Ashton Lampkin: ‘I Think We’re One of the Best Secondaries in the Nation’

Most fall camp quotes are pretty boring. Especially when Mike Gundy and a Mike Gundy-coached team are involved. Lots of “loves to play the game, loves his family etc.”

Mason Rudolph even got in on the fun this week when talking about walk-on RB Keegan Metcalf.

“We all kind of anticipated it,” Rudolph told the O’Colly. “He’s a senior, he’s a heck of a hard worker and gives great effort on the field. Just a great guy. We were pumped for him.”

Straight out of the Gundy playbook. One guy who is not operating out of Mike Gundy’s playbook is senior Ashton Lampkin. He missed most of the season in 2015 but clearly feels confident about going into this campaign.

“I think it’s going to turn out great for the season,” Lampkin told the Oklahoman. “I think we’re one of the best secondaries in the nation right now. When it comes to game day we’ll have to show that and prove it.”

One of the best secondaries in the country, huh? Maybe, but the defense was just flat-out not very good last year. Not sure that’s a thing I’d be saying with Baker Mayfield, Seth Russell and Patty Mahomes on the slate. Also not something Glenn Spencer is saying!

“I don’t think there is great depth right now,” Spencer said recently of the corners. “Ashton is still out of full competition, when he comes back we’ll be better, but right now we’ve got Ramon Richards who is experienced and Darius Curry who has a little experience.

“We find out in this league you can’t have enough corners, but we don’t have enough right now that we feel consistently happy with. We’re trying to decide on a couple of young kids to see if they’re ready or not and that’s a day-to-day evaluation. We have to get Ashton healthy, and we’re pleased with Lenzy Pipkins. Ramon has to keep playing disciplined ball and he’s so much better than he was, but those are just a handful of guys. We have to have a couple of those young guys prove they can help us win.”

Not the most ringing endorsement. I get where both parties are coming from though. Lampkin is confident in his own abilities as well as those of his ‘mates. Spencer generally hates the entire world this time of year and thinks OSU will go 4-8 and it will be his fault. The truth, as always, will probably fall somewhere in between.