Oklahoma State Offense Enters 2025 with Just One Returning Starter

The Oklahoma State Cowboys offense has experienced a massive amount of turnover from last year’s team, which didn’t win a Big 12 game.

Here was how the Oklahoma State offense ranked last season in FBS:

Points per game: 27.2 (No. 74)

Rushing yards per game: 111.8 (No. 114)

Passing yards per game: 262.3 (No. 30)

Total yards per game: 374.0 (No. 80).

Offensive coordinator Doug Meachem — who did great things in his first stint at TCU last decade — is now tasked with figuring out how to get the Cowboys to produce with just one returning starter.

Here are three offensive players to keep an eye on for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

QB Zane Flores (we think)

One says “we think” because Flores is locked in a battle with TCU transfer Hauss Hejny to be the starting quarterback. Chances are their battle will bleed into the regular season.

He is green. Last year, he didn’t play in a game and received a medical hardship waiver after he suffered an injury. In 2023, he redshirted. So, the Cowboys really don’t know what they have in Flores, aside from what they’ve seen in practice and with him running the scout team in 2023.

What was he before Oklahoma State? He was the 2023 MaxPreps Nebraska Player of the Year, who led Gretna High to a Class A state championship game and threw for 3,117 yards and 31 touchdowns. He was also a two-time all-state selection.

If he’s that in this offense, then the Cowboys’ chances really get a boost. But it’s a lot to ask from a third-year collegiate who hasn’t taken a live snap.

TE Josh Ford

The receiving room is brand-new. Heck, the entire offense is brand new — except for Ford. He’s the only returning starter.

The Cowboys got the Stillwater High product to stay home, and he was good enough to earn significant playing time as a true freshman. He only caught 10 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown, but he played in all 12 games and proved to be a solid blocker.

The Cowboys are building a wide receiver room through holdovers with little experience and the transfer portal. Ford could give Flores — or the starting quarterback — the security blanket he needs early in the season.

LT Markell Samuel

Coach Mike Gundy said at Big 12 Media Days that there were eight starting spots on his team where he didn’t have a clear idea who would start. Samuell is the projected left tackle, but Lindy’s didn’t even have a jersey number next to him on the depth chart in June.

So why him? Well, he’s entering his sixth year of college football. He played all of it at Appalachian State, which is one of the best programs in the Sun Belt Conference. He was an all-conference honorable mention pick last year who started in 11 games. He’s played every game for the Mountaineers the past two seasons.

The Cowboys are lacking experience on the offensive line. If you believe lineup projections, he and right guard Bob Schick will be the only senior starters. Plus, Samuel must handle the quarterback’s blind side (unless one of these quarterbacks is a lefty).

Oh, his jersey number is 70, by the way.