Dez Bryant came on strong late in his freshman season and caught nine passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns in the Insight Bowl. Bryant will lead a group of talented but inexperienced Cowboy receivers.
From Hart Lee Dykes to Rashaun Woods to Adarius Bowman, OSU football has seemingly always had an All-American wide receiver to get the ball.
This year’s go-to guy comes is sophomore Dez Bryant.
Bryant had 43 catches for 622 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman last year and will take the Cowboy receiving unit on his shoulders from the first snap.
Despite the high expectations, Bryant said the talent of his teammates helps relieve some of the demand on him.
“It’s not a lot of pressure at all because we have a whole bunch of receivers,” Bryant said. “All of them can make plays and that will open it up.”
Although Oklahoma State may be short on experience at the receiver position, there is certainly no shortage of talent.
Juniors Jeremy Broadway, DeMarcus Conner and transfer Bo Bowling will be asked to help lead the slew of young receivers.
Redshirt freshman Josh Cooper and sophomores Artrell Woods and Hubert Anyiam are talented enough to compete for starting spots.
Receiver and kick returner William Cole, however, will miss the 2008 season after tearing his ACL in a preseason practice.
Co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer said the coaching staff wastes no time tossing their young receivers into the fire.
“If you come into our offense as a receiver, you’ve got to be ready to go,” Brewer said. “That’s what makes it fun to play in a no-huddle, fast-paced deal where we sling the ball around at any time.”
The Cowboys will swap plenty of receivers, but there is no doubt who coach Mike Gundy’s No. 1 option is – the guy with the No. 1 on his jersey.
“Dez is the returning guy that has had the most experience and has played the most in big games,” Gundy said.
That might be a lot of pressure for an ordinary receiver, but Bryant is no ordinary receiver and said he thrives off the pressure.
“I feel like that should be a true sophomore’s dream,” Bryant said. “To go out there and play to his full potential.”
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