JimBob
03-16-2008, 08:25 AM
OSU Football Notebook: The first one
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
3/16/2008
During a 7-on-7 drill that preceded Friday's scrimmage, Oklahoma State wide receiver Artrell Woods collected a 15-yard pass. Offensive players are clad in orange practice jerseys, but Woods wore a green one. A green jersey designates that the wearer is not to be hit.
After Woods made the catch, safety James Thomas instinctively reacted by belting Woods in the back and onto the Boone Pickens Stadium turf.
Woods bounced up and trotted downfield, apparently unaffected. It was a significant moment -- the first time Woods had been hit since sustaining a spinal injury in July.
"Rob (head athletic trainer Rob Hunt) came over and said, 'You got your first hit!' " Woods said. "We both laughed about it."
After Woods was injured, the immediate concern was whether he would walk again. Now, the expectation of Woods and coaches is that he will play this year.
"I want to be in an orange jersey, but I am in a green jersey. It's a lot of frustration for me. I feel like I can't be myself. When I get out there, I treat it like I'm going to get hit. It doesn't bother me."
"There's no doubt that I'm going to get there. I pray about it all the time."
Before the injury, Woods was timed at 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He says he now would probably run a 4.6.
"That's what I'm working on now -- to regain that speed," Woods said. "With strength, I'm OK. I'm on point. I'm where I need to be."
Comfort level: During the last two seasons, Adarius Bowman was OSU's busiest wide receiver. With Bowman having exhausted his eligibility, sophomore Dez Bryant is positioned to become the go-to guy for quarterback Zac Robinson.
In OSU's final two games of the 2007 season (the loss at Oklahoma and Insight Bowl victory over Indiana), Bryant had a combined total of 14 catches for 183 yards.
"He's playing a lot harder when he doesn't have the ball in his hands," Robinson said of Bryant. "He's a lot smarter and knows the offense a lot better. I think he has progressed a lot.
"I've been comfortable with him ever since he got on campus."
Break time: Following Friday's scrimmage, the Cowboys scattered for a week-long spring break.
OSU's next practice is set for March 25, and its next open scrimmage is scheduled for March 28 at 3:30 p.m.
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
3/16/2008
During a 7-on-7 drill that preceded Friday's scrimmage, Oklahoma State wide receiver Artrell Woods collected a 15-yard pass. Offensive players are clad in orange practice jerseys, but Woods wore a green one. A green jersey designates that the wearer is not to be hit.
After Woods made the catch, safety James Thomas instinctively reacted by belting Woods in the back and onto the Boone Pickens Stadium turf.
Woods bounced up and trotted downfield, apparently unaffected. It was a significant moment -- the first time Woods had been hit since sustaining a spinal injury in July.
"Rob (head athletic trainer Rob Hunt) came over and said, 'You got your first hit!' " Woods said. "We both laughed about it."
After Woods was injured, the immediate concern was whether he would walk again. Now, the expectation of Woods and coaches is that he will play this year.
"I want to be in an orange jersey, but I am in a green jersey. It's a lot of frustration for me. I feel like I can't be myself. When I get out there, I treat it like I'm going to get hit. It doesn't bother me."
"There's no doubt that I'm going to get there. I pray about it all the time."
Before the injury, Woods was timed at 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He says he now would probably run a 4.6.
"That's what I'm working on now -- to regain that speed," Woods said. "With strength, I'm OK. I'm on point. I'm where I need to be."
Comfort level: During the last two seasons, Adarius Bowman was OSU's busiest wide receiver. With Bowman having exhausted his eligibility, sophomore Dez Bryant is positioned to become the go-to guy for quarterback Zac Robinson.
In OSU's final two games of the 2007 season (the loss at Oklahoma and Insight Bowl victory over Indiana), Bryant had a combined total of 14 catches for 183 yards.
"He's playing a lot harder when he doesn't have the ball in his hands," Robinson said of Bryant. "He's a lot smarter and knows the offense a lot better. I think he has progressed a lot.
"I've been comfortable with him ever since he got on campus."
Break time: Following Friday's scrimmage, the Cowboys scattered for a week-long spring break.
OSU's next practice is set for March 25, and its next open scrimmage is scheduled for March 28 at 3:30 p.m.