OSU football notebook: Balanced first scrimmage

The 100-play scrimmage included two safeties by defensive tackle Chris

Donaldson and a interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Brodrick Brown. Offensively, running back Jeremy Smith and receivers Justin Blackmon, Tracy Moore and Josh Cooper made big plays.

Gundy also singled out linebacker Justin Gent and cornerback Justin Gilbert as playmakers on Saturday.

Spreading it around

One of the staples of Dana Holgorsen’s offense is the ability to get the ball to several different playmakers.

In Saturday’s scrimmage, the new system worked well as multiple receivers had receptions while playing with the first-team offense.

“We might have had 10 receivers catch the ball with the 1’s,” Gundy said. “So it was exciting to see us spread that out.”

Quiet contributor

Oklahoma State could play as many as six true freshmen in the defensive backfield this season.

Cornerback Justin Gilbert has gotten rave reviews early, cornerback Larry Stephens is a prototypical cornerback and safeties Lavocheya Cooper, Zach Craig and Deion Imade appear ready to provide needed depth.

But none of those players seem to be more of a sure bet to play in 2010 than cornerback Devin Hedgepeth.

“Devin is a quiet player,” Brown said. “He’s a guy you don’t hear a lot about but makes a lot of plays. He knows the defense well and he’s turning out to be a pretty good player.”

Hedgepeth enrolled early, went through spring football and had already earned a spot in the Pokes two-deep depth chart heading into fall practice. The freshman from Derby, Kan. was one of the freshmen Gundy singled out as having a solid first scrimmage on Saturday.

Brown looking to build on Bowl