With all of the talking points to come from Oklahoma State’s weather-delayed victory over Pitt, there’s one thing that is pretty obvious...
Oklahoma State has a really good receiving corps.
Headlined by the Big 12’s leading returning receiver James Washington, the Cowboys were able to make play after play on the outside against a Panther secondary that struggled to match up.
Washington set an Oklahoma State record for receiving yards in a half with his 231-yard first-half outburst. He finished the day with 296 yards and two touchdowns on only nine catches. That’s a ridiculous 32.9-yard average!
Washington’s big game earned him both Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Washington spoke with OSU’s Allison Gappa after the game.
“It was a lot of fun. You know all week long coach told us, ‘We’re going to throw the ball and if were gonna win the game its gonna be on the receivers.’ ...and i think that’s exactly what it came down to tonight.”
Before Cowboy fans could find their seats, Washington made his first big play of the afternoon, scoring a 91-yard touchdown on Oklahoma State’s first offensive snap.
It didn’t stop there. Time after time Washington gave Pitt senior cornerback Ryan Lewis all he could handle. That’s the same Lewis who won the Jim Thorpe Player of the Week award one week earlier for his game-sealing interception against rival Penn State.
It wasn’t just a one-man show.
Jhajuan Seales added 129 yards on seven catches and Chris Lacy added 64 yards on four well-timed catches. Sophomore Jalen McCleskey added three catches for 17 yards.
Seales’ 129 yards was a career high. He also tied his career high of seven catches. His marquee play was an 86-yard near-touchdown run down the sideline. Seales was knocked out at the Pittsburgh one-yard line. Rennie Childs punched in the ensuing game-winning touchdown.
Seales and Chris Lacy have filled the role of outside threat nicely while Marcell Ateman continues to recover from a foot injury sustained in the offseason.
McCleskey had a somewhat pedestrian outing based on his performances in Weeks 1 and 2, but was effective.
Group Grade: A+
Oklahoma State’s wide receivers helped give Mason Rudolph a career day. That earns them an A+ in my book. On a day full of wild weather, wacky turnovers and head-scratching miscues, James Washington and company made sure the Cowboys came out with a win.