Eric Morris arrived in Stillwater with a reputation forged at North Texas, where he guided the Mean Green to a 12‑win season before making the move to the Big 12. His first task is to reverse a 19‑game slide against conference opponents that has plagued the Cowboys since their last title game appearance.
A New Era in Stillwater
The roster reflects a massive overhaul, with 87 newcomers joining 25 veterans. Texas leads the home‑state contingent with 40 players, while former North Texas assistants largely followed Morris from Denton to Stillwater, bringing continuity to the staff.
On offense, quarterback Drew Mestemaker is expected to spearhead the attack after a breakout year at North Texas, where he showed NFL‑draft potential. He will lean on running back Caleb Hawkins, a 6‑foot‑2 freshman who set an NCAA record with 29 touchdowns as a rookie, and wide receiver Wyatt Young, who ranked third nationally in receiving yards last season.
The receiving corps also welcomes Illinois transfer Justin Bowick, who is projected to become a deep threat, while rookie quarterback Broderick Vehrs battles UMass transfer Grant Jordan for the backup role behind Mestemaker.
Defensively, the line will feature Iman Oates, a 6‑foot‑3, 317‑pound lineman who returned to OSU after a legal clearance, and fifth‑year linebacker Ethan Wesloski, who topped North Texas in tackles and brings leadership to the front seven.
Special teams will rely on kicker Sam Keltner, who converted 14 of 20 field goals and 36 of 38 extra points as a redshirt freshman at SMU, while returning specialist Quinton Hammonds, a former Allen High School standout, is slated to start at safety.
The schedule adds further intrigue: the season opens at home against West Virginia on September 26, followed by a showdown with Oregon on September 12 that pits the Cowboys against the preseason No. 2 Ducks. Later, Deion Sanders and Colorado will visit Stillwater for the university’s annual Homecoming on October 24, and the Big 12 opener against UCF will take place on October 10.