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STILLWATER — Oklahoma State football coach Eric Morris has a fun way to describe his Cowboys in his first year.
Misfits.
A rebuilt team with 88 newcomers, including 59 transfers and 22 true freshmen, brings a unique mix.
“Our mantra this year is we call ourselves the misfits,” Morris said Saturday at media day before the Cowboys’ third practice of the fall. “We have a bunch of people from different situations.”
There is the explosion of OSU’s triplets — Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins and Wyatt Young — into stardom. They were either not recruited or lightly recruited at best before breaking out at North Texas.
More: Oklahoma State football practice opens with new era, energy under Eric Morris
There are players coming from big schools who might not have had success or dealt with injuries.
That’s why just a few days into his first camp leading the Cowboys, Morris has focused on the psychology of it all.
“It is something that's important to me, and I've dealt with a ton,” Morris said.
Morris pointed to quarterback Chandler Morris, who the OSU coach guided in 2024 at North Texas. Chandler wanted to quit football.
Instead, he stuck with it. Eric said he still talks to Chandler’s father, Chad, regularly about how thankful he is that Eric restored Chandler’s love of the sport and confidence.
“I think that's gonna be big for us this year, the confidence and when we step on the field, we believe we can go out there and dominate and play at a really high level and win football games,” Eric Morris said. “That's naturally something that we've gotta go out there and do. We're building to that right now.”
OSU has not won a Big 12 game in two seasons. The complete revamp of the program was necessary under Morris.
Now, he knows he needs to foster the growth.
“I always tell our kids belief is one of the most powerful drugs in sports,” he said. “Belief in themselves, No. 1, and then carrying it on to your teammates and coaches. So, we'll have to work through some of that stuff, psychology.
“I think they have stuff in their heads, some people on our team that when they're coming from a negative situation, I gotta do a good job mentoring them to getting the belief back in themselves where they do think when they go out there they can do it at a high level."
Here are more takeaways from media day:
The Cowboys had a trio of late additions since the spring, with cornerback Jeremiah Piper and safety Markeith Williams arriving over the summer. Junior college safety Bobby Deal Jr. arrived recently, being added to the roster this week.
So, who is leading the way to make an impact?
Williams, a Miami (FL) transfer, is ahead of the others.
“Markeith is probably getting the most playing time right now,” Morris said. “And a guy that’s kind of shown he can make some plays for us.
“Played quite a bit at Miami. When he got here, a little bit undersized. Didn’t know if he was gonna play, so he needed to put on some weight. He was a little skinny. He’s done a nice job, I think he’s gained 12 or 13 pounds right now. He’s gotta gain 5 or 6 more pounds just so his body can hold up.”
Morris said all three will be big for special teams.
OSU’s roster currently sits at 113 total players and with the 105-player limit that means some players have to go, right?
Not entirely.
Morris said 10 players are classified as Designated Student-Athlete, meaning they are grandfathered in and do not count against the roster limits.
“So, actually, I think we have two spots left right now technically for our roster to not make any cuts,” Morris said. “Look at maybe bringing a couple of kids back that we had in the spring that can fill some roles for us and help on scout teams and practice bodies and things of that nature. But as of right now, I don’t foresee us making any cuts.”
Morris walked away from his first fall practice frustrated.
Players were gassed.
Was the heat too much? What could he do better?
He needed to make adjustments for Day 2.
“Going back and just looking at GPS numbers and how much they ran on the first day, outside in all the different things, we just tweaked some things on Day 2 to be able to get better team reps, and I thought our kids responded phenomenally,” Morris said to open the Cowboys’ media day Saturday ahead of their first padded practice.
“I thought Day 2 was as sharp of a practice as we've had around here, just holistically on both sides of the ball, which was really good for me to see.”
Morris is finding ways beyond just the play on the field to help the Cowboys show improvement.
It starts with acclimating to the heat.
He purposely put Saturday’s workout in the late afternoon when temperatures were expected to hit triple digits knowing the Cowboys’ season opener Sept. 5 at Tulsa is around the same time.
“For us to be able to use this weather to our advantage early on in the season, I think it's important we practice when game times are going to happen with that first game being at 2:30,Morris said. “It’s important that we're used to getting out there in the heat and being able to to prepare that way and get our bodies ready and avoid cramping.”
Morris said the Cowboys will scrimmage each of the next two Saturdays, with one at 11 a.m. and one at 6 p.m., the kickoff times for each of the games against Oregon and Murray State.
More: Where does Oklahoma State football stadium rank among Big 12 venues?
Morris said offensive lineman Braydon Nelson is still recovering from an injury.
“It's on a timeline that we're staying super aggressive with it. Like, there's still a chance he could play in the first couple games and then realizing, too, it's not a thing that we're going to push on Braydon either. With the new rules, five-for-five, he's a guy all of a sudden you’re looking at the roster, and he's got three years left all of a sudden.”
Jacob Unruh is the deputy sports editor for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jacob? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @jacobunruh. Support Jacob's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why Oklahoma State football coach Eric Morris has labeled Cowboys as team of 'misfits'
Continue reading...
Misfits.
A rebuilt team with 88 newcomers, including 59 transfers and 22 true freshmen, brings a unique mix.
“Our mantra this year is we call ourselves the misfits,” Morris said Saturday at media day before the Cowboys’ third practice of the fall. “We have a bunch of people from different situations.”
There is the explosion of OSU’s triplets — Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins and Wyatt Young — into stardom. They were either not recruited or lightly recruited at best before breaking out at North Texas.
More: Oklahoma State football practice opens with new era, energy under Eric Morris
There are players coming from big schools who might not have had success or dealt with injuries.
That’s why just a few days into his first camp leading the Cowboys, Morris has focused on the psychology of it all.
“It is something that's important to me, and I've dealt with a ton,” Morris said.
Morris pointed to quarterback Chandler Morris, who the OSU coach guided in 2024 at North Texas. Chandler wanted to quit football.
Instead, he stuck with it. Eric said he still talks to Chandler’s father, Chad, regularly about how thankful he is that Eric restored Chandler’s love of the sport and confidence.
“I think that's gonna be big for us this year, the confidence and when we step on the field, we believe we can go out there and dominate and play at a really high level and win football games,” Eric Morris said. “That's naturally something that we've gotta go out there and do. We're building to that right now.”
OSU has not won a Big 12 game in two seasons. The complete revamp of the program was necessary under Morris.
Now, he knows he needs to foster the growth.
“I always tell our kids belief is one of the most powerful drugs in sports,” he said. “Belief in themselves, No. 1, and then carrying it on to your teammates and coaches. So, we'll have to work through some of that stuff, psychology.
“I think they have stuff in their heads, some people on our team that when they're coming from a negative situation, I gotta do a good job mentoring them to getting the belief back in themselves where they do think when they go out there they can do it at a high level."
Here are more takeaways from media day:
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Markeith Williams leading way of late arrivals
The Cowboys had a trio of late additions since the spring, with cornerback Jeremiah Piper and safety Markeith Williams arriving over the summer. Junior college safety Bobby Deal Jr. arrived recently, being added to the roster this week.
So, who is leading the way to make an impact?
Williams, a Miami (FL) transfer, is ahead of the others.
“Markeith is probably getting the most playing time right now,” Morris said. “And a guy that’s kind of shown he can make some plays for us.
“Played quite a bit at Miami. When he got here, a little bit undersized. Didn’t know if he was gonna play, so he needed to put on some weight. He was a little skinny. He’s done a nice job, I think he’s gained 12 or 13 pounds right now. He’s gotta gain 5 or 6 more pounds just so his body can hold up.”
Morris said all three will be big for special teams.
Will Oklahoma State football make roster cuts?
OSU’s roster currently sits at 113 total players and with the 105-player limit that means some players have to go, right?
Not entirely.
Morris said 10 players are classified as Designated Student-Athlete, meaning they are grandfathered in and do not count against the roster limits.
“So, actually, I think we have two spots left right now technically for our roster to not make any cuts,” Morris said. “Look at maybe bringing a couple of kids back that we had in the spring that can fill some roles for us and help on scout teams and practice bodies and things of that nature. But as of right now, I don’t foresee us making any cuts.”
Cowboys adjust practice to use heat as ‘advantage’
Morris walked away from his first fall practice frustrated.
Players were gassed.
Was the heat too much? What could he do better?
He needed to make adjustments for Day 2.
“Going back and just looking at GPS numbers and how much they ran on the first day, outside in all the different things, we just tweaked some things on Day 2 to be able to get better team reps, and I thought our kids responded phenomenally,” Morris said to open the Cowboys’ media day Saturday ahead of their first padded practice.
“I thought Day 2 was as sharp of a practice as we've had around here, just holistically on both sides of the ball, which was really good for me to see.”
Morris is finding ways beyond just the play on the field to help the Cowboys show improvement.
It starts with acclimating to the heat.
He purposely put Saturday’s workout in the late afternoon when temperatures were expected to hit triple digits knowing the Cowboys’ season opener Sept. 5 at Tulsa is around the same time.
“For us to be able to use this weather to our advantage early on in the season, I think it's important we practice when game times are going to happen with that first game being at 2:30,Morris said. “It’s important that we're used to getting out there in the heat and being able to to prepare that way and get our bodies ready and avoid cramping.”
Morris said the Cowboys will scrimmage each of the next two Saturdays, with one at 11 a.m. and one at 6 p.m., the kickoff times for each of the games against Oregon and Murray State.
More: Where does Oklahoma State football stadium rank among Big 12 venues?
You must be registered for see images
OSU football injury update
Morris said offensive lineman Braydon Nelson is still recovering from an injury.
“It's on a timeline that we're staying super aggressive with it. Like, there's still a chance he could play in the first couple games and then realizing, too, it's not a thing that we're going to push on Braydon either. With the new rules, five-for-five, he's a guy all of a sudden you’re looking at the roster, and he's got three years left all of a sudden.”
Jacob Unruh is the deputy sports editor for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jacob? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @jacobunruh. Support Jacob's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why Oklahoma State football coach Eric Morris has labeled Cowboys as team of 'misfits'
Continue reading...
