Transparency as a Strategic Tool
Eric Morris, the newly appointed head coach of the Oklahoma State football program, has taken an unusual step by laying out the competition for starting positions just days into the first week of workouts.
His willingness to discuss who may or may not earn a spot on the field, from quarterback to running back, stands in stark contrast to the secrecy that typically surrounds such decisions for new coaches.
The context is a program that finished last season 1‑11, prompting the university to dismiss its previous head coach, Mike Gundy, and embark on a massive rebuild that includes nearly 90 transfers, about 20 of whom came from Morris’s former post at North Texas.
With only 13 letterwinners returning, the roster is essentially new, and Morris has made it clear that no position is locked in based on past affiliations.
He has already identified Drew Mestemaker as the quarterback who will start, and Caleb Hawkins as the primary running back, while noting that LaDainian Fields, a returning cornerback, will face competition for his spot.
The coach also highlighted the emergence of freshmen receivers such as Jabarie Thornton and Dayvon Standard, who are getting reps alongside veteran players, and emphasized that the backfield will likely be shared among several backs.
Morris’s approach, which blends transparency with a clear message to both the media and the players, aims to foster a competitive environment that could translate into better on‑field performance and a renewed fan interest ahead of the first scrimmage.