Countdown to Kickoff: Case for No. 3 Spencer Sanders to be Oklahoma State’s starting quarterback

Oklahoma State will kick off its 15th season under head coach Mike Gundy this fall. Cowboys Ride For Free will have a 15-day countdown with one article each day until the Cowboys’ season opener Aug. 30 at Oregon State.

Oklahoma State has two solid options at quarterback between Dru Brown and Spencer Sanders. From all accounts, it’s been an intense battle between the two, with both guys showing they can start. Coach Mike Gundy has hinted there will be a two QB system to begin the year. The general consensus among the fanbase is that, much like last year, Sanders should be the guy.

It’s time to look towards the future, and go with the redshirt freshman for this season. This is the case for Sanders to be the starting quarterback for OSU this season.

If you actually read my article on Dru Brown the other day, you would’ve seen that was going to write about Sanders as well. Although I’m sure because this article fits your confirmation bias about the QB situation, you’ll actually read this instead of just commenting without reading (or knowing who the author is).

Alright, let’s get into it.

There has been immense hype surrounding Sanders since he committed to OSU during his junior year at Denton (Texas) Ryan High School. He put up gaudy numbers his senior year, and fans thought this is the guy; this is the guy who is going to come in as a freshman and take the reins and take the program on an ascension we could’ve never imagined.

But, we didn’t see it last year as Taylor Cornelius played the entire season, much to the chagrin of fans. No matter what, fans (myself included) thought we’d see Sanders as the no doubt starter to begin the 2019 season. So far, that does not seem to be the case, as the QB battle with Brown continues.

Sanders’ talent isn’t in question at all. He has some of the best arm talent that has come through OSU in recent years. He’s an exceptional athlete with the ability to make plays out of the pocket with his legs.

I don’t expect to see something like this in Stillwater — Gundy might have a conniption — but this shows you the athlete Sanders is.

Brown is definitely the safer pick, and he can definitely win OSU games this season. But, making the safer pick could also put the Cowboys in a similar situation to 2018, which would continue the step in the wrong direction the program took last year.

When you have a thoroughbred in the stable, you don’t leave him in there for a lesser horse, you let him go out and run, and win. Sanders is the most talented QB in the room, and he needs to go out and play and prove that he can lead the Cowboys back to trajectory the program was on with Mason Rudolph behind center.

The good news for Sanders is, even if there are growing pains adjusting to playing in the Big 12, there so many weapons at this disposal. With Chuba Hubbard, Tylan Wallace, Jordan McCray, Dillon Stoner, and others on the field, Sanders will be just fine.

Even though Gundy said he would name a starter later this week, I expect that we’ll find out Friday when the offense runs out of the field for the first time. If Sanders runs out of the field for that first possession, it could be a glimpse into what we’ll see for the next few years in Stillwater.