Mike Gundy Announces Marcell Ateman Will Redshirt In 2016

Mike Gundy announced on Monday that Marcell Ateman will redshirt. Ateman will not need to take a medical redshirt as he played his freshman year in Stillwater. He has been out all season following foot surgery, and Gundy and Co. determined it wasn’t worth it to bring him back for the final three regular season games as well as the bowl game.

Gundy: There would be a chance Ateman could have been back by TCU. But that wasn't a sure thing, either. #okstate

— Mark Cooper (@mark_cooperjr) November 7, 2016

This is probably the smart move as 2017 was always the more likely Big 12 title year for OSU (presuming Mason Rudolph and James Washington return to Stillwater). Oklahoma State’s group of receivers could look like this in 2017:

• Marcell Ateman (Sr.)
• James Washington (Sr.)
• Chris Lacy (Sr.)
• Jalen McCleskey (Jr.)
• Tyron Johnson (So.) — this is the five-star LSU transfer
• Dillon Stoner (RFr.)

That’s a crew. One that could be the Big 12 title favorite depending on how the end of this season goes. This is a bummer for Ateman, of course, but at least he will now get the senior season he deserves instead of an injury-shortened three-game stretch.