Oklahoma State Releases Week 1 Depth Chart: What We Got Right and Biggest Surprises

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The projections are over. Oklahoma State's first official depth chart of the Eric Morris era is here.

Last week, I projected the Cowboys' two-deep ahead of Saturday's season opener against Tulsa. With the official depth chart now released, many of the expected starters landed exactly where anticipated — but there were also a few surprises. Let's compare.

Quarterback: Nailed It

There was never any doubt about Drew Mestemaker at QB1, but the real question was behind him.

I projected Grant Jordan OR Brodie Vehrs at QB2, and that's exactly what Oklahoma State listed.

Jordan's experience made him an obvious contender, but the fact Vehrs forced his way into an OR designation as a true freshman reinforces the positive buzz surrounding him throughout camp.

Running Back: Tre Page Wins RB2

Here's my biggest miss. I projected freshman KD Jones as Caleb Hawkins' backup while identifying Tre Page and Ayo Adeyi as additional rotation options.

Instead, Oklahoma State listed Page alone at RB2. Hawkins remains the unquestioned starter, but Page appears to have established himself as the first option behind him entering Week 1.

Receiver: Right Names, Different Arrangement

I projected Wyatt Young, Chris Barnes and Justin Bowick as the three starters with Miles Coleman essentially functioning as a fourth. The official depth chart isn't far off.

Barnes and Bowick are starters, but Oklahoma State listed Coleman OR Young at the Y position. Terrence Lewis also landed behind Barnes as projected, while Rodney Harris II rather than Jabarie Thornton earned the backup spot behind Bowick.

The biggest takeaway remains the same: Morris has plenty of options at receiver.

Tight End and Offensive Line Still Unsettled

I gave Carson Kolb the edge at tight end, and he is listed at the top — but alongside Morgan McPhaul with an OR. There are even more ORs behind them, with Bodie Boydstun, Donovan Green and Oscar Hammond all listed.

The offensive line also isn't completely settled. Jacob Sexton and Tyler Mercer were correctly projected at left tackle and center, but Oklahoma State still lists competition at left guard and right tackle. Ashton Lepo OR Shaun Torgeson at RT is particularly notable after Torgeson appeared to have gained an edge late in camp.

Defense Will Rotate — A Lot

My biggest takeaway from projecting the defense was not to get overly attached to the starters. The official depth chart reinforces that.

Jaleel Johnson and James Williams lead the edge positions as projected, but Oklahoma State used OR designations throughout the defensive front.

The linebacker alignment provides one notable difference. Ethan Wesloski and Isaiah Chisom are starters as expected, but Tate Romney isn't merely behind Chisom. He's officially the starting MIKE linebacker in Oklahoma State's three-linebacker structure.

The secondary is similarly fluid. LaDainian Fields is listed OR Kobi Foreman at one corner spot, while the other remains open among multiple players. Evan Jackson and Quinton Hammonds are the starting safeties, while Christian Bodnar earned the nickel job as projected.

The Biggest Thing I Got Right

Maybe the most important prediction wasn't an individual player. It was the rotation.

Last week, I wrote that the bigger question wasn't necessarily who started, but how deep Morris and defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity would go.

The first official depth chart is filled with ORs, particularly along the defensive front and in the secondary.

So while we now know Oklahoma State's official Week 1 two-deep, we still don't completely know what its lineup will look like from snap to snap.

We'll finally get that answer Saturday against Tulsa. Let's have those Pistols Firing Pokes fans.

Quarterback

QB1: Drew Mestemaker (R-So., 6-3, 215, North Texas) QB2: Grant Jordan (R-Sr., 6-2, 217, UMass) OR Brodie Vehrs (Fr., 5-11, 205)

Running Back

RB1: Caleb Hawkins (So., 6-0, 219, North Texas) RB2: Tre Page (R-So., 5-8, 184, Tarleton State)

Wide Receiver

Z1: Chris Barnes (R-So., 5-7, 169, Wake Forest) Z2: Terrence Lewis (So., 5-11, 170, North Texas)

X1: Justin Bowick (R-Sr., 6-5, 209, Illinois) X2: Rodney Harris II (R-Sr., 6-1, 207, Ohio)

Y1: Miles Coleman (Jr., 5-6, 158, North Texas) OR Wyatt Young (Jr., 6-0, 199, North Texas)

Tight End

TE1: Carson Kolb (R-So., 6-4, 243, Oregon State) OR Morgan McPhaul (R-Sr., 6-2, 265, VMI)

TE2: Bodie Boydstun (R-Jr., 6-5, 239, SWOSU) OR Donovan Green (R-Sr., 6-3, 238, LSU) OR Oscar Hammond (R-Sr., 6-3, 243, returner)

Offensive Line

LT1: Jacob Sexton (R-Sr., 6-6, 328, Oklahoma)LT2: Ja’Qwon Evans (Fr., 6-5, 295)

LG1: Johnny Dickson III (R-Sr., 6-2, 317, North Texas) OR Desmond Magiya (R-Jr., 6-4, 333, North Texas)

C1: Tyler Mercer (R-So., 6-4, 300, Kansas) C2: Louie Canepa (R-Sr., 6-3, 299, returner)

RG1: Joseph Hanson (Sr., 6-4, 302, Coastal Carolina) RG2: Jakobe Sanders (R-Jr. 6-2, 327, returner)

RT1: Ashton Lepo (R-Sr., 6-7, 320, Michigan State) OR Shaun Torgeson (R-So., 6-4, 302, Portland State)

Defensive End

END1: Jaleel Johnson (R-Sr., 6-4, 270, returner) END2: Malik Charles (R-Sr., 6-3, 284, returner) OR Keviyan Huddleston (R-Jr., 6-4, 269, North Texas)

RUSH1: James Williams (R-Sr., 6-5, 256, Florida State) RUSH2: DeSean Brown (R-Sr., 6-2, 266, returner) OR DJ Jackson (Sr., 6-4, 243, Troy) OR Billy Walton III (R-So., 6-3, 253, SMU)

Defensive Tackle

NT1: Saadiq Clements (R-Jr., 6-4, 310, North Texas) OR Jerry Lawson (Sr., 6-1, 312, Louisville)NT2: Luke Webb (R-So., 6-3, 311, returner)

DT1: Iman Oates (R-Sr., 6-3, 317, returner) OR Braylon Rigsby (R-Jr., 6-3, 283, Texas Tech)DT2: Landon Dean (R-Sr., 6-5, 290, returner) OR Enai White (R-Sr., 6-5, 300, Penn State)

Linebacker

SAM1: Ethan Wesloski (R-Sr., 6-1, 234, North Texas) SAM2: Trip White (R-Sr., 6-3, 234, returner)

MIKE1: Tate Romney (R-Sr., 6-1, 223, Arizona State) MIKE2: Taurean Davis (Jr., 6-1, 231, Miss. Gulf Coast)

WILL1: Isaiah Chisom (R-Jr., 6-0, 234, UCLA) WILL2: Gunnar Wilson (R-So., 6-2, 217, returner)

Cornerback

CB: LaDainian Fields (R-So., 6-1, 176, returner) OR Kobi Foreman (So., 5-10, 175, returner)

CB: Mo Horn (R-Sr., 5-11, 183, Texas Tech) OR Kollin Lewis (R-Jr., 5-10, 188, North Texas)

Safety

FS1: Evan Jackson (Sr., 5-11, 188, North Texas) FS2: Markeith Williams (R-Sr., 6-2, 175, Miami)

BS1: Quinton Hammonds (Jr., 6-1, 206, North Texas) BS2: Mose Phillips III (Sr., 6-2, 196, Missouri)

N1: Christian Bodnar (R-Jr., 6-0, 188, Liberty) N2: Cameron Epps (R-Sr., 6-2, 207, returner) OR Vincent Holmes (R-Jr., 6-2, 175, Washington)

Kicker

K1: Sam Keltner (R-So., 5-10, 185, SMU) K2: Joseph Kim (R-Jr., 5-9, 196, UCO)

Punter

P1: Lachie Pozzobon (So., 6-4, 182, Stephen F. Austin) P2: Nate Ost (R-Sr., 6-2, 198, Robert Morris)

Kickoff

KO1: Joseph Kim (R-Jr., 5-9, 196, UCO) KO2: Sam Keltner (R-So., 5-10, 185, SMU)

Long Snapper

LS1: Caden Yates (R-Jr., 6-1, 223, North Texas) LS2: Nolan Akins (R-Fr., 6-1, 198, SMU)

Holder

H1: Nate Ost (R-Sr., 6-2, 198, Robert Morris) OR Lachie Pozzobon (So., 6-4, 182, Stephen F. Austin)

Kick Return

KR1: Chris Barnes (R-So., 5-7, 169, Wake Forest) KR2: Miles Coleman (Jr., 5-6, 158, North Texas)

Punt Return

PR1: Miles Coleman (Jr., 5-6, 158, North Texas) PR2: Bobby Deal Jr. (R-Jr., 6-1, 190, Coffeyville CC)

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