JimBob
01-01-2008, 08:58 AM
Bryant tops off a big rookie season
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
1/1/2008
His two touchdown grabs against Indiana were the most by an OSU receiver in a bowl.
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The T-shirt Adarius Bowman wore Monday night after Oklahoma State's 49-33 Insight Bowl victory over Indiana spoke volumes.
On the front it read, "Freak Time, Show Time." On the back, the message was "O-State Receivers, 2 Hot to Handle."
Bowman usually was too hot to handle in his two-year OSU career.
But in the Insight Bowl, Bowman played a secondary role to freshman receiver Dez Bryant.
Consider the torch officially passed from Bowman to Bryant.
Bryant was Zac Robinson's go-to guy. He had a game-high nine receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns. The two TD grabs were the most by an OSU receiver in a bowl game.
"When Dez knows the ball is coming to him, he is a pretty good player," OSU coach Mike Gundy said.
Bowman returned to the lineup Monday after missing the last two games of the regular season with a knee injury.
But, even with Bowman healthy again, the staff was prepared for Bryant to play a big role.
"We knew we would have some one-on-one opportunities we could take advantage of with him," Robinson said. "He is a great player. We saw him have blowout type games against K-State and KU. But tonight was his best. He can play with the best of them."
Bryant was described by his teammates as a "freak" all season for his ability to make difficult catches look routine.
The freshman made a diving 24-yard catch in the first quarter and added an 11-yard leaping TD catch in the third quarter.
But his last catch was one for the highlight reels.
Late in the fourth, Bryant outjumped Indiana cornerback Tracy Porter, bobbled the ball, cradled it near his torso and hit the turf for a 30-yard grab at the Hoosiers' 3-yard line.
He finished the year with 43 catches for 622 yards and six touchdowns to cap the best freshman receiving season ever at OSU.
"He had no clue what we were doing in August," OSU receivers coach Gunter Brewer said. "Since he's picked up the offense, he has been outstanding."
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
1/1/2008
His two touchdown grabs against Indiana were the most by an OSU receiver in a bowl.
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The T-shirt Adarius Bowman wore Monday night after Oklahoma State's 49-33 Insight Bowl victory over Indiana spoke volumes.
On the front it read, "Freak Time, Show Time." On the back, the message was "O-State Receivers, 2 Hot to Handle."
Bowman usually was too hot to handle in his two-year OSU career.
But in the Insight Bowl, Bowman played a secondary role to freshman receiver Dez Bryant.
Consider the torch officially passed from Bowman to Bryant.
Bryant was Zac Robinson's go-to guy. He had a game-high nine receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns. The two TD grabs were the most by an OSU receiver in a bowl game.
"When Dez knows the ball is coming to him, he is a pretty good player," OSU coach Mike Gundy said.
Bowman returned to the lineup Monday after missing the last two games of the regular season with a knee injury.
But, even with Bowman healthy again, the staff was prepared for Bryant to play a big role.
"We knew we would have some one-on-one opportunities we could take advantage of with him," Robinson said. "He is a great player. We saw him have blowout type games against K-State and KU. But tonight was his best. He can play with the best of them."
Bryant was described by his teammates as a "freak" all season for his ability to make difficult catches look routine.
The freshman made a diving 24-yard catch in the first quarter and added an 11-yard leaping TD catch in the third quarter.
But his last catch was one for the highlight reels.
Late in the fourth, Bryant outjumped Indiana cornerback Tracy Porter, bobbled the ball, cradled it near his torso and hit the turf for a 30-yard grab at the Hoosiers' 3-yard line.
He finished the year with 43 catches for 622 yards and six touchdowns to cap the best freshman receiving season ever at OSU.
"He had no clue what we were doing in August," OSU receivers coach Gunter Brewer said. "Since he's picked up the offense, he has been outstanding."