STILLWATER — With nearly every job already spoken for by a returning starter, preseason camp has been uneventful from a position battle perspective for Oklahoma State. 

The Cowboys are just over a week into the preseason, and just over three weeks from the opening game against South Dakota State at 1 p.m. Aug. 31 at Boone Pickens Stadium. 

While the Pokes return roughly 20 starters, that leaves only a few starting positions to be won, but here’s a look at three important ones at this point of camp:

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Safety

This might be the most unique position battle in preseason camp for the Cowboys because it primarily involves experienced players. Five different guys started at least one game at safety last year and all five are back, plus UTEP transfer Kobe Hylton has inserted himself into the discussion since arriving in January.

One aspect that remains unclear is just how frequently Kendal Daniels will line up at safety, a detail coach Mike Gundy continues to dance around. Even when Daniels is at linebacker, the safety group has plenty of experience to go around for the three starting jobs.

Trey Rucker seems locked into his spot once again, but the other two openings could go a variety of ways. Cameron Epps and Dylan Smith got good experience splitting time after Lyrik Rawls was hurt last year. Rawls is back to health and in the mix as well. Hylton has looked good, and less experienced backups like Ty Williams and Parker Robertson are fighting for spots in the two-deep. 

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Tight end

It’s hard to tell how much of a battle this one will be, but it’s the most significant job opening on the offensive side of the ball, where basically every other starter returns. Tyler Foster, the 6-foot-6, 255-pound super-senior transfer from Ohio, looks like the frontrunner after stepping in during the spring. He has experience, as well as the versatility to be an effective blocker and pass-catcher.

Quinton Stewart is a veteran who has filled the role of an extra blocker the last couple years. Stillwater product Josh Ford has wowed coaches with his physicality as a true freshman, which could earn him some snaps. And Tabry Shettron continues to develop in the background.

The position has good depth, which is important at a spot that became more frequently used in a variety of areas last year.

More: Oklahoma State football’s Lyrik Rawls aims to reclaim starting safety spot after ACL tear

Placekicker

This is an interesting one, because it includes a late addition to the party. Drake Tabor, a journeyman who was an all-state kicker at Hoover (Alabama) High School, joined the program a week ago and has thrust himself into the competition with Logan Ward and Kason Shrum.

Still, Ward looks like the favorite and is enjoying his recent work with newly added kicking coach Sean Snyder. Ward, a walk-on from Deer Creek High School in Edmond, has filled many roles for the Cowboys. He took over as punter in 2022 when Tom Hutton tore his ACL. He was the kickoff specialist last year, and filled in on extra points at times.

Ward has proven to have a strong leg and is working this preseason to dial in his accuracy.

A dream vacation turned into a nearly fatal nightmare after two Oklahoma State University students were allegedly poisoned after ordering water from a poolside bar at a Cancun resort.  

Disturbing photos shared by Zara Hull and her family show the moment Hull and Kaylie Pitze say they became unconscious after drinking the tainted water Aug. 1. 

“I had called my mom at like 10 that morning to tell her how beautiful the resort was and how amazing it was. By 4:30, Jake called her and let her know that I was completely incoherent, like I was gone, like I was unconscious,” Hull told Fox 32 News.

Hull and a group of friends were in Cancun for a four-day trip that was quickly cut short after she and Pitze had a few drinks of the tainted water.

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Stephanie Snider, whose son Jake is Hull’s boyfriend, said in a series of Facebook posts that Hull and Pitze were slipped a drug while they were at the resort in Cancun last Friday. She said it was in their drinks and caused both girls to pass out at the same time.

“Our son, Jake, and his girlfriend are finally back in the U.S. after the most horrific 48 hours of our lives,” Snider wrote in a post on Facebook. “What started out as a fun vacation with friends for them ended up as our worst nightmare.”

Jake also described what happened at the pool, adding that he believes a resort employee was responsible. 

“They sit down, the bartender gives them water, which now we see a bubbling fizzing effect in the picture that I took of them in the water. So, something was in there. So, they take a sip of it and not even one minute or two minutes later they both drop at the same time,” Jake told Fox 32 News.

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A group of college students from Oklahoma had their vacation turned upside down after two girls were allegedly poisoned after drinking water from a resort pool bar. (Stephanie Snider via Facebook)

After leaving the pool, Jake explained that Pitze was taken back to their room in a wheelchair, while he carried Hull. Hull began throwing up and having what he thought was a seizure. 

“Zara started having what the resort doctor called a ‘seizure’ and said she needed to be taken to the hospital. Once she was there, the hospital demanded $10K just to look at her to help her and start treating her. The money was sent. By the next morning, we were told more money was needed to continue treatment,” Snider said.

Snider said thankfully Pitze did not end up in the hospital, but he said she struggled for the following day after the incident.

“Neither of the girls have any memory of what happened after they took that last drink, which happened to have been a glass of WATER. We think it was whatever was put in that glass of water that did it. Both girls collapsed at the very SAME time. They both are battling feelings of not knowing what happened and ‘why them?’” Snider said. 

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Nearly 27 hours later and after spending thousands of dollars, Hull’s family was able to negotiate with the U.S. Embassy and have her flown to Dallas to continue medical treatment. 

On Thursday, Snider posted that Hull was finally getting her appetite back and able to drink more fluids on her own instead of solely through an IV. 

Snider said she hopes this is a warning for others traveling to resorts like this.

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“They did exactly like we told them. Don’t leave the resort. You have no reason to leave that resort. You stay there,” said Snider.

“Like people say, ‘Don’t leave the resort and you’ll be fine.’ It started at the resort. The resort was not safe,” Hull said. “They say the resort is the safest place; don’t leave it. That’s not true.”

Snider said the name of the resort or hospital is not being released at this time due to legal and privacy issues.