Chris Lacy and Marcell Ateman will be receivers to watch in 2017
With the possibility of quarterback Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington graduating, Chris Lacy and Marcell Ateman will be receivers to watch.
If quarterback Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington decide to leave, the Oklahoma State Cowboys will look vastly different in 2017. Their offense has revolved around Rudolph, Washington, and true freshman running back Justice Hill. However, there is still quite a bit of receiving talent left on the roster.
There are two names to watch out for at wide receiver fo the Pokes entering 2017. Chris Lacy and Marcell Ateman are both extremely talented but under the radar players.
Ateman sat out the entire 2016 season with an ankle injury. He ended up taking a medical redshirt. At 6’4″ Ateman is the tallest and most natural possession receiver on the Cowboys roster. In 2015 Ateman had 766 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He is a proven threat on the outside.
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Lacy really showed that he can be a great receiver in the Big 12. He had two straight 100 yard performances against the Texas Tech Red Raiders and TCU Horned Frogs. At 6’3″ he has a similar ability to be a natural possession receiver.
Other names to watch out for include slot receiver Jalen McCleskey and Dillon Stoner who missed most of the season due to injury. If Washington does leave the Pokes will have to rely on Ateman, Lacy, McCleskey, and Stoner, almost exclusively.
The main focus of the Cowboys offense will be Justice Hill in 2017. With running back Chris Carson graduating, Hill will be the uncontested primary rusher. Furthermore, if Rudolph leaves the Pokes will have to find a new starting quarterback. Hill will be the best and most reliable option. Moreover, Lacy and Ateman will be two of the most proven receivers available.
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Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy runs a high-tempered and high-powered offense that can naturally breed receivers. Past receivers like Dez Bryant, Justin Blackmon, Josh Stewart, and Washington are just four of the receivers that had NFL talent in the last decade. Both Ateman and Lacy will be seniors and could be NFL Draft picks in 2018.