Oklahoma State football: What to expect for 2021 Spring Game
By John Scimeca
2. Which quarterbacks will get the snaps?
While OSU fans hope to see continued development from redshirt junior quarterback Spencer Sanders, it will also be great to see which backup quarterbacks can stand out in some semblance of game action.
It’s easy to painfully recall some of Sanders’ struggles as starting quarterback from 2020 — the untimely turnovers and underperforming at times against mediocre squads — but the Denton, Tex. native has a lot to build on for 2021. Injuries to the offensive line and to Sanders himself had a significant impact from last year, so what can a healthy Sanders show this spring?
As far as backup reps, Cowboy fans will want to see what Shane Illingworth can do after appearing in four games from his true freshman season. The 6-foot-6 slinger from California helped save the Cowboys in an early-season win against Tulsa and led the team to wins against West Virginia and Kansas in the following weeks, combining for 32-of-44 passing for 404 yards and three touchdowns in the two league victories.
And, of course, there’s a new walk-on freshman donning shoulder pads at spring practice: Stillwater High School product Gunnar Gundy. The 6-foot-2 freshman and head coach Mike Gundy’s son reportedly received scholarship offers from several FBS schools such as Toledo and Eastern Michigan before choosing to walk on at OSU.
It would be great to see Gunnar launch some deep throws, reminiscent of his days as a Pioneer. In his senior year of high school alone, he threw for 3,481 yards, 47 touchdowns, and only three interceptions. He might also even remind you of another OSU quarterback — his father did throw for nearly 8,000 career passing yards in the 1980s, after all.