The Daily O’Collegian

For the second straight year, Oklahoma State has witnessed a season-ending injury to a member of its receiving corps.

William Cole, a sophomore wide receiver, suffered a torn ACL in Wednesday’s practice and will not take part in the 2008 football season for the Cowboys, coach Mike Gundy said.

“We certainly miss Will,” Gundy said. “Will gave us a dimension of speed and maturity and was making plays for us, but we’ve got a lot of guys who can make plays.”

Cole caught two passes his freshman season, but played in only six games. Cole switched from the defensive backfield to the offensive side of the ball midseason.

Because he played as a true freshman this past year, Cole will be able to redshirt and retain three more years of eligibility rather than applying for a medical hardship.

Gundy said although losing Cole will hurt, the team has a number of other receivers ready to step up and contribute.

“Our routine hasn’t changed,” Gundy said. “William was rotating in with the ones and twos at the Z receiver, and now it will be DeMarcus Conner and [Artrell Woods].”

Prior to the start of the 2007 season, Woods suffered a near-paralyzing back injury and had surgery to repair two displaced vertebrae.

Woods and Cole often play the same position, providing an over-the-top threat and the speed to stretch the opposing defense.

Both players were coming off promising offseasons before suffering their respective injuries.

Fellow receiver Jeremy Broadway said that while seeing their teammates getting hurt might weigh in the back of the players’ minds, they have to push through it.

“As friends and as teammates, it’s going to have some kind of effect, but the game has still gotta go on,” Broadway said. “We will still continue to practice and go out there and play.”

Cole was also going to be one of the Cowboys’ designated kickoff returners for the upcoming season.

Gundy said Cole’s injury leaves the door open for several players, including Perrish Cox, Travis Miller and Dez Bryant to compete for the two kickoff return spots.

“We’re gonna work that out in the next seven days and have that solidified by next Tuesday,” Gundy said. “But [Cole] was going to be a returner.”

Bryant, who has been returning both punts and kickoffs in preseason practices, said Cole was looking forward to a breakthrough season before the devastating injury.

“It makes a big difference that he’s not out there because during the whole summer and training camp, he was ready and he was fired up,” Bryant said. “He was anxious to play like the rest of us.”

Cole will have surgery on the ligament within the next several days and will likely not be able to participate in any drills until spring.

Broadway said all Cole can do for now is improve in the classroom and prepare himself mentally for the day he is able to step back onto the field.

“Will will be alright; he’s got to keep his spirits up and continue to do things like going to class and coming to the meetings,” Broadway said. “The game is gonna go on, and as receivers we are going to play through him and play for him.”