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Oklahoma State Football: Spencer Sanders harnessing his gunslinger game

By Collin Wieder

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 20: Defensive lineman Devin Drew #90 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders sacks quarterback Spencer Sander #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half of the college football game at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 20: Defensive lineman Devin Drew #90 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders sacks quarterback Spencer Sander #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half of the college football game at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Oklahoma State football’s Spencer Sanders flashed brilliance his first few years but failed to live up to his hype. Now, he’s got OSU in prime position.

Since the departure of Mason Rudolph, the Oklahoma State football program and fanbase have waited for someone to take the Cowboys’ offense to elite levels again. Fifth-year senior Taylor Cornelius was just a stopgap in 2018, albeit a pretty good one that didn’t receive his due, while everyone waited for the heir apparent and four-star recruit Spencer Sanders.

Sanders went from a promising, wild-man, dual-threat redshirt freshman in 2019 to a turnover-prone, up-and-down signal-caller by the end of 2020. The fanbase began clamoring for at-the-time freshman Shane Illingworth, who proved a more refined, prototypical passer and better fit for Mike Gundy’s past offenses, in his 2020 starts for an injured Sanders.

Sanders did little to quell the continued calls for his backup in the first few games of 2021. He hadn’t rid himself of the ugly turnovers and inconsistent play, and it nearly cost OSU in close wins over Tulsa, Boise State, and Baylor.

However, the fiery junior’s sky-high confidence in himself never wavered. He cut back on the interceptions, made more plays with his legs, and still flashed that next-level arm of his, picking his spots on when to be aggressive and when to live for another down. The Cowboys might not be elite on offense, but they’re playing quality football with Sanders under center.

How has Sanders improved this year?

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