Oklahoma State Football: 5 Guys Who Need a Great Spring Performance

Now that recruiting for the 2012 college football season is over, spring practices and scrimmages will soon begin. There are some Oklahoma State Cowboys that will need to step up.

With the loss of so much experienced talent on both sides of the ball, the guys competing to fill those spots will want to have big springs to prove that they are deserving. Positions like quarterback, wide receiver and safety will all be huge heading into the summer

Here are five Cowboys that need to impress during the spring.

Clint Chelf

Now that senior Brandon Weeden has left the program for the NFL, a quarterback battle will ensue for the Cowboys this spring.

Clint Chelf has the decided edge at this point heading into that battle. A sophomore this past season, Chelf now has two years of experience under Oklahoma State heavy-passing offense.

The other two quarterbacks going into next season are red-shirt freshman J.W. Walsh and true freshman Wes Lunt. Walsh is a dual-threat guy who may not fit the Cowboys' new system, and it will be a tall order for Lunt to be ready to lead the complex offense in his first season.

Chelf has the edge, but he'll still need to have a good spring. Both Walsh and Lunt are very talented and were highly recruited. Plus, Chelf will need to convince the Cowboy coaching staff that experience with the offense is more important and valuable than youthful promise and talent.

Isaiah Anderson

Isaiah Anderson is another guy who will need to step up this spring.

After the alleged suspension of Michael Harrison for the 2012 season, Anderson will be the lone returning outside receiver on the Cowboys squad. It was already going to be difficult to replace the production of Justin Blackmon, even with both Harrison and Anderson contributing.

Anderson is a very capable receiver, but he'll need to do better than he has so far. Incoming wide receiver recruits like C.J. Curry will push Anderson in the depth chart.

Total, the Cowboys have six wide receivers coming in and also multiple tight ends. Anderson will need to show he's the guy if he wants to have a solid handle on his starting position.

Zack Craig

Senior Cowboy safety Markelle Martin is one of the most-highly rated draft prospects at his position in the 2012 NFL draft. His shoes will be hard to fill.

Meet Zack Craig, Martin's backup and the man who appears to poised to try and fill Martin's position on the team.

In limited playing time last season, Craig recorded 20 tackles. Martin was one of the most athletic defensive players in the country and accumulated over 70 tackles in 2011.

Craig will need a great spring to prove he's worthy of taking over the safety position.

Daytawion Lowe

It seems odd to say that the Cowboys leading tackler of last season, Daytawion Lowe, needs to step up and have a great spring. The guy had 97 tackles last season. What more could we want?

Lowe needs to step up, but not necessarily in his tangible play on the field.

As just a junior next season, Lowe is just coming into his prime as a college football player. With the loss of defensive leaders like Markelle Martin, Jamie Blatnick and Richetti Jones, the defense will need someone to step up and lead.

That guy needs to Lowe, a high energy bruiser who has the ability to set the tone early with big hits and forced turnovers. He needs to prove that he can be that guy this spring.

Tracy Moore

With the graduation of fellow inside receiver Josh Cooper and Justin Blackmon, Tracy Moore is the leading receiver returning for the Cowboys heading into the 2012 season.

Last year, Moore caught 45 passes for 672 yards and four touchdowns as an inside receiver. Moore is the type that uses his size and solid hands to make key catches for first downs between the hash marks.

Moore needs to step up and prove that he is ready to become more of a force on the Cowboys' offense. Tight ends like Dominic Ramacher and Blake Jackson are incoming guys that will help fill inside receiver spots. Those players will put pressure on Moore to perform.

Moore needs to prove that he can be the safety net for whoever the starting quarterback is next season. The best time to do that is in the spring.