Oklahoma State hired Will Rogers, the former Mississippi State quarterback who threw for 12,231 yards across four SEC seasons, to an administrative role on Mike Gundy's football staff. The university announced the move Tuesday without specifying title or compensation. Rogers exhausted his eligibility last fall and did not pursue the NFL draft.
Rogers started 46 games for Mississippi State between 2020 and 2023, completing 69.5 percent of his passes under Mike Leach's Air Raid system and later through Zach Arnett's brief tenure. He left Starkville as the program's all-time leader in passing yards and completions. Oklahoma State plays in the Big 12, where Gundy has run a pass-heavy scheme for 20 seasons as head coach. The Cowboys finished 3-9 last year, their worst record since 2005.
The hire reflects a broader trend: Power Four programs absorbing recently retired players into entry-level coaching or administrative positions before NCAA and conference rules fully clarify how Name, Image, and Likeness compensation interacts with staff budgets. Administrative roles do not count against on-field coaching limits, and universities gain institutional knowledge without triggering assistant salary caps. Rogers played in the SEC West, which produced four playoff teams in the last five years; that film study and opponent preparation now sits inside Gundy's program as Oklahoma State navigates conference realignment pressure and a coaching staff overhaul.
Gundy retained offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn after last season's collapse, but the Cowboys lost quarterbacks coach Tim Rattay to retirement and saw recruiting coordinator Jemal Singleton depart for a lateral role at USC. Rogers' arrival gives Dunn a former Air Raid operator who can assist with game-planning and quarterback development without occupying a full assistant slot. The Cowboys signed three-star quarterback Zane Flores in December and return Alan Bowman, a sixth-year transfer from Texas Tech. Oklahoma State averaged 24.1 points per game in 2024, down from 35.4 in 2021.
The administrative-hire pathway has become common for programs warehousing talent during the transition from player to coach. Alabama employed 12 former players in off-field roles last season; Georgia's support staff includes eight recent Bulldogs. Oklahoma State's athletic budget was $148 million in fiscal 2023, ranking eighth in the Big 12. The Cowboys' donor base contracts as oil revenue softens in Stillwater, and the program competes for resources against a basketball operation that reached the NCAA tournament last spring.
Watch for Rogers to appear in recruiting materials and spring practice footage as Oklahoma State attempts to stabilize its quarterback room before the 2025 season. The Cowboys open against South Dakota State on August 30. Gundy's contract runs through 2028 at $7.5 million annually, but Oklahoma State has no buyout protection if it dismisses him after December 2025. The program's next offensive coordinator hire—whenever that occurs—will inherit Rogers as part of the infrastructure.