Oklahoma State Football: End of Season Report Card for the Cowboys

The Oklahoma State Cowboys' season has come to an end. It has been an historic one, and now it is time to step back and take stock of where the program is and how well it did in 2011-12.

Historic might be understating the season's importance. The team won 12 games for the first time in school history and won its first outright Big 12 championship.

A great season has ended. Let's see how the Cowboys stacked up.

Offense

Grade: A+

Many weren't sure if the Cowboys could reproduce the offense they'd had the season before after offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen left for West Virginia. Todd Monken came in and kept a great thing going strong.

Those three guys pictured were a huge part of that success.

Brandon Weeden threw for 4,727 yards, completing 72 percent of his passes and scoring 38 total touchdowns. Weeden set school records in all those categories.

Joseph Randle rushed for 1,216 yards and 24 touchdowns. He wasn't able to reproduce Kendall Hunter's 1,500 yards from last year, but with the yards of backups Jeremy Smith and Herschel Sims the trio had nearly 2,100 yards rushing.

Justin Blackmon caught 121 passes 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns. He averaged 12.6 yards per catch and won a second straight Biletnikoff Award.

I'd say all of that adds up to an A-plus, wouldn't you?

Defense

Grade: B+

Despite being ranked 106th in total defense and 60th in scoring defense, this defense is still pretty good.

They've faced more top offenses than anyone in the country, and there are some stats that do favor them.  The Cowboys had a fantastic secondary, which shows in their eighth-ranking in pass efficiency defense.

The Cowboy defense also led the nation in turnovers forced with 44, just one shy of tying the NCAA record.

Special Teams

Grade: A

This is an area that Oklahoma State is among the nation's best in every single year.

Quinn Sharp was one of the best kickers and punters in the nation this year. The worst part was that he didn't punt enough to be eligible for any recognition.

Sharp averaged 46.6 yards per punt, made 22-of-25 field goals and scored 11.2 points per game.

Justin Gilbert was also a point of pride for the Cowboys' special teams. Gilbert appears to be the return man of the future and for good reason. The sophomore cornerback averaged 34 yards per kickoff return in the Fiesta Bowl and 25.8 during the regular season.

Special teams coordinator Joe DeForest has interviewed for jobs lately. Mike Gundy's praying he doesn't go anywhere.

Coaching

Grade: A+

Mike Gundy has done a fantastic job this season. He's led this squad to a 12-1 record, the best in school history, and the Cowboys' first Big 12 championship.

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken has done a particularly good job at sustaining what Dana Holgorsen created, while at the same time making the offense his own.

Bill Young did the best coaching job of all this year, as his defense continues to get better and force more turnovers.

This coaching staff is big time. Let's just hope Oklahoma State pays Gundy what he deserves and keeps it together.

Overall

Grade: A

Can it be anything else? Most wins in school history, first conference championship, first BCS bowl game and first BCS bowl win.

The only way it could have been better would have been an undefeated season and a national championship.

This program is on the rise, and this season has the potential to catapult it to an annual college football power.