Quarterback Daxx Garman
In his first five games of the season, all wins, Garman passed for 10 touchdowns against five interceptions. However, in his last three games, all losses, Garman has thrown just one touchdown pass compared to a whopping six picks. The most obvious reason for this turnaround is that none of his first five opponents are currently above .500, while his last three foes are all at least 6-4. Regardless, Garman has shown flashes of brilliance, although he has yet to do it against a quality defense. That doesn’t bode well for him this week against a Texas defense that leads the Big 12 in passing yards per game, limiting opponents to just 184.4.
Running back Desmond Roland
Roland has seen a considerable drop in production from last season. After averaging 4.6 yards per carry in 2013, he’s managed just 3.9 yards per carry this year and is on pace for a major dip in rushing yardage and touchdowns. Still, he’s Oklahoma State’s most dangerous back. He leads the team with 512 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, and he’s rushed for at least 84 yards in five of the seven games he’s played in this season. But, a year ago, Texas held Roland in check for the most part, limiting him to just 59 yards on 19 carries. Considering Oklahoma State’s recent struggles in the passing game, the Cowboys would certainly welcome a strong performance from their senior running back this week.
Wide receiver David Glidden
Despite his small 5-foot-7-inch, 185-pound frame, Glidden has emerged as Oklahoma State’s go-to receiver this season. He leads the Cowboys with 31 receptions for 419 yards, and he already has five games with at least four catches. Glidden hasn’t proven to be much of a scoring threat — he’s only scored one touchdown this season — but he’ll likely receive a considerable number of targets. Still, he’s yet to top the 100-yard receiving plateau in his career, and that streak is likely to continue this against Texas’ stout pass defense.
Kicker Ben Grogan
Grogan has arguably been Oklahoma State’s most consistent player this season. He’s perfect on extra point attempts at 28-for-28, and he’s nailed 18-of-23 field goal tries so far. He’s been automatic inside 29 yards, having gone 6-for-6, but his most impressive stat is his 4-of-6 mark from beyond 40 yards. He’s been especially good since the start of conference play, going 10-for-12 on field goals and 3-for-3 beyond 40 yards in his first six Big 12 games. If this game comes down to the final possession, the Cowboys should feel confident having Grogan attempt a potential game-winning kick, a luxury the Longhorns don’t have.
