Carson Kolb’s Journey Comes Full Circle With Touchdown in Oklahoma State’s Upset of Oregon

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

STILLWATER — Carson Kolb has spent plenty of time near the bottom of a depth chart.

He has been a walk-on. He has changed positions. He has changed schools. And before Saturday, he had twice experienced what it felt like to lose to Oregon.

This time, Kolb got to experience the other side — and helped Oklahoma State get there. Kolb caught a touchdown from Drew Mestemaker during the Cowboys' 39-31 upset of No. 6 Oregon at Boone Pickens Stadium, providing another milestone in a college football journey that has required patience and persistence.

“It was a huge testament to how much I've done,” Kolb said. “I talk about it with my roommates all the time. I was a walk-on, bottom of the depth chart when I came here, bottom of the depth chart at Oregon State, and now I'm catching touchdowns against a ranked team.”

From Linebacker to the End Zone

Kolb's path to becoming a contributor in Oklahoma State's offense has been anything but conventional. He began his college career as a linebacker before eventually transitioning to tight end, requiring him to learn an entirely different position while working his way up the depth chart.

That made Saturday's touchdown about much more than six points. With Oklahoma State trailing Oregon 7-3 early in the second quarter, Mestemaker rolled out following a run fake near the goal line. Kolb slipped into the end zone and gave his quarterback an easy target for the touchdown. It put Oklahoma State back in front 10-7 and provided an early indication that the Cowboys weren't going away.

For Kolb, it also provided tangible evidence of how far he had come. The former walk-on who once found himself buried on the depth chart was now celebrating a touchdown against the No. 6 team in the country.

Finally Beating Oregon

The opponent made the moment even sweeter. Before arriving at Oklahoma State, Kolb spent time at Oregon State, where he was twice on the losing side against the Ducks. He didn't need much explanation for what finally beating Oregon meant.

“It was awesome and meant the world to me,” Kolb said. “It's still surreal and finally hitting me that we beat them, but it's awesome to finally win.”

Kolb wasn't alone in finding additional meaning in Saturday's victory. Oklahoma State's roster is filled with players whose paths converged in Stillwater after stops elsewhere. For Kolb, that path included Oregon State, a position change and years of fighting for opportunities. Against Oregon, the work resulted in one of the biggest moments of his career.

A Long Journey Pays Off

Kolb's touchdown was only one play in a game filled with memorable moments for Oklahoma State.

Drew Mestemaker accounted for three touchdowns. The Cowboys piled up 554 yards. The defense held Oregon to 281. And when the final seconds disappeared, fans poured onto the field to celebrate the 39-31 victory.

But Kolb's story represents another part of what made the afternoon meaningful. College football careers rarely follow a straight line. Kolb's certainly hasn't.

He went from walk-on linebacker to tight end, from the bottom of the depth chart at Oregon State to the bottom of another one at Oklahoma State.

Then, on Saturday, he found himself standing in the end zone at Boone Pickens Stadium after scoring a touchdown against a familiar opponent.

This time, when the game ended, Kolb finally got to celebrate beating Oregon.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos