Spring Retrospective: Receiver Depth Likely Won’t Mean Equality

It’s been well-documented that the list of receivers at Oklahoma State might be the deepest in its rich history of ball-catchers, but only so much talent can be on the field at once. Let’s continue the spring retrospective with a look at how reps might be divvied up at the deepest position on the field.

Summary

There are realistically eight true receivers on the spring roster who could catch 10 passes this season. Last year, only five hit that mark.

In watching a good chunk of spring practice, the drop off in talent from James Washington to Obi Obialo is not as stunning as the casual fan would predict.

Washington of course is probably going to be a Biletnikoff Award finalist if not the winner, and Obialo (who is likely the No. 8 guy) caught just two balls last year. But offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said something early in spring practice that stood out to me up until the spring game, something that I hope holds some water.

“(Receivers) coach (Kasey) Dunn has done a tremendous not only recruiting tremendous talent, but also developing it and making that room a great room as far as team chemistry goes,” Yurcich said. “I don’t know how easy it is to have that much talent in a room but yet get those guys geared and focused on one goal and that’s for the team to be the best that we can be.”

Washington needs to catch at least 60 balls. Jalen McCleskey, too. Chris Lacy has earned about 30. Tyron Johnson transferred from LSU after being a five-star recruit; he’s going to need another 30. Marcell Ateman is finally back after what had to have been a grueling season off; he had 45 in 2015. Dillon Stoner, too, is back from season-ending injury, and he will likely want at least 20.

Although the second-teamers are almost as talented as those in front of them, the lack in production will be steep. That won’t be because despite the talent, they’ll drop the ball or Mason Rudolph will magically become Daxx Garman and overthrow everyone. They just won’t get on the field as much. Someone (or a couple of someones) will be let down.

At face value that makes sense: The backups should not play as much as the starters. But though it might happen, that doesn’t mean it should.

The spot to watch is across from Washington. Who will start? Gundy said Lacy and Ateman will split time at about 40 plays each, which he said isn’t a lot for a receiver and will keep them fresh.

Add in freshmen Tylan Wallace, LC Greenwood and Braydon Johnson coming in this fall, spreading the ball around doesn’t get any easier. Wallace, too, has a chance to catch 10 balls this season, but the others will get deferred behind a group of seniors that seems nothing other than divine.

“I think it worked out well to come back,” Rudolph said. “We’re all seniors together, myself, James, Lacy, all these guys. God had a plan for that I think.”

Biggest News

There isn’t too much breaking news from the receiving corps, but Johnson’s start to his OSU career has been highly anticipated.

At LSU, he played four games, caught nine balls for 150 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Not outstanding, but not bad by any means. By all accounts, he has been the former five-star prospect of old.

“So far, whenever the lights come on and we keep score, he makes plays,” coach Mike Gundy said. “And in most team sports, there’s something to be said about that.”

In the spring game, Johnson caught one ball for seven yards. Before anyone goes crazy, no, it wasn’t his fault whatsoever. Johnson’s quarterbacks in the spring game were Keondre Wudtee, John Kolar and Jelani Woods. Those three combined for 2-of-10 passing for 13 yards. So in that respect, Johnson accounted for more than half of the black team’s offense. Kidding, kinda.

It would have been nice to see more of Johnson in the spring game. He is “shifty,” “durable,” and “has the ability to break tackles.” That mixed with his 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame had Gundy drinking the Kool-Aid.

“If he takes care of business like he should, he’s learning to adapt to our culture, he’s gonna get to play a lot,” Gundy said.

Gundy said Johnson is a lot like a bigger Josh Stewart. In practice, he made guys miss like Stewart made famous in 2014 games. But Gundy stopped short of comparing him to the mold of anybody who has played in the NFL.

Camp Star

It seemed like every week there was a different receiver adding his chapter to the freak show.

It started with Tyrell Alexander.

Then there was Stoner

And of course The President doing Presidential things. Let’s agree to say the spring star was too close to call.

Projected Three Deep

Two deep doesn’t give you the full story of the depth at this position.