Tulsa Coach Tre Lamb: Eric Morris ‘The Right Guy for the Job’ at Oklahoma State

Tulsa coach Tre Lamb will be trying to beat Eric Morris on Saturday, but that hasn't stopped him from expressing his admiration for what Oklahoma State's new head coach has built.

Lamb offered extensive praise for Morris during his Monday press conference ahead of the Cowboys' season opener at Tulsa, calling Morris the right person to lead Oklahoma State through its massive rebuild.

“Coach Morris has done a great job of assembling a roster,” Lamb said. “It's well-documented how many they brought in, and that was out of necessity. It's a complete reset for that program, and he's the right guy for the job.”

Morris inherited a program coming off a 1-11 season and immediately overhauled nearly the entire roster. Oklahoma State added 91 newcomers this offseason, including 68 transfers, as Morris attempts to quickly return the Cowboys to relevance in the Big 12. Lamb believes Morris' offensive background also makes him a natural fit in Stillwater.

“He fits there nicely,” Lamb said. “It's what Oklahoma State has done — develop quarterbacks and score points. Receivers, too. That's what you think of with Oklahoma State.”

Morris brought several key pieces from his 12-win North Texas team with him, including quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young. Lamb believes their development demonstrates one of Morris' greatest strengths: identifying players others overlook.

“He's an incredible evaluator of talent,” Lamb said. “Not just quarterbacks, but backs and wideouts.”

Lamb pointed specifically to Hawkins, who had only one FBS offer coming out of high school before developing into one of college football's most productive running backs at North Texas. He rushed for 1,434 yards and scored 29 total touchdowns last season.

“The guy can develop and evaluate talent, and I have a lot of respect for him,” Lamb said.

Lamb also praised Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity, who followed Morris from North Texas. Cassity's defense helped the Mean Green win 12 games last season while creating turnovers and finding ways to make critical stops in the red zone. Before North Texas, Cassity coordinated a Sam Houston defense that ranked among the nation's best in several categories.

Lamb said he likes the structure and downhill style of Cassity's defense, giving Oklahoma State experience on both sides of the ball despite the massive roster turnover. But some of Lamb's strongest praise was reserved for Morris personally.

“I'm like the JV version of Coach Morris right now,” Lamb said. “He's got a couple years on me. He's more experienced.”

The two young head coaches will be on opposite sidelines Saturday, but Lamb made his respect for Morris clear.

“Great human being, family man,” Lamb said. “I look up to him a lot. Really good football coach.”

For all the excitement surrounding Oklahoma State's new players, Lamb believes the man responsible for assembling them might be the biggest reason for optimism in Stillwater.

Tulsa and Oklahoma State play on national TV week one. The game is televised on ESPNU at 2:45 P.M. CT Saturday.