Bad news rocks OSU program
Published: 9/1/2009 7:37 PM
Last Modified: 9/1/2009 7:37 PM
Only four days before the Georgia game, bad news rocked the Oklahoma State program.
The departure of tight end Jamal Mosley, who on Tuesday left the program for what is described as "personal reasons," and the loss of injured middle linebacker Orie Lemon could really hurt the Cowboys. It seems possible that Lemon, who started in all 13 games last year, could be sidelined for the entire 2009 season.
In 2006-08, a significant factor in OSU's offensive success was the blocking and pass-catching of Brandon Pettigrew, who now is a rookie tight end with the Detroit Lions. Mosley is a quality athlete who might have become a gifted receiver, and he recently expressed a resolve to develop into an effective blocker
"I watched film of Brandon and saw the interior work that he did in blocking," Mosley said. "It made a huge difference for our offense."
But Mosley now is a former Cowboy, and the tight end job now falls to sophomore Wilson Youman, who last season had one catch for 4 yards.
Could Tracy Moore be converted to tight end?
The former Union star has been perhaps the most impressive freshman in preseason camp. Cowboy coaches seem somewhat stunned by how good Moore has been. Moore is a big wide receiver at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds. If he could handle the physical demands of the tight end position, Moore might thrive at tight end. He certainly has big-time hands.
With Lemon having apparently sustained a serious knee injury, OSU loses a veteran senior in the defensive middle. Senior Donald Booker, a junior-college transfer now in his second season at OSU, should move into the starting role at middle linebacker.
Booker did have a solid spring and is faster than Lemon, but Lemon recorded 90 tackles last season. Even if Booker emerges as a quality performer, a huge dent has been kicked in OSU's linebacker depth.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
