Leftover notebook nuggets from Oklahoma State-Kansas State week

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. — With some time to kill before No. 24 Oklahoma State’s much-anticipated showdown at No. 2 Kansas State, here are some leftover nuggets that didn’t quite make it into our newspaper coverage throughout the week.

Austin Hays — the unlikely top freshman WR

With the Cowboys needing to replace playmakers at receiver like Justin Blackmon, Josh Cooper, Hubert Anyiam and Michael Harrison, it was clear OSU would need help from its group of five true freshman receivers that arrived for fall camp.

Who would step up?

C.J. Curry was the highly touted recruit and the only true freshman at any position on the preseason depth chart. Blake Webb was a speedy slot guy. Brandon Sheperd had skills. Perhaps Jhajuan Seales, a late bloomer in high school, could continue to build on his potential.

And then there was Austin Hays, a San Antonio product who was a late addition to OSU’s signing class and had no other scholarship offers from major schools.

Lo and behold, Hays has gone from a perceived throw-in signee to the Cowboys’ top true freshman pass-catcher, moving into the starting lineup after injuries to Tracy Moore and Isaiah Anderson.

“He’s very intelligent, he’s got great hands and he likes to play football,” said coach Mike Gundy, who also noted Hays’ 4.6 speed. “He was a really good take for us. He’s one of those players that I expect to look completely different at this time next year, just from going through an offseason and a winter program and developing his body. Things will come much easier next year, and plays won’t move (as fast) as (they do) right now.”

On the season, Hays has 11 catches for 136 yards and a touchdown in four games.

Line changes in college football? They’re coming, says Gundy