GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: The Oklahoma State run game must continue to produce to provide balance for an offense quarterbacked by a first-year starter, Taylor Cornelius. Iowa State poses problems, however, for RB Justice Hill and company, with the 3.2-yard average the Cyclones have allowed per carry. S Greg Eisworth leads the Cyclones with an 11.5 tackling average, while LB Willie Harvey (9.5) has been dependable too. Hill is coming off a 189-yard rushing performance at Kansas as the Oklahoma State staff renewed its emphasis on giving him more touches while recognizing the receiving corps was thin.
DRAFT SLANT
–DE Jordan Brailford has been limited by nagging injuries throughout much of his time at Oklahoma State but as a healthy contributor, the junior has become one of the most disruptive defenders, leading the Big 12 in sacks after recording three in the win at Kansas. He has become versatile enough to move around on the line in some situations, causing difficulties for blockers. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, he has the strength and quickness to get looks from the NFL and could be a 2019 draft candidate if he continues this level of production.
ROSTER REPORT
–OT Arlington Hambright was injured on Oklahoma State’s first offensive series at Kansas. OG Shane Richards moved to right tackle when Hambright went out, while OT Teven Jenkins played on the left side. Jenkins had not practiced at that spot and practiced sparingly before the Kansas game because of a slight injury.
–WR Patrick McKaufman and WR Tracin Wallace were withheld from the Kansas game because of injuries, thinning the Cowboys’ receiving corps even more following the decision by Jalen McCleskey to transfer after the senior played in the first four games.
–DT Darrion Daniels and LB Calvin Bundage each missed the win at Kansas with injuries. Another defender, S Malcolm Rodriguez, was also missing from the starting lineup and played sparingly.
–S Jarrick Bernard and S Kolby Peel saw extensive action because of Rodriguez’s injury. S Thabo Mwaniki also was rotated into the secondary. CB A.J. Green left the Kansas game in the second half.
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