By Michael Doutey
Gone are James Washington, Oklahoma State’s all-time leading receiver with 4,414 yards, Marcell Ateman and Chris Lacy. Between those three, OSU is losing 2,969 yards from the 5,059 yards the Cowboys had in receiving in 2017. Not just that, but OSU is losing 21 touchdowns from that group.
Even though the Cowboys are missing a ton of production from the wide receiver position, there is more than enough talent still on campus that can pick up the slack.
“Even though we lost a senior heavy group last year, we had a lot of young guys who learned from those guys last year,” Dillion Stoner said. “I don’t think there will be a big time drop off at all.”
With names like Stoner, Tyron Johnson and Jalen McCleskey back this season, those are three names fans have watched make plays in big moments from a season ago.
Jalen McCleskey
McCleskey, who is the only senior receiver on roster, is the leading returner in yards with 645 on 50 catches and recorded five touchdowns. Jalen easily has the largest body of work and fans know what to expect from him. He’s been a staple in the offense since becoming a starter back in 2016. He has 1,710 yards on 152 catches and 15 catches in his career.
Jalen McCleskey is the lone senior receiver on the #okstate football team heading into 2018 and he’s ready to put an exclamation point on his Cowboy career. #GoPokes : https://t.co/V0acoNIhpW pic.twitter.com/nvnV0riC9b
— Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) April 15, 2018
Prediction: Jalen has been a great secondary or tertiary option in his career. I don’t expect McCleskey to become OSU’s first option this season but I am expecting him to be second in catches and third in yards in 2018.
Dillon Stoner
Stoner is a redshirt sophomore who closed last season with a bang. In 2017, Stoner caught 44 passes for 576 yards and six touchdowns. Stoner really made his mark in the last six games of the season where he had 359 yards receiving and caught four touchdowns.
“We are going to depend on Dillon big time. He is a dependable player and a very talented player. He’s got a lot of game experience. So Dillion will be one of our main go to guys,” offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said of Stoner. “He’s got to be one of those guys that we are trying to get the ball to because we know how dependable he is, not only dependable but talented as well.”
Prediction: Stoner is going to have a breakout season in 2018. Of all the receivers OSU has, Stoner is my pick to lead the team in catches and receiving yards.
With @CowboyFB‘s top two receivers graduating. WR Dillon Stoner is definitely someone to keep an eye on in the #Big12 this season…#CFBisComing pic.twitter.com/Zstf2VwgWH
— Stadium (@WatchStadium) July 24, 2018
Tyron Johnson
Johnson is the receiver most fans are excited to see. The former five-star recruit and LSU transfer is a fan favorite. We didn’t see a ton from Johnson in his first season in Stillwater, due Washington and Ateman. Johnson isn’t on that level, at least not yet. But what we did see in 2017 has fans excited for the future.
“Get open and get into the end zone,” is what Mike Yurcich said of Johnson’s role for 2018. “He is a young man that has to continue to learn the offense and learn the little nuances. Now he knows where he’s is going. He knows what route to run. He knows who to block. Now it is get better at the technique and refine your skills and become the best receiver you possibly can be and really get in tune with the skill level and being a craftsmen at your position.”
In 2017, Johnson caught 18 passes for 293 yards and caught three touchdowns. Most remember Johnson’s first catch as a Cowboy, that went for the opening touchdown of the season. Then you didn’t see much from Tyron until Bedlam where he caught four passes for 118 yards and two second half touchdowns. Fans are hoping to see Johnson turn into a monster this season, citing these few moments we’ve witnessed.
WATCH: Welcome to the SEAson of Orange! Rudolph to Tyron Johnson to start the night for #OKState! #MA2ON pic.twitter.com/lAutT6MuwB
— Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) August 31, 2017
WATCH: Mason Rudolph goes deep to Tyron Johnson to pull #OKState to within 3! pic.twitter.com/jCVC5OsWd8
— Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) November 4, 2017
Prediction: If Johnson can become more consistent this season then he will lead the team in explosive plays and receiving touchdowns.
Tylan Wallace
Wallace enters his sophomore season as the fourth starter at receiver and will be on the outside opposite of Tyron Johnson. Wallace was the highest rated wide receiver OSU has brought in since Dez Bryant and he competed in the Under Armor All-American game in January 2017.
As a freshman, Wallace found a way on the field despite OSU’s embarrassment of riches at receiver. He played a limited amount, only catching seven passes for 118 yards. His first highlight play came at Pittsburgh when Taylor Cornelius overthrew a deep ball to Wallace who came down with an impressive one-handed catch.
After that we didn’t see much of Wallace until the Iowa State game, where he caught three passes for 49 yards (which tied a career high). The most impressive part of those three catches in Ames was that they came on crucial third down plays. Mason Rudolph trusted Wallace in those situations and he came through.
Mike Gundy has compared Wallace to Josh Stewart, who was a nice player at OSU. Wallace tries to emulate Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wallace is a versatile receiver who can play outside, but he is very capable to make big plays after the catch.
Prediction: Wallace is a guy I think will fill the role of Marcell Ateman, which I know sounds odd because Ateman is 6-foot-4, 216-pounds while Wallace is six-foot and 185-pounds. Ateman was old reliable for Rudolph a season ago. In huge moments, Rudolph turned to Ateman to make a catch to save a drive or the game (see Texas Tech and Iowa State). I expect Wallace will step up and be the one who makes enormous catches to extend drives or save games.
Check out the concentration on this great catch from Tylan Wallace (@OfficialTylan2). The #OKState freshman had 2 catches for 49 yards. pic.twitter.com/sRw2ozva2d
— Nate Feken (@TheGreat_Nate) September 18, 2017
Patrick McKaufman
Big Patrick McKaufman is a player I’m incredibly interested in. Big Pat, a redshirt sophomore, is a legit six-foot-six and 200 pounds.
McKaufman has had an interesting path to Stillwater. He is a product of Douglas High School in Oklahoma City where he played quarterback. He went to NEO junior college for his freshman year where he made the switch to receiver. After his freshman season he attended a JUCO camp in Stillwater where OSU offered McKaufman and he immediately committed. Since he was a automatic qualifier coming out of high school he was able to immediately transfer to OSU where he redshirted.
Prediction: Watch out for McKaufman to be a red zone target with his incredible size. He will also be a reserve for either Johnson or Wallace on the outside.
More WR drills of Stoner, Landon Wolf (remember that name), Tracin Wallace, and Big Patrick McKaufman (another name to watch). #okstate pic.twitter.com/QM8dze4fzv
— Michael Doutey (@mike_doutey) August 2, 2018
LC Greenwood
LC Greenwood is a redshirt freshman who has tremendous size who could also become another red zone target this season. Greenwood is a stout six-foot-three, 212-pounds.
Prediction: He will be another guy who plays on the outside in a reserve role. Both he and McKaufman are raw talents but have the ability to make plays this season. I expect Greenwood to be another solid red zone target. Both Greenwood and McKaufman will grow into solid possession receivers over the course of their careers, much like Ateman did in his time in Stillwater.
Landon Wolf
Landon Wolf is a name I’ve been hearing for nearly a year now. He a redshirt sophomore and walk-on from Tulsa East Central. He stole the show in the spring game in April and I’ve seen and heard good things about him over the summer.
Prediction: He will be a guy to spell either Stoner or McCleskey in the slot. He has nice speed and has a knack for making plays.
