“Last year around this time, I was just a little sophomore nobody knew about,” Gordon said. “Now I’m a junior that everybody knows about.” Gordon’s humility might be kicking in a bit there.
He rushed for 308 yards and averaged 4.9 per carry as a freshman the season before, so he wasn’t a complete unknown. He certainly wasn’t the nationally recognized name he is today that gets included in everything from Heisman discussions to NFL draft projections.
Gordon is just one of many Cowboy stars who put together breakout performances last fall. Linebacker Nick Martin recorded 15 tackles in 2022 while playing mostly special teams before leading the Cowboys with 140 in 2023. A dozen football players named the players that would surprise Oklahoma State fans this fall.
Only four Cowboys got mentioned more than once. The shortlist includes a true freshman, two transfers from opposite ends of the college football spectrum and one young Cowboy patiently waiting his turn to shine. RB Sesi Vailahi Depth chart: 2nd team RB 2023 stats: six carries for 27 yards, two receptions for 12 yards Years at OSU: 2nd The redshirt freshman was the most popular answer among Cowboys polled, earning recognition from teammates on both sides of the ball.
“We already know that he can play,” OSU safety Lyrik Rawls said. “But he just ain’t got the chance to play yet. I feel like once he gets the chance to get in he’s gonna show out.
” For much of the spring, it felt like Vailahi wouldn�.