Gundy praises OSU freshman QB Wes Lunt's progress
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Thursday, April 19, 2012
4/19/12 at 5:17 AM
Related Story: OSU notebook: Orange-White finale
STILLWATER - On Wednesday, following a 110-play scrimmage at Boone Pickens Stadium, it was mentioned to Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy that first-year freshman Wes Lunt seems to be the most complete passer of the three quarterbacks competing for the starting job.
"He's further along passing the ball now than really any freshman I've ever been around," Gundy replied. "... The fairest way to put it is this: For where he's at in his career and his life, he's further along than what I thought he would have been at this point.
"I don't know any other way to say it. He's done real well out here with not being flustered. That's a part of it. ... He makes mistakes, but he's done pretty good."
OSU concludes the spring-practice period with the Orange-White game, set for 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Starting Monday, Gundy and offensive coordinator Todd Monken will attempt to determine whether Lunt, junior Clint Chelf or redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh is designated as the program's No. 1 QB.
Asked whether the quarterback decision might be made by next Wednesday, Gundy said, "It very well could happen that fast."
During meetings with Monken and offensive-line coach Joe Wickline, Gundy will discuss all offensive personnel, the direction of the 2012 attack and who gets the designation as being the favorite to succeed record-breaking Brandon Weeden as the Cowboy quarterback.
Referring to the QB competition, Gundy said, "I want to hear what (Monken and Wickline) have to say before I offer my opinion. I don't want to sway it one way or the other.
"I want to hear what they have to say, and I want to know the reasons why. We'll make comparisons to what I see and I feel. If it's the same, then I don't need to say anything. I just need to say OK. If it's different, then we need to talk about it. I want them to bring evidence to the table - the reasons that this needs to happen."
During the Wednesday scrimmage, each of the quarterbacks had positive sequences and each drove the offense to touchdowns and chip-shot field goals by Quinn Sharp. Chelf found Tracy Moore for a TD. On a beautifully lofted fade pass, Walsh also connected with Moore for a touchdown.
"I thought today was really good," Gundy said. "Probably as equal a competition as we've had - good plays on both sides of the ball.
"I thought our effort (and) attitude were good. Tempo was really good. I was pleasantly surprised by what will be our last real practice before the spring game."
The end result was an incompletion, but Lunt's most impressive pass was a deep ball launched after his protection had begun to break down. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound rookie bounced forward to escape pressure and threw a perfect deep ball near the goal line. The pass was dropped by a backup wide receiver, but Lunt's improvisation was noticed by Gundy.
"It was a nice play," the coach said. "You're in a two-minute situation. He slides up. He has enough composure to sit in there and realize it was third-and-long. It's not going to do him any good to run."
As a first-year freshman in 1986, Gundy didn't report to OSU until August. He played in a morning American Legion baseball game in Texas, and by that night he had moved to Stillwater. A few weeks later, he was the starting quarterback.
Until early January, Lunt was a senior at Rochester (Ill.) High School. Because Gundy himself was an OSU freshman who played well at the quarterback position, is he less skittish than most other coaches about handing the reins to a freshman?
"If a freshman is the best player, we're going to play him," Gundy said. "We have an obligation to the team - to the seniors - to do that."
Original Print Headline: Gundy praises progress of freshman QB
Bill Haisten 918-581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Quarterback Wes Lunt, then at Rochester (Ill.) High School, looks for a receiver last season. JUSTIN L. FOWLER / The State Journal-Register
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