STILLWATER — Nearly every one of Oklahoma State’s position groups share the same story this offseason. The starters are back and feeling even more confident than ever.
Tight end is one of the only spots on the roster where a true position battle rages, following the departure of Josiah Johnson, who led all Oklahoma State tight ends with 698 offensive snaps and 30 targets, yet that hasn’t stopped the new group from making an impression.
“What has really been our shocker this spring is our tight ends,” Oklahoma State nose tackle Collin Clay said on Tuesday. “All of our tight ends have been very physical. I mean they are coming down trying to take us out and stuff like that. Our tight ends are strong, so I think that is definitely one of the things that amazed me this spring.”
The competition includes returning Cowboys Quinton Stewart and Jake Schultz, who almost evenly split 154 snaps last season, and redshirt sophomore Tabry Shettron, who has yet to see the field.
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Then there’s the newcomers, former Stillwater tight end Josh Ford, a freshman who enrolled early to take part in spring practice and Ohio transfer Tyler Foster who played 885 snaps for the Bobcats in the last two seasons.
“Those guys are going to make some strides, but they’re not going to play like Josiah did at the end of the year,” Gundy said. “So I guess we need a little bit of a committee to get those guys going, and that will help us out.”
Although it’s too early for Gundy to name a starter, the head coach has repeatedly singled out Ford when asked which newcomers are standing out.
When asked about tight ends specifically, Gundy mentioned Foster first before getting to Stewart, Schultz and Ford in that order.
Clay couldn’t immediately remember Ford’s name, but he didn’t hesitate to call out the freshman’s jersey number, “40,” when asked which tight ends made the biggest impression on him.
“On film, he’s been everywhere,” Clay said. “I mean, it will be from here motioning all the way to there and vice versa. So I mean, he has been our most physical tight end.”
Tuesday’s practice certainly seemed to line up with Clay’s assessment as Ford took first reps during individual drills, followed by Foster.
“I’m inside so I don’t really get to see everything on the outside, but then when I look at it on film, I’m like ‘dang,’” Clay said. “So, it is definitely fun watching him.”