Okay State’s Gordon won’t miss out on time after arrest

• Pete Thamel, ESPNJul 9, 2024

, 02:19 PM ET LAS VEGAS– Oklahoma State All-America running back Ollie Gordon II will not miss out on any playing time in the wake of his recent DUI arrest, according to Cowboys coach Mike Gundy.Gordon, the Huge 12’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the impact on the morning of June 30. Gundy stressed that Gordon was fortunate that neither he nor no one else was injured.”He’s going to play,” Gundy told ESPN on Tuesday.”I’m going to do what we believe is best for Oklahoma State football. And I think it’s best for Ollie to play. If there’s any punishment, it’s making him carry the ball 50 times in the very first game.”Gordon, 20, released an official apology Monday and said Tuesday that he couldn’t elaborate on specifics since of legal reasons. The choice to bring Gordon to Big 12 media day in the wake of the arrest was a surprising one, but Gundy said that Gordon is on a”much shorter leash”moving forward which accountability of addressing questions for his mistake was part of the knowing process.Editor’s Picks 2 Related “Your punishment is going to be facing the realities

,”Gundy said he told Gordon.”That’s why we brought him here today.”Gundy added that he told Gordon that things are different in college football than 5 years ago, with athletes”basically staff members “now.”I stated,’ You’re not going into hiding. You’re going to face the music, you’re going to need to stand up

and talk to people and address concerns. And, ideally, more than football, you can learn from the scenario you have actually been in,'”Gundy stated. “Because if not, then we have a real issue.” Gundy included that his first reaction upon hearing about the situation was asking if anybody got injured.”

Ollie is very fortunate that he was able to get out of that situation without anybody getting hurt,

“Gundy said.Gordon stated that he has actually a meeting set up in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with Gundy upon return from media days.

“Whatever he chooses,”Gordon stated in referral to penalty,”I back it a hundred percent.

“Oklahoma State opens the season with South Dakota State, the two-time protecting FCS champion, and hosts Arkansas the following week. Oklahoma State is amongst the favorites in the Huge 12, as it returns 20 starters, including Gordon, from a group that reached the Huge 12 title game.Oklahoma State likewise is a serious competitor for the College Football Playoff, which expands to 12 teams this year.

Oklahoma State has appeared in the CFP rankings 43 times given that they began in 2014, and just Utah(44) has actually appeared more times without reaching the four-team playoff.Gordon, a junior from Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the faces of the sport in 2024, having actually earned the Doak Walker Award for

the country’s leading tailback. He ended up seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting and earned consentaneous All-America honors. He ended up 2023 with 1,732 lawns hurrying and 21 rushing goals. He added 330 getting lawns and an extra getting touchdown.”He’s on a much shorter leash right now, sadly,”Gundy stated. “Because I understand youths, we all make errors.

If we do not gain from those, then it’s not truly good. We’ve had a number of discussions. We’ll have more over the next month. I believe that he comprehends how severe that situation was. Ideally he can learn from it and move on. “ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and Kyle Bonagura added to this report.