OSU’s Gundy has ‘our guy’ and it’s not ex-UH QB Brown

If Oklahoma State has already anointed somebody else as “our guy” at quarterback, then what might that make soon-to-arrive Dru Brown?

While we await the opening of the University of Hawaii’s own quarterback succession, a drama that begins unfolding here July 27, there is already a compelling spin-off developing 3,760 miles distant in Stillwater, Okla., where the high stakes gamble of Brown’s career is soon to take place.

That’s where Brown, who deigned to walk away from a third year as a starter at UH to chase the possibility of the OSU job, finds himself in the “among other candidates” pool.

What appeared to be a wide-open race to succeed four-year starter and Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft pick Mason Rudolph at OSU suddenly didn’t sound so wide Tuesday. Head coach Mike Gundy captured headlines at Big 12 Conference Media Day acknowledging fifth-year senior Taylor Cornelius, Rudolph’s backup, as “our guy” at the quarterback position.

“When we came out of spring we felt very comfortable with Taylor, so certainly going into August he’s our guy. He’s been with us a number of years,” Gundy told reporters. “He understands our offense. We’re confident in his abilities.”

It was a significant declaration by Gundy, especially given the timing. And, as such, one that many coaches with fluid pictures at the quarterback position, including UH’s Nick Rolovich, avoid until well into camp if for no other reasons than to heighten competition and discourage 11th-hour departures.

History tells us that the quarterback order can change, of course, should Cornelius do a sudden belly flop, Brown quickly ascend or if there is an injury the lineup shifts. But going in the pole position is apparently Cornelius’ with Brown and four-star prize freshman recruit Spencer Sanders having ground to make up as soon as they hit camp.

Brown is uber competitive and for all that he invested in his two-year stay at UH, you hope his goal of starting — and starring — at the Power Five conference level is realized.

As Brown told the Oklahoman newspaper last month, “I’m going in there with the mind-set to compete, to start. That’s not why I left Hawaii, to sit on the bench. I’m coming there to play. To my knowledge, they’re gonna give me a fair shot to compete for the job, and that’s all I can really ask for.”

This isn’t the first time that Brown has had to beat out a projected starter for a quarterback job, but the urgency is much increased this-go-around.

When Brown arrived at UH in 2016 out of the College of San Mateo he had to beat out incumbent Ikaika Woolsey and eventually did, getting his first start in the fifth game of the season. But, back then, he had four years in which to complete three remaining seasons of eligibility. In Stillwater he will be a graduate transfer looking to play a lot and soon.

“I’ve basically been doing everything I can within the rules to make sure I’m as prepared as I can be when I get there,” Brown told the Oklahoman before Gundy’s announcement. “I can’t get there fast enough. The hardest part about this whole thing is being patient with it.”

Come the start of Cowboys’ camp, Brown’s production becomes job one if he is to make his graduate year gamble pay off.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.