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STILLWATER — The first day in shoulder pads felt different for Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy on Saturday.
With roughly 20 returning starters, and several returning backups, the start of preseason camp didn’t feel quite so new.
But the level of experience the Cowboys return this year will be a key tool, particularly early in the season with a challenging early schedule.
“We have a difficult nonconference schedule, so experience is gonna help us move forward a little quicker than normal,” Gundy said Saturday at OSU football media day at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
“We’ve moved forward on more of a six-day install than a 10-day install. It allows us to get more into a football mode than a teaching mode by the middle of next week.”
That experience is particularly notable on the offensive line with eight players who have started games in a power conference.
“In my 20 years as a head coach we haven’t had the ability to rotate many of those guys,” Gundy said of the offensive line. “Now we’ve got a number of guys that have played and we can rotate guys and keep some of them fresh. And if we do get a guy that gets banged up, we don’t have to hold our breath every play.”
Here are a few other takeaways from Gundy’s press conference and Saturday’s practice:
More: Which Oklahoma State football freshmen to watch in 2024 preseason camp
Head coach Mike Gundy walks on the field during an Oklahoma State football practice in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024.
A.J. Green unlikely to contribute much with injury
Gundy doesn’t anticipate transfer running back A.J. Green being involved much this season because of a serious lower leg injury sustained late in spring.
Green has a redshirt year available and could return for the 2025 season.
The former Arkansas running back, who is originally from Tulsa,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/oklahoma-state-football-coach-mike-194239122.html
Author : The Oklahoman
Publish date : 2024-08-03 19:42:39
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