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Eric Morris praises Wyatt Young's accountability after costly penalty against Iowa State
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- Eric Morris praises Wyatt Young's accountability after costly penalty against Iowa State
(Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris isn't backing away from his criticism of Wyatt Young's costly penalty against Iowa State, but he also isn't losing confidence in one of his most competitive players.
During Tuesday's media availability, Morris addressed Young's response following the Cowboys' 51–49 loss in Ames, revealing that the wide receiver took immediate steps to apologize and accept responsibility for his actions.
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"Wyatt's a great kid that cares a lot about his teammates," Morris said. "He showed up early in my office and wanted to address the team, first thing."
Morris also revealed that Young sent him an unusually lengthy text message following the loss, further demonstrating his desire to take accountability.
Costly penalty overshadows late touchdown
Young appeared to deliver the winning moment Saturday when he caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Drew Mestemaker with 53 seconds remaining, giving Oklahoma State a 49–48 lead.
However, Young was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after approaching Iowa State fans following the touchdown. The 15-yard penalty was enforced on the ensuing kickoff, forcing Oklahoma State to kick from its own 20-yard line.
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Iowa State returned the kickoff to its 37-yard line before quarterback Jaylen Raynor completed a 33-yard pass to Jamal Polite, immediately putting the Cyclones in field-goal range. Kyle Konrardy eventually connected on a 34-yard field goal as time expired, handing Oklahoma State its third loss of the season.
The penalty was particularly frustrating given Young's production throughout the contest. He finished with seven receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns, continuing his streak of seven consecutive games with a touchdown catch.
Morris balances criticism with confidence
Immediately following the game, Morris described Young's penalty as one of the most selfish mistakes he had witnessed, emphasizing the importance of discipline in critical situations. While his frustration remained evident Tuesday, Morris also highlighted Young's competitive nature and value to the Cowboys.
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"Wyatt might be the most competitive team player on our team," Morris said. "He's got a lot of juice."
Morris made it clear that his assessment of the penalty hadn't changed.
"Do I still think that was a selfish penalty? I do. Do I think we're a really good team with Wyatt on the field? I do."
The comments reflect Morris's effort to hold Young accountable without allowing one mistake to define his contributions. Young also publicly apologized following the loss, acknowledging that his lack of discipline put his teammates in a difficult position.
Moving forward against Kansas State
Oklahoma State now turns its attention to another road matchup against Kansas State on Saturday. The Cowboys enter the contest at 5–3 overall and 3–2 in Big 12 play, needing one more victory to become bowl eligible.
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Young remains an important part of an Oklahoma State offense that produced 533 yards and 49 points against Iowa State.
For Morris, the challenge is ensuring Young maintains the competitive energy that makes him effective while avoiding the mistakes that can change the outcome of a game.
"He's a great kid who made a mistake, and he'll learn and grow from it," Morris said.
As the Cowboys prepare for another conference road test, Young will have an opportunity to demonstrate that those lessons have translated onto the field.
