The Oklahoma State Cowboys are ready to take on the 2008 season with the addition of a few new faces to an already powerful tight end position.
Starting at tight end is senior Brandon Pettigrew. At 6’6’’ and 260 pounds, Pettigrew comes back from an All-Big 12 season in 2007.
He was named to the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, given to the nation’s top lineman.
Pettigrew’s four touchdown receptions last season included a 39-yarder in the fourth quarter against Kansas State that helped lead the Cowboys to a 41-39 victory, and another 54-yard game winner against Texas Tech.
With a career average of 14 yards per catch, Pettigrew comes into the season as the 21st player in OSU history with 1,000 career receiving yards and is ranked 22nd all-time in receptions at OSU (70).
Sophomore receiver Dez Bryant said opposing defenses have to respect Pettigrew’s talent.
“They know that he’s a playmaker,” Bryant said.
The No. 2 man behind Pettigrew on the roster is 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman Wilson Youman.
Youman was a defensive standout his senior year at Martinville High School in Louisiana, only catching seven passes for 150 yards and five touchdowns.
Tight ends coach Doug Meacham gains even more help from this year’s recruiting class with the signing of three talented freshmen, including Oklahoman Cooper Bassett.
At Tuttle High School, Bassett played both tight end and defensive end.
He was an All-State defensive end, as selected by Oklahoma high school coaches; he recorded 16 catches for 195 yards as a tight end, and 60 tackles with 10 sacks as a defensive end his senior season.
Also among the true freshmen tight ends is 6-foot-4, 220-pound Justin Horton from Henderson High School in Texas.
Texas Football Magazine ranked Horton as one of the top 10 tight ends in the state.
As a senior, Horton caught 32 balls for 438 yards and five touchdowns, earning him a spot on the All-East Texas team.
Pettigrew said the backup tight ends will be able to contribute for OSU.
“They definitely have the capability and the athletic ability and the smarts to get in there and play,” Pettigrew said.
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