The answer for Oklahoma State football at starting quarterback is likely to be determined through fall camp for Mike Gundy.
Oklahoma State football added an interesting piece to their quarterback battle for 2018, following the departure of projected early round NFL Draft pick Mason Rudolph. That addition was the graduate transfer and former Hawaii Rainbow Warriors quarterback Dru Brown.
After tossing 37 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions in two years starting with Hawaii, Brown could be a great solution for the Pokes behind center. The other intriguing option for the Pokes is incoming freshman dual-threat four-star quarterback Spencer Sanders. As the top dual-threat quarterback out of Texas, Sanders will challenge to start as a true freshman.
Entering the off-season, two options for head coach Mike Gundy were rising sophomore Keondre Wudtee and last year’s backup to Rudolph, Taylor Cornelius. While both Wudtee and Cornelius have the most experience at quarterback for the Pokes than Sanders or Brown, they do not have the same potential to lead the offense.
This Oklahoma State offense is about to undergo a major transition not just from the departure of Rudolph. The Pokes also lose All-American wide receiver and Biletnikoff Award winner James Washington. Fellow wide receivers Marcell Ateman and Chris Lacy are also gone.
The case for Spencer Sanders
The top commit in Oklahoma State’s 2018 recruiting class is Sanders. He comes into Stillwater with four-star wide receiver and Oklahoma native C.J. Moore. They could be another dynamic duo in the passing game that sparks the Oklahoma State offense in the near future.
Moreover, Sanders also gives Gundy and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich the opportunity to develop the passing game for some continuity starting in the 2019 season. And, Sanders could make life very tough for opposing defenses given the presence of rising junior running back Justice Hill in the backfield.
The choice that sets up Oklahoma State best for the future is Sanders. Yet, he puts the Pokes in a tough situation with a tough Big 12 slate ahead in 2018, and no experience to deal with that. Gundy is also known for keeping freshmen off the field for as long as possible.
The case for Dru Brown
If the Pokes had the returning talent surrounding the quarterback that they did at the beginning of 2017, then Brown would be the obvious choice to replace Rudolph. He’s a proven quarterback that’s led an up tempo offensive scheme and has sneaky versatility using his legs.
More than likely, Gundy will at least try out Brown in a few games during the non-conference slate. Gundy could easily plug and play Brown, especially since Brown has generally taken good care of the football during his college career. That’s a major positive for Brown’s starting case from Gundy’s point of view.
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Two returning wide receivers, Jalen McCleskey and Dillon Stoner, are also key pieces in figuring out this puzzle. McCleskey, Stoner, and Hill are the three proven options that will steady out the offense, no matter who gets the nod at quarterback. The best option here for quarterback is Brown to at least ease Oklahoma State into the Sanders era.