the handoffs as a freshman, Justice Hill looks to improve on his record-breaking season. He rushed for 1,142 yards — the only Oklahoma State freshman to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark — and six touchdowns. He wasn’t much of a factor in the passing game, but could see his targets rise this fall.

Junior Jeff Carr is expected to spell Hill when needed and he brings plenty of experience to the table. He was the main kick return man as a freshman, so his shiftiness and vision in the open field are two of his best qualities.

Related Story: Oklahoma State Football: 2017 preview, predictions

4B. Wide Receivers

Jalen McKleskey is often overlooked when discussing Big 12 wide receivers, but the slot star tallied 73 catches for 812 yards and seven scores last year. His 73 receptions in 2016 are the most for any Big 12 player returning in 2017 too. McKleskey caught 11 passes last year twice, as well.

Tyron Johnson is somewhat of an unknown commodity at this point, but he’ll reintroduce himself in a big way this fall. You may remember him as the five-star recruit that went to LSU before transferring to play for coach Gundy. While at LSU, he only tallied nine catches for 150 yards, but Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry struggled to put up big numbers playing for the Tigers also. With an offense looking to go downfield and a quarterback capable of making that happen, Johnson could be a household name by season’s end.

More: How good is Iowa State’s Allen Lazard?

James Washington is the go-to guy for Rudolph and the Cowboys, though. He was second on the team to McKleskey in catches with 71, but scored 10 times through the air and accumulated over 1,300 yards. Some have already pegged him the No. 1 wide receiver prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft, but Washington’s got unfinished business from last season to deal with first.

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