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The Oklahoma State football team landed a midseason addition to the quarterback room amid recent setbacks. Mike Gundy has turned to a former FCS star that hasn’t played in over a year.
Noah Walters will join the roster to add depth and experience in the QB room. The news comes following an injury to starter Hauss Hejny.
The Cowboys have no proven passers on the roster. The rotation has become thinner with Hejny going down in Game 1. The school is now taking a chance in an unconventional way in hopes of providing both production and leadership.
Oklahoma State football needs help at quarterback.
Hejny unexpectedly exited the season opener. His void was filled by freshman Zane Flores, who was 7/19 with 67 yards and two interceptions in a loss to Oregon.
The Cowboys desperately lack experience under center.
Entering the year, the four passers on the roster combined for four appearances, no starts, and zero passing attempts. Converted wideout Sam Jackson has spent the most time at the position, having started and won three games as a quarterback at Cal.
Jackson was the emergency quarterback in the team’s most recent outing. He was not called upon, but the fact that his entry was a possibility was concerning. The coaching staff came to the realization that adding another signal caller was necessary.
Enter Walters.
Noah Walters shined at North Alabama.
Walters brings both a veteran presence and proven production. He spent two seasons with the Lions, throwing for 4,145 yards and 40 touchdowns.
He was named the ASUN Freshman of the Year in 2022, as well as a Jerry Rice Award Finalist (FCS Freshman of the Year).
Walters entered the portal after his sophomore year. He took himself out of a starting role and into a year without football.
The quarterback transferred to UCF. He was not a member of the football team. Despite the year off, Mike Gundy is taking a chance.
Walters has reportedly been on campus for a few weeks. He officially joined the roster on Wednesday. His position on the depth chart is unclear, though it doesn’t seem likely that he’ll be thrust into the QB1 job.
Interestingly enough, he was a high school rival of current starter Zane Flores. That relationship might’ve aided in his recruitment to Stillwater.
Walters will still need to learn the playbook, though it helps that he’s been practicing with the group since early September. Oklahoma State’s next football opponent is Tulsa. We’ll see if the Cowboys have a few packages for Noah Walters.
Whether he gets into the game or not won’t be the biggest priority. Gundy has called upon his new veteran to lead his quarterbacks out of the mud.