OSU quarterback Shane Illingworth enters transfer portal, leaves Cowboys with two scholarship QBs

STILLWATER — After two seasons at Oklahoma State, quarterback Shane Illingworth has entered the transfer portal, according to multiple reports on Monday.

Illingworth’s departure leaves the Cowboys thin at quarterback for the coming season. Starter Spencer Sanders has two years of eligibility remaining, but behind him, incoming freshman Garret Rangel is the only scholarship quarterback on the roster.

Gunnar Gundy, who redshirted as a freshman this past season, and sophomore Peyton Thompson are walk-ons.

The backup quarterback role has been an important one during Sanders’ time as starter. He has missed most or all of eight games over the past three seasons because of health issues.

Illingworth, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound sophomore from Norco, California, appeared in eight games over two seasons at Oklahoma State, quarterbacking the Cowboys to victories against Tulsa, West Virginia and Kansas in 2020, and against Missouri State in 2021.

A four-star recruit out of high school, Illingworth has four years of eligibility remaining.

He is Oklahoma State’s 12th scholarship player to enter the transfer portal since mid-December.

Here's a look at the OSU players with eligibility remaining who have entered the transfer portal or declared for the NFL Draft:

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Hunter Anthony, OL (Nebraska)

Anthony, a redshirt junior originally from Tuttle, won a starting job in 2020, but was injured in the season opener. This past season, he was occasionally used as a backup and as an extra blocker in short-yardage situations.

Israel Antwine, DT (NFL Draft)

Antwine was a three-year starter at OSU and a four-year starter at the college level, beginning his career at Colorado. In the past three seasons at OSU, the Millwood High School product had 65 tackles with 13 tackles for loss and six sacks. In 2021, he finished with 20 tickles, four tackles for loss and three sacks.

Cade Bennett, OL (San Diego State)

A redshirt freshman from Scottsdale, Arizona, Bennett appeared in two games this season.

Jarrick Bernard-Converse, CB (transfer portal)

Bernard-Converse started 47 games over his four years at Oklahoma State, totaling 196 tackles, two interceptions and 24 pass breakups. He spent two years at safety, then two years at cornerback. He was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2021 and will have one year of eligibility remaining.

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LD Brown, RB (NFL Draft)

Having just completed his sixth season as a Cowboy, Brown decided the time was right to attempt a jump to the NFL. Because of injuries this past season, he would have been eligible for a seventh season in Stillwater, but chose to pass it up. The DeSoto, Texas, native finished his career with 1,235 yards and nine touchdowns on 214 carries. He also averaged 20.1 yards on 30 kickoff returns.

Kolby Harvell-Peel, S (NFL Draft)

A four-year starter and true senior, Harvell-Peel initially declared for the draft after his junior season, but reversed course and stayed at OSU for 2021. He became a third-team All-American this past season, leading the team with three interceptions. For his career, he had 237 tackles, 10 interceptions and 24 pass breakups.

Shane Illingworth, QB (transfer portal)

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Illingworth appeared in eight games over two years as OSU’s No. 2 quarterback behind Spencer Sanders. He quarterbacked the Cowboys to wins over Tulsa, West Virginia and Kansas in 2020 and Missouri State in 2021. For his career, he completed 69 of 120 passes (57.5%) for 939 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He appeared in three games this past season, maintaining his redshirt status, which means he will have four years of eligibility at his next destination.

Dezmon Jackson, RB (Sam Houston State)

A redshirt senior with an extra year still available, Jackson played in 17 games the past two seasons, including every game as a junior. Injuries kept him on the sideline for about half of the 2021 season. In his two years at OSU, he carried the ball 148 times for 686 yards and six touchdowns.

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Jayden Jernigan, DT (Missouri)

A backup in the regular rotation as a redshirt sophomore this season, Jernigan was a consistent contributor on a strong defensive line. He finished the year with 22 tackles, two sacks and six quarterback hurries.

Gabe Lemons, S (transfer portal)

Appeared in 22 games over four years, almost exclusively on special teams. A redshirt junior in 2021, Lemons will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Tanner McCalister, S (Ohio State)

McCalister has been a rotational player since he arrived in 2018 and was a starter the last two seasons. In all, he finished with 125 tackles and 12 pass breakups in 50 games as a Cowboy. A true senior with an extra year of eligibility remaining, he is joining former Cowboy defensive coordinator Jim Knowles at Ohio State.

Monroe Mills, OL (Texas Tech)

A redshirt freshman reserve, Mills appeared in two games over his two seasons with the Cowboys.

Matt Polk, WR (transfer portal)

Hampered by injuries at times this season, the redshirt freshman did not appear in a game in his two years on campus.

Jonathan Shepherd, WR (transfer portal)

Shepherd appeared in two games over his four years at OSU, but did not record a catch. He missed virtually all of the 2019 and 2020 seasons with injuries. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

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Josh Sills, OL (NFL Draft)

A two-year starter after coming to OSU as a graduate transfer from West Virginia, Sills was the heart of the offensive line during his time as a Cowboy. He was a sixth-year senior, but would have been eligible for a seventh year because of injuries suffered earlier in his career.

Tre Sterling, S (NFL Draft)

A redshirt senior who could have opted to stay for a sixth season, Sterling chose to pursue the NFL. He rose to a starting role as a sophomore in 2019 and held it until an injury cost him most of the 2021 season. He finished his career with 159 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three interceptions and 12 pass breakups.

Jaylen Warren, RB (NFL Draft)

Another redshirt senior passing on a sixth year of eligibility, Warren is the posterboy for what can be found in the portal. He came to OSU as an unheralded transfer from Utah State and became the Cowboys’ offensive MVP, particularly in the early part of the year when the offense was finding its footing. In his lone year at OSU, Warren rushed for 1,216 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding another 225 yards on 25 receptions.

Tyrese Williams, OL (transfer portal)

Appeared in three games last season as a redshirt junior, including a start against Texas Tech, and backup duty at both guard and center because of injuries in the Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame. In all, he appeared in 10 games over four years at OSU.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU football: Quarterback Shane Illingworth enters transfer portal