Hauss Hejny’s road to recovery from a broken foot has been slower than fans might like, but that appears to be intentional. Given Hejny’s style of play — agile, dual threat, constantly moving — it’s critical he regains as close to full strength as possible before returning. Interim Head Coach Doug Meacham acknowledged Hejny has been itching to get back into action and has ramped up his efforts, but cautioned that healing must come before pushing.
"“Hauss is good,” Meacham said. “I saw him today. He’s walking in a boot. He kind of was jumping up and down. I was like, ‘Woah, woah, woah. What’re you doing?’ But, with the hardware he has in there, I don’t believe he can hurt it any more than it’s already hurt. They’re just waiting on it to fully calcify. I think it’s done that. Now, it’s just getting the legs strong enough to move around.”"Cowboys Interim Coach Doug Meacham
His phrasing suggests the medical side of the injury is likely past its most fragile stage. The bigger challenge going forward is rebuilding the strength and mobility in the foot, ankle, and surrounding structures so Hejny can be confident in stretching, cutting, and pushing off which are all essential for his high‑mobility style.
Hejny’s Background & Early Glimpse
Hejny arrived at Oklahoma State via the transfer portal from TCU. He was a highly rated recruit out of high school — a four‑star, top‑250 national prospect, and among the more heralded quarterbacks in his class. His dual-threat capabilities attracted attention, especially given the evolving nature of college offenses that value versatility.
In his lone appearance this season before the injury, Hejny flashed his potential. He completed half of his pass attempts for 96 yards and threw a touchdown, while also finding the end zone on the ground. Those numbers, although limited, showed a glimpse of what he could bring to the Cowboys’ offense if fully healthy.
Backup Arms Holding the Fort
In Hejny’s absence, Oklahoma State has turned to Sam Jackson and Zane Flores under center. As a team, the passing offense has struggled — ranked near the bottom nationally, averaging just 176.2 yards per game. Jackson has passed for 161 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Flores has logged 696 passing yards along with three interceptions.
These backups have kept the offense afloat, but the hope is that Hejny’s return might provide the spark, both in his arm and his legs, to jolt the offense toward competency. But again, rushing the process could carry more risk than reward.
No Rush, But Plenty of Incentive
The Cowboys are currently 1–6, amid significant coaching and roster turnover. It’s a rough stretch, but it also means that management must resist urgency that jeopardizes long-term health. The stakes are high: Hejny’s performance, when he does return, may shape the trajectory of the rest of the season and set expectations for the following one.
Meacham’s tone implies he’s monitoring the process carefully. Hejny is pushing himself, but Meacham wants to ensure the return is sustainable. The other question arises that is it even worth it for him to return this season? Oklahoma State fans and coaching staff hope he does to give some juice to the team. Once the foot is fully healed and the legs are ready, Hejny’s natural skill set could elevate an offense stuck on life support.