Examining the OSU depth chart: 12 first-time starters
Published: 8/27/2010 7:10 PM
Last Modified: 8/27/2010 7:10 PM
When Oklahoma State hosts Washington State for the Sept. 4 opener at Boone Pickens Stadium, 12 offensive and defensive Cowboys will be first-time starters.
OSU released its Game 1 depth chart on Friday night.
Offensive-line starters: Junior Nick Martinez at left tackle, junior Jonathan Rush at left guard, junior Grant Garner at center, sophomore Lane Taylor at right guard, junior Levy Adcock at right tackle. Taylor is the only returning starter.
Inside receivers: Sophomore Tracy Moore and junior Josh Cooper.
Outside receivers: Senior Bo Bowling (a first-time starter) and sophomore Justin Blackmon.
Running back: Senior Kendall Hunter.
Quarterback: Junior Brandon Weeden, who makes his first football start since the 2001 high school season at Edmond Santa Fe.
Defensive ends: Junior Richetti Jones and senior Ugo Chinasa. Jones gets his first start.
Defensive tackles: Seniors Shane Jarka and Chris Donaldson, both of whom are first-time starters.
Linebackers: Senior Orie Lemon is a veteran in the middle, while junior James Thomas gets his first start at the star position and senior Justin Gent his first start at weakside linebacker.
Cornerbacks: Senior Andrew McGee and sophomore Brodrick Brown. Each made one start last season.
Safeties: Junior Markelle Martin is the free safety and perhaps the best defensive player in the program. Junior Johnny Thomas is a first-time starter at free safety.
Hunter and Johnny Thomas are listed as the kickoff-return specialists. Getting the punt-return assignment is Justin Gilbert, a highly regarded first-year freshman. Gilbert also is listed as Brown’s backup at cornerback.
It is noteworthy that junior Jamie Blatnick, who on Friday received a deferred sentence after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor assault and battery, is listed as Richetti Jones’ backup at defensive end. That would suggest that Blatnick probably will be in uniform and likely in the rotation when the Cowboys face Washington State.
Junior Victor Johnson, who has been charged with marijuana possession, obstruction of an officer and DUI, is listed as Johnny Thomas’ backup at free safety.
Nine first-year freshmen are included on the depth chart. Listed as second-teamers are Johnny Deaton at quarterback, Daniel Koenig at offensive right tackle, Gilbert and Devin Hedgepeth at cornerback, Deion Imade at strong safety, Tyler Johnson at middle linebacker, Shaun Lewis at star linebacker and Davidell Collins at defensive tackle. Three running backs are listed, and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen says all three will play. Joining Hunter and redshirt freshman Jeremy Smith on the depth chart is first-year freshman Joseph Randle.
Brandon Webb, a redshirt freshman from Owasso, performed well during the final two weeks of preseason camp and now is listed as Rush’s backup at left guard.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
