Devy Team Review: Oklahoma State Cowboys

Frank Gruber

In 15 years as Oklahoma State head coach, Mike Gundy led the Cowboys to 14 straight winning seasons and seven top-20 finishes. Four of his offensive skill players have gone on to become first-round NFL draft selections:

Another eight offensive skill players were drafted, including James Washington, Justice Hill, and Chris Carson.

The current Cowboys roster features two prospects who need to be on the radar of all devy and dynasty players. We also examine two deeper prospects below.

RUNNING BACK

Chuba Hubbard ADP: 5

Hubbard was eligible to enter the 2020 NFL draft but chose to return to school despite leading the nation in rushing yards. He is fifth in overall DLF devy ADP as next year’s 1.05 rookie pick.

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Statistics from Sports Reference.

Hubbard, Travis Etienne and Najee Harris make up the top tier of 2021 running backs. Stylistically, Hubbard resembles Etienne more than Harris. Both are big-play threats with breakaway speed. For example, Hubbard’s best high school 100-meter dash time (10.55 seconds) was faster than that of Henry Ruggs (10.58s).

He has already compiled a strong prospect profile. If he were to opt out of this season, for example, his college dominator and target share metrics put him in the top ten percent and 40 percent, respectively, among historical NFL running back prospects. In the passing game, he surpassed the 20 reception mark in both seasons. Listed at 6’1” and 207 pounds, he has a slight frame but to dwell on this point is to nitpick.

We see his usage in last season’s game against Texas – lots of zone runs in which he can make a decision, plant and use his speed to either hit the hole or gain the edge.

Hubbard predominantly makes people miss by outrunning them rather than using shiftiness “in a phone booth.” I would not describe him as elusive despite his production.

Regardless, expect to use a mid-first round rookie pick in order to secure Hubbard and his big-play potential.

WIDE RECEIVER

Tylan Wallace ADP: 19

For years we have seen Oklahoma State receivers put up big numbers. Tylan Wallace is next. Like Hubbard, Wallace chose to return to school in 2020 despite being draft eligible. After a breakout sophomore season, Wallace was on track for another big year before tearing his ACL in October.

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Statistics from Sports Reference.

His rehab is reportedly going well and he is on track to be ready for this season.

Wallace projected as a first-round dynasty rookie pick before his injury. Now he is 16th among 2021 rookies in the latest DLF devy ADP data. It will take an early- to mid-second round rookie pick to land him.

He lies at 13th in the DLF devy rankings, a few spots above ADP, suggesting our analysts are higher on him than the broader community.

Wallace is good at extending to make catches away from his frame. He tracks the ball well and makes acrobatic in-flight body adjustments to secure the catch. He shows good first-step explosion and does not take long to get to full speed.

Interestingly, he lines up almost exclusively at the Z position rather than in various spots. This appears to have a broader basis, however, as the OSU offense seldom uses pre-snap motion or shifts – somewhat surprising given its explosiveness. This is therefore not a knock on Wallace’s versatility. He does run routes at all three levels of the defense.

He possesses the yards after catch ability that is prized in today’s NFL, showing a little bit of everything on this play, for example.

Despite his college production, do not expect Wallace to be a first-round NFL draft selection.

His athleticism is above average but not top tier. His size is good but not elite. His projected dynasty rookie draft position should remain safe if he can secure day two NFL draft capital.

Next year’s wide receiver class may not have the depth of the 2020 class but the top end includes elite talents such as Ja’Marr Chase, Rondale Moore and Rashod Bateman. Wallace should follow those players in a second tier which includes Seth Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

NOTEWORTHY

Spencer Sanders started 11 games at quarterback as a redshirt freshman. The former top-200 recruit and eighth-ranked dual-threat quarterback earned scholarship offers from Penn State and Texas A&M before choosing Oklahoma State. He was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas as a prep senior.

He lived up to his dual-threat designation by finishing second on the team in rushing attempts and yards while leading the Cowboys in all passing categories. He was ultimately named the 2019 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.

His athleticism is evident. He possesses good height at 6’2” and has a few years to add to his 195-pound frame.

https://twitter.com/the_LGG/status/1175609788018954240

He also has a lively arm.

Sanders is not yet on the devy radar, even in superflex leagues. This is a program, however, with a record of producing NFL-quality quarterbacks, and Sanders has built a fine resume to date. He is worth monitoring in deep superflex leagues.

Redshirt freshman running back Deondrick Glass is a 5’11”, 215-pounder who held scholarship offers from nearly every top program in the country, including Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia. He hails from the legendary Katy (TX) prep program.

Though he may lack breakaway speed, he efficiently makes people miss, shows above-average strength and balance. He should take over for Hubbard in 2021 and is a sleeper in the 2022 devy class.

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