People get hurt during competition in the Big 12 Conference and Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is confident his Cowboys have good backups heading into the fall season.

OSU opens by hosting Central Michigan at 6 p.m. on FSI in a Thursday night game on September 1.

“I’m particularly pleased with the backup quarterbacks and the strides they’ve made,” Gundy said. “My comfort level with them is 100%. They’re really the new guys that have tried to work their way into full speed action, the other guys have done it.”

Spencer Sanders is a proven starter at quarterback. Shane Illingworth, who backed up Sanders the past two seasons, has transferred to Nevada.

The backup include Garret Rangel, Gavynn Parker and Gunnar Gundy (Mike Gundy’s son). Rangel and Parker are true freshmen while Gundy is a redshirt freshman.

The Cowboys may be a little light on experience in terms of running backs but the talent is there.

“They don’t have any game experience, so it’s a matter of how can they withstand the physicality of playing at this level?” Gundy asked. “That position gets hit, I’ve said it a million times, more than any position. So, we’re going to need them all. Every year we need three backs. The year we have one guy who carries it 23 times a game and we don’t have to use the others unless we want to, I don’t see that happening in the future.”

The running backs are Dominic Richardson, Zach Middleton, Deondre Jackson, Jaden Nixon, C.J. Brown and Andre Washington.

“I just need to be ready,” Richardson said about his anticipated increased work load. “When I’m not in, make sure I’m by coach on the sideline ready to go, coaching up the younger guys and being full speed at all times, even when I’m tired and mentally exhausted. I need to make sure I get my plays down and my pads go down. Just prove to the coaches I’m ready to be the every-down back.”

He is impressed by his fellow running backs.

“They’re doing great,” Richardson said. “I heard coach saying ‘great job,’ fired up, jumping up and down whenever they have a good block, a good run or a touchdown. We’re just excited about it.”

Oklahoma State has a reputation for developing outstanding receivers. Brennan Presley is a key returnee this season.

“I’m like a rookie veteran, I guess you could say,” Presley said. “I’m in the middle. I haven’t been here as long as Braydon (Johnson) and them, but I’ve been here a year longer than Jaden Bray and those guys. I don’t have too much to say because I haven’t been here too long, but I’ll offer whatever advice that I can to the younger guys.”

The receiving corps has balance and talent.

“I think as far as this year goes it is not about having one guy because we have a ton of guys who can do everything,” Preseley said. “ Jaden Bray is a dominant receiver at X and Braydon Johnson is a speedster at Z with me and (John Paul Richardson) on the insides. Then you have more younger guys… and you have a bunch of playmakers all over the field. I think this year everyone will be out there making plays. It’s not going to be one dominant guy, but the entire group will be making plays because we can all make those plays.”

“I feel like we’re all going to do really well,” Bray said. “We have high expectations. We’re really trying to get back to that Big 12 Championship and get another one of those banners up. I feel like we’re all ready and very excited for this season to start.”

The defense feels ready after fall drills.

“I feel like where I should be,” said safety Kendal Daniels. “I could be more physical off the ball and there’s more things all of us can work on as a safety group. We’re just taking it day by day.

“I’m ready to get out there. I’m ready to showcase my talent and help my team win, so we can show everyone how hard we’ve been working.”

Safety Thomas Harper is ready to make up for lost time.

“It was really hard coming in and thinking that I was going to step into a bigger role earlier and having some setbacks,” Harper said.

“I think once you learn to be patient and wait your turn, it’ll take you far. Just keep your head on straight. Obviously, you get down or upset about not being where you want to be at a certain time, or maybe the time just isn’t right. Just wait your turn and learn from whoever’s in front of you. I think that’s the biggest thing. Understanding that your time is going to come and when it does, take advantage of the opportunity.”

Oklahoma State is No. 12 in the preseason AP rankings, which might seem a little low for a team that beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl last season.

“We’re in a little bit of a hidden area here,” Gundy said. “You know, we’re tucked away in north central Oklahoma and we’re in a town with a population of about 50,000 people, so we can stay hidden a little bit, which I think is good for us. As we know, none of that matters. The only thing that matters is our preparation and the teams we put on the field and the way our guys play.

“Preseason polls, rankings so on so forth, that’s all fun for the fans through media, for Vegas, obviously, but none of that really matters. I just enjoy what I do. And I’m fortunate to be here for a long time.”