Oklahoma State 2023 Position Group Recap: Wide Receivers
After beating Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl 31-23, the 2023 season has officially come to an end for Oklahoma State.
In a year full of the unexpected, the Cowboys found a way to win 10 games and play for a conference title. The wide receiver room in particular experienced a bit of a shift over the course of the year, and De'Zhaun Stribling's injury only further added to that.
Still, as a whole, the wide receiver corps was very solid this year. Without wasting any more time, let's take a look at how Oklahoma State's top receivers performed this season.
Overall Recap: They Stepped Up When Opportunity Came Knocking On The Door
The position group that saw some of the most production turnover on the entire team over the offseason ended up being one of the best units on the team. With the losses in the transfer portal as well as the injuries at the beginning of the season, some of the most productive pass catchers in 2023 received a much larger workload than initially expected.
Brennan Presley: B+
Brennan Presley led Oklahoma State in receiving yards for the second year in a row. He caught 101 passes for 991 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 9.8 yards per reception. Presley was given plenty of touches, having nearly 40 more receptions than any other receiver. He would have gotten an A, but due to his low yards per reception average, he was given a B+.
Rashod Owens: A-
Although Owens finished with fewer yards than Presley, whenever he got the ball, he made the most of it. He finished the season with 63 catches, 895 yards, and five touchdowns, averaging 14.2 yards per catch, numbers that he did not come close to last year, only having six catches for 85 yards. He made the most of the opportunities he was given, and he ended up being one of Oklahoma State's top receivers.
He had plenty of explosive plays, and he dominated at the catch point. I loved what Rashod Owens was able to do this year, and with his return in 2024, Cowboy fans have a lot to be excited about going into next year.
Leon Johnson: B
Leon Johnson's story is an inspiring one, to say the least. Transferring to Oklahoma State from a Division III school and producing right away is not easy to do, but Johnson adapted and ended up having a very solid season. He finished with 33 catches for 539 yards and a touchdown. Johnson also led the team in yards per catch at 16.3.
Johnson played with a ton of physicality and used his size well. He was not utilized much early in the season, but he had a breakout performance against Cincinnati in late October with 149 yards on five catches.
Unfortunately, Johnson is out of eligibility and will not return to the Pokes next season. It is sad to see him go, but he will be remembered by the Oklahoma State faithful as a program guy who was willing to step up when needed.
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