3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
2004 Alamo Bowl - Oklahoma State Cowboys Game Preview - Part II
2004 Oklahoma State Cowboys Special Teams Preview
Returning Starters: 3
The Oklahoma State Special Teams are a mixture of experienced seniors and solid freshman contributors. The unit is made up of consistent performers with big play potential. A key injury to one of the nation's best playmakers, Darrent Williams, slowed down the unit for most of the season, but the Cowboys are expected to be at full force for the Alamo Bowl.
Special Teams
PK #47 Jason Ricks (6'1" 180, FR.)
P/KO #18 Cole Farden (5'11" 200, SR.)
PR/KR #11 Prentis Elliot (6' 175 FR.)
PR #9 Darrent Williams (5'9 175 SR.)
KR #6 Robert Jones (5'11" 190 SR.)
The Pokes kicking game is anchored by All-Big XII Honorable Mention punter, Cole Farden. The senior averaged 43.0 yds/punt with a long of 67 yards. He dropped 15 punts inside the 20 yard line and was not blocked this season. Farden also handles kickoff duties for the Pokes as he drilled 48 touchbacks in 71 total kickoffs.
Solid freshman performer Jason Ricks handled all of the placekicking duties this year. Ricks converted 46/47 PAT kicks and 11/15 FGs. However, the freshman was only 1/5 from 40+ yards. His career best FG of 55 yds shows great potential of this first year player.
The return duties are also shared by a senior and a freshman. Veteran Robert Jones has been consistent on kick returns with an average of 19.9 yds/return and a season-best 53 yard return. However, the more dangerous returner is freshman Prentis Elliot who averaged 28 yds/return with a long of 46 yards. Elliot has also solidly handled the punt return job with 16 returns at 11.1 yds/return. He did show a flash of potential in this area with a long TD return of 74 yds.
The key to the Pokes special teams lies in the return of Darrent Williams, who hopes to see his first action since early in the season. The senior was on his way to a great season when a broken arm sidelined him after week 4. A slow healing process has shelved the senior for 10 weeks. In the four games before the injury, Williams returned 9 punts for 249 yards and a Ginn-like 27.7 yds/return with 1 TD, his 3rd career return. In four games, Williams was the Big XII special teams player of the week twice.
Analysis
The Oklahoma State special teams have been consistent all season. The return of Darrent Williams will add some flash to the already solid unit. Look for at least one big play in special teams to help decide the Alamo Bowl.
Overall Special Teams Rating: B (upgrade that to an A if Darrent Williams plays)
The Oklahoma State Special Teams are a mixture of experienced seniors and solid freshman contributors. The unit is made up of consistent performers with big play potential. A key injury to one of the nation's best playmakers, Darrent Williams, slowed down the unit for most of the season, but the Cowboys are expected to be at full force for the Alamo Bowl.
Special Teams
PK #47 Jason Ricks (6'1" 180, FR.)
P/KO #18 Cole Farden (5'11" 200, SR.)
PR/KR #11 Prentis Elliot (6' 175 FR.)
PR #9 Darrent Williams (5'9 175 SR.)
KR #6 Robert Jones (5'11" 190 SR.)
The Pokes kicking game is anchored by All-Big XII Honorable Mention punter, Cole Farden. The senior averaged 43.0 yds/punt with a long of 67 yards. He dropped 15 punts inside the 20 yard line and was not blocked this season. Farden also handles kickoff duties for the Pokes as he drilled 48 touchbacks in 71 total kickoffs.
Solid freshman performer Jason Ricks handled all of the placekicking duties this year. Ricks converted 46/47 PAT kicks and 11/15 FGs. However, the freshman was only 1/5 from 40+ yards. His career best FG of 55 yds shows great potential of this first year player.
The return duties are also shared by a senior and a freshman. Veteran Robert Jones has been consistent on kick returns with an average of 19.9 yds/return and a season-best 53 yard return. However, the more dangerous returner is freshman Prentis Elliot who averaged 28 yds/return with a long of 46 yards. Elliot has also solidly handled the punt return job with 16 returns at 11.1 yds/return. He did show a flash of potential in this area with a long TD return of 74 yds.
The key to the Pokes special teams lies in the return of Darrent Williams, who hopes to see his first action since early in the season. The senior was on his way to a great season when a broken arm sidelined him after week 4. A slow healing process has shelved the senior for 10 weeks. In the four games before the injury, Williams returned 9 punts for 249 yards and a Ginn-like 27.7 yds/return with 1 TD, his 3rd career return. In four games, Williams was the Big XII special teams player of the week twice.
Analysis
The Oklahoma State special teams have been consistent all season. The return of Darrent Williams will add some flash to the already solid unit. Look for at least one big play in special teams to help decide the Alamo Bowl.
Overall Special Teams Rating: B (upgrade that to an A if Darrent Williams plays)
Additional Information
Rebuild or Reload
Starters Returning: 19 (Offense 7, Defense 9, Special Teams 3)
Letterman Returning: 54 (Offense 24, Defense 27, Special Teams 3)
Letterman Lost: 17
Incoming Recruits:
Robert Reid - QB 6-4 220 Galena Park, Texas (North Shore)
Nathan Peterson - DE 6-3 240 Tulsa, Okla. (Union)
Brandon Pettigrew - TE 6-5 225 Tyler, Texas (Lee)
William Bell - DE 6-4 242 Belton, Texas (Belton HS)
Jeray Chatham - OL 6-4 260 Houston, Texas (Westfield)
Maurice Cummings - DE 6-4 240 Rosebud, Texas (Lott)
Prentiss Elliott - FB 6-0 175 Tulsa, Okla. (TSST)
Mike Hamilton - TB 6-1 220 Melbourne, Fla. (Melbourne)
Stephen James - SS 5-11 185 Galena Park, Texas (North Shore)
John Johnson - FB 6-3 235 El Dorado, Ark. (El Dorado)
Roderick Johnson - LB 6-3 220 Galveston, Texas (Ball)
Philip Jones - WR 5-11 170 Denton, Texas (Ryan)
Seth Newton - WR 6-3 170 Girard, Kan. (Girard)
Jason Ricks - K 6-1 182 Round Rock, Texas (Westwood)
Walter Thomas - DL 6-5 340 Galveston, Texas (Ball HS)
Chris Simon - OL 6-5 330 Waller, Texas (Waller)
Martel Van Zant - CB 6-2 200 Tyler, Texas (Lee)
Justin Waller - TE 6-4 225 Ponca City, Okla. (Ponca City)
David Washington - OL 6-4 265 Guthrie, Okla. (Guthrie)
Letterman Returning: 54 (Offense 24, Defense 27, Special Teams 3)
Letterman Lost: 17
Incoming Recruits:
Robert Reid - QB 6-4 220 Galena Park, Texas (North Shore)
Nathan Peterson - DE 6-3 240 Tulsa, Okla. (Union)
Brandon Pettigrew - TE 6-5 225 Tyler, Texas (Lee)
William Bell - DE 6-4 242 Belton, Texas (Belton HS)
Jeray Chatham - OL 6-4 260 Houston, Texas (Westfield)
Maurice Cummings - DE 6-4 240 Rosebud, Texas (Lott)
Prentiss Elliott - FB 6-0 175 Tulsa, Okla. (TSST)
Mike Hamilton - TB 6-1 220 Melbourne, Fla. (Melbourne)
Stephen James - SS 5-11 185 Galena Park, Texas (North Shore)
John Johnson - FB 6-3 235 El Dorado, Ark. (El Dorado)
Roderick Johnson - LB 6-3 220 Galveston, Texas (Ball)
Philip Jones - WR 5-11 170 Denton, Texas (Ryan)
Seth Newton - WR 6-3 170 Girard, Kan. (Girard)
Jason Ricks - K 6-1 182 Round Rock, Texas (Westwood)
Walter Thomas - DL 6-5 340 Galveston, Texas (Ball HS)
Chris Simon - OL 6-5 330 Waller, Texas (Waller)
Martel Van Zant - CB 6-2 200 Tyler, Texas (Lee)
Justin Waller - TE 6-4 225 Ponca City, Okla. (Ponca City)
David Washington - OL 6-4 265 Guthrie, Okla. (Guthrie)
Awards & Recognition
Big 12 CONFERENCE HONORS
2004 BIG 12 ALL-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
OL - Sam Mayes (SR.) - Oklahoma State - Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch
DEFENSE
None
2004 BIG 12 ALL-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
RB - Vernand Morency (JR.) - Oklahoma State - Miami, Fla./Miami Northwestern
WR - D'Juan Woods (SO.) - Oklahoma State - Oklahoma City, Okla./Millwood
DEFENSE
None
2004 BIG 12 ALL-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION
Oklahoma State: Clay Coe, DL; Cole Farden, DB; Vernon Grant, P; Corey Hilliard, OL; Charlie Johnson, TE; Robert Jones, DB; Jamie Thompson, DB
2004 BIG 12 FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offensive Player
Sept. 06 - Vernand Morency, RB, OSU
Defensive Player
None
Special Teams Player
Sept. 13 - Antonio Perkins, PR, OU and Darrent Williams, PR, OSU
Sept. 20 - Darrent Williams, PR, OSU
Oct. 04 - Jason Ricks, PK, OSU
Oct. 11 - Cole Farden, P, OSU
Nov. 15 - Prentiss Elliott, KR, OSU
PRESEASON - NATIONAL
Bronko Nagurski Watch List
DB - Darrent Williams, Oklahoma State
Thorpe Watch List
DB - Darrent Williams, Oklahoma State
Butkus Award Watch List
LB - Paul Duren, Oklahoma State
2004 Biletnikoff Award Watch List
WR - D'Jaun Woods, Oklahoma State
2004 BIG 12 ALL-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
OL - Sam Mayes (SR.) - Oklahoma State - Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch
DEFENSE
None
2004 BIG 12 ALL-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
RB - Vernand Morency (JR.) - Oklahoma State - Miami, Fla./Miami Northwestern
WR - D'Juan Woods (SO.) - Oklahoma State - Oklahoma City, Okla./Millwood
DEFENSE
None
2004 BIG 12 ALL-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION
Oklahoma State: Clay Coe, DL; Cole Farden, DB; Vernon Grant, P; Corey Hilliard, OL; Charlie Johnson, TE; Robert Jones, DB; Jamie Thompson, DB
2004 BIG 12 FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offensive Player
Sept. 06 - Vernand Morency, RB, OSU
Defensive Player
None
Special Teams Player
Sept. 13 - Antonio Perkins, PR, OU and Darrent Williams, PR, OSU
Sept. 20 - Darrent Williams, PR, OSU
Oct. 04 - Jason Ricks, PK, OSU
Oct. 11 - Cole Farden, P, OSU
Nov. 15 - Prentiss Elliott, KR, OSU
PRESEASON - NATIONAL
Bronko Nagurski Watch List
DB - Darrent Williams, Oklahoma State
Thorpe Watch List
DB - Darrent Williams, Oklahoma State
Butkus Award Watch List
LB - Paul Duren, Oklahoma State
2004 Biletnikoff Award Watch List
WR - D'Jaun Woods, Oklahoma State
Historical Data
Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK) Founded in 1890
Football 1st Season: 1901
Stadium: Lewis (1920) 50,614 (Lewis Stadium is in the midst of a renovation project)
Conference: Big 12 Conference Member
Colors: Orange & Black
Mascots: Cowboy (Pistol Pete), additionally Spirit Rider and Bullet
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1939
Conference Championships: 0 from Big 12 (1996 to present), 1 total from Big 8 (1960-1995), 8 total from Missouri Valley Conference (1926-1956)
Head Coach: Les Miles Bio - OK State
Consensus All-Americans: 10 (as of 2000)
College Hall-of-Famers: 2
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 1
Award Winners: 1 Heisman, 1 Maxwell, 1 Walter Camp POY, 1 Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (AFCA)
National Championships: 0 Recognized Championships
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-7 years, Coaches-6 years
Stadium: Lewis (1920) 50,614 (Lewis Stadium is in the midst of a renovation project)
Conference: Big 12 Conference Member
Colors: Orange & Black
Mascots: Cowboy (Pistol Pete), additionally Spirit Rider and Bullet
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1939
Conference Championships: 0 from Big 12 (1996 to present), 1 total from Big 8 (1960-1995), 8 total from Missouri Valley Conference (1926-1956)
Head Coach: Les Miles Bio - OK State
Consensus All-Americans: 10 (as of 2000)
College Hall-of-Famers: 2
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 1
Award Winners: 1 Heisman, 1 Maxwell, 1 Walter Camp POY, 1 Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (AFCA)
National Championships: 0 Recognized Championships
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-7 years, Coaches-6 years
Records
All Time: 374-464-36 (.449) - [CFDW lists this at 471-492-48 (.489)]
Home 223-181-18 (.550), Away 142-277-18 (.346), Neutral 9-6-0 (.600)
Bowl Games: 10-5-0 (.666), most recently a loss to Mississippi (2004) in the Cotton Bowl
All Time vs the BigTen: 1-7-1 (.167)
All Time vs Ohio State: No games played.
This Season: Oklahoma State is currently 7-4-0 (.636)
W - UCLA (31-20)
W - Tulsa (38-21)
W - SMU (59-7)
W - Iowa State (36-7)
W - Colorado (42-14)
L - Texas A&M (20-36)
W - Missouri (20-17)
L - Oklahoma (35-38)
L - Texas (35-56)
W - Baylor (49-21)
L - Texas Tech (31-15)
? - versus Ohio State (Alamo Bowl)
Last Season: Oklahoma State finished 9-4-0 (.692)
L - Nebraska
W - Wyoming
W - Southwest Missouri State (non-1A)
W - Southern Methodist
W - Louisiana-Lafayette
W - Kansas State
W - Texas Tech
L - Oklahoma
L - Texas
W - Kansas
W - Baylor
L - Mississippi (Cotton Bowl)
Last 5 Years: 29-30-0 (.492)
Last 10 Years: 54-61-0 (.470)
Home 223-181-18 (.550), Away 142-277-18 (.346), Neutral 9-6-0 (.600)
Bowl Games: 10-5-0 (.666), most recently a loss to Mississippi (2004) in the Cotton Bowl
All Time vs the BigTen: 1-7-1 (.167)
All Time vs Ohio State: No games played.
This Season: Oklahoma State is currently 7-4-0 (.636)
W - UCLA (31-20)
W - Tulsa (38-21)
W - SMU (59-7)
W - Iowa State (36-7)
W - Colorado (42-14)
L - Texas A&M (20-36)
W - Missouri (20-17)
L - Oklahoma (35-38)
L - Texas (35-56)
W - Baylor (49-21)
L - Texas Tech (31-15)
? - versus Ohio State (Alamo Bowl)
Last Season: Oklahoma State finished 9-4-0 (.692)
L - Nebraska
W - Wyoming
W - Southwest Missouri State (non-1A)
W - Southern Methodist
W - Louisiana-Lafayette
W - Kansas State
W - Texas Tech
L - Oklahoma
L - Texas
W - Kansas
W - Baylor
L - Mississippi (Cotton Bowl)
Last 5 Years: 29-30-0 (.492)
Last 10 Years: 54-61-0 (.470)
Links
Official Sites:
Official School Site - Oklahoma State University-Stillwater
School Newspaper - Daily O'Collegian
Official Athletic Site - Big 12 Conference
Official Athletic Site - OKState
Team Roster - OKState
Coaching Staff - OKState
MasterCard Alamo Bowl - Official Alamo Bowl Site
Alamodome - Official Alamodome Site
Alamo Bowl Media Guide
Media Guide Cover Art (PDF) - 2004 Alamo Bowl Media Guide
Media Guide Pages 1-22 (PDF) - 2004 Alamo Bowl Media Guide
Media Guide Pages 23-64 (PDF) - 2004 Alamo Bowl Media Guide
Bowl Previews/Breakdowns:
2004 Alamo Bowl Preview - Big Ten
2004 Alamo Bowl Preview - CFN
2004 Alamo Bowl Preview - USA Today
Preseason Team Previews/Breakdowns:
Scout/Insiders Big 12 Preview - Scout/Insiders
Football Preview - Oklahoma State Cowboys - NationalChamps.com
Football Preview - Oklahoma State Cowboys - Sports Nutz
Oklahoma State 2004 Preview - CFN
Oklahoma State 2004 Offensive Preview - CFN
Oklahoma State 2004 Defensive Preview - CFN
Oklahoma State 2004 Inside Scoop - CFN
Oklahoma State 2004 Player Profile: Vernand Morency - CFN
Message Boards:
Message Boards - (Independent - O-State)
Message Boards - (Independent - O-State - Bowl Central)
Message Boards - (Scout/Insiders - Go Pokes)
Message Boards - (Rivals - OState)
Local News Sources:
Daily Oklahoman - Local News
Stillwater News-Press - Local News
Official School Site - Oklahoma State University-Stillwater
School Newspaper - Daily O'Collegian
Official Athletic Site - Big 12 Conference
Official Athletic Site - OKState
Team Roster - OKState
Coaching Staff - OKState
MasterCard Alamo Bowl - Official Alamo Bowl Site
Alamodome - Official Alamodome Site
Alamo Bowl Media Guide
Media Guide Cover Art (PDF) - 2004 Alamo Bowl Media Guide
Media Guide Pages 1-22 (PDF) - 2004 Alamo Bowl Media Guide
Media Guide Pages 23-64 (PDF) - 2004 Alamo Bowl Media Guide
Bowl Previews/Breakdowns:
2004 Alamo Bowl Preview - Big Ten
2004 Alamo Bowl Preview - CFN
2004 Alamo Bowl Preview - USA Today
Preseason Team Previews/Breakdowns:
Scout/Insiders Big 12 Preview - Scout/Insiders
Football Preview - Oklahoma State Cowboys - NationalChamps.com
Football Preview - Oklahoma State Cowboys - Sports Nutz
Oklahoma State 2004 Preview - CFN
Oklahoma State 2004 Offensive Preview - CFN
Oklahoma State 2004 Defensive Preview - CFN
Oklahoma State 2004 Inside Scoop - CFN
Oklahoma State 2004 Player Profile: Vernand Morency - CFN
Message Boards:
Message Boards - (Independent - O-State)
Message Boards - (Independent - O-State - Bowl Central)
Message Boards - (Scout/Insiders - Go Pokes)
Message Boards - (Rivals - OState)
Local News Sources:
Daily Oklahoman - Local News
Stillwater News-Press - Local News
Note: Statistical data was complied using a variety of sources, including:
Stassen (Chris Stassen) - Data
College Football Data Warehouse - Data
Two Cousins College Football Emporium - Data
American College Football-RSFC (Dave Wilson) - Data
D1A Football (Formerly WALJ 10 College Football) - Data
National Champs.net - Data
Hickok Sports - Data
Link to Part I of the 2004 Alamo Bowl - Oklahoma State Cowboys Game Preview Offensive & Defensive Previews