Chris Carson – Junior – Running Back
Oklahoma State’s running game was pretty mediocre in 2014, which is a rarity. Tyreek Hill’s dismissal, Desmond Roland’s exhaustion of eligibility, Ronald Jones III’s backing out of his commitment, and the lack of production from Rennie Childs made the running back position an even bigger concern going in to 2015.
Fortunately, Mike Gundy and his staff have become pretty good at finding Juco talent, and it appears they’ve done it again with Chris Carson, who came to Stillwater via Butler Community College in Kansas, and was originally a Georgia Bulldogs commit before flipping at the last moment.
Carson, The Big 12’s Preseason Newcomer of the Year, wasn’t able to arrive in Stillwater until June, putting him at a disadvantage heading into fall camp. Since his arrival however, all he’s done is impress, being mentioned nearly every day in Cowboy practice reports for everything ranging from his chiseled physique to his ability to flat run people over. As an added bonus, his play has even pushed Childs to compete harder.
Carson arrived to Stillwater focused and ready to do some work, and it’s more than paid off. By the end of camp, he had clearly taken over the spot with the No. 1 offense, and has been constantly praised for his maturity and daily improvement. Carson’s positive traits should carry over into the season, changing what was once a concern over a skill position to a strength.
Next: Jeff Carr