OSU quarterback Reid biding time

? Bobby Reid arrived at Oklahoma State early to get a head start. It didn’t work out exactly as planned.

Reid’s year started with an opportunity to become Oklahoma State’s starting quarterback. He graduated early from high school, came to spring camp and was beating Donovan Woods for the job when a shoulder injury sidelined him for three months.

Now, Reid finds himself behind the red-shirt freshman Woods, and it might not be easy to win back the starting job he once seemed destined to fill.

Woods has led the Cowboys to a No. 25 ranking and their first 3-0 start in seven years. His numbers have improved with each passing week, and he has yet to throw an interception.

But Reid said he was not worried about unseating Woods right now. He’s not even concerned about when he’ll get onto the playing field to make his first college appearance.

“I look forward to it, but I’ve got to wait my turn and not rush into it,” Reid said.

Coach Les Miles said Reid takes a series of snaps at every practice and has shown progress. However, Miles said Reid had to be reintroduced to the Cowboys’ offense.

“I imagine that he will be ready to play in a short time,” Miles said. “It is tough to say when he is going to play. You do not know how fast he is going to come along, and what the team needs at the time of the decision. Those two things are the requirements.”

Reid, who is 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, said there is competition at the QB position, but that’s to be expected at any college program. At this point, Miles said an injury to Woods or a backup likely would have to occur for him to put Reid in a game.

“I think Donovan is doing everything that he can to help this football team,” Miles said. “I do not think that he is looking behind himself. He certainly understands that if we turned to somebody else, that they are capable as well. I think he is just focused on the job that he has to do.”

Reid, who attended North Shore High School near Houston, said his right shoulder was hurt going into spring practice but he didn’t know it. He had arthroscopic surgery in June to repair torn cartilage in the shoulder and could have missed the entire season. Instead, a quick recovery has him back in practice well ahead of schedule.