The Oklahoma State football team held its sixth practice of fall camp Tuesday morning at 8 a.m., completing a two-hour workout in full pads for the first time since opening fall practice.

Several Cowboy players met with media at the Sherman E. Smith Training Center following practice to talk about the team. Here are some of their comments:

Offensive Lineman Cole Birmingham

On returning from injury:
"Spring ball was a great time. I was just happy to be back out on the field playing with everybody. Just a big team player, so I love being around the team and everything like that. So, coming back from the injury, I mean, I felt really good; just happy to be there."

On everyone competing:
"I think it's a pretty good atmosphere. The offensive line is a pretty tight group, so there's not any internal conflict or anything like that. We're pretty open with everybody. Everyone understands what's going on, everyone is trying to fight for a spot, but it's been good. I feel like we've had a good fall camp so far and we're just going to keep having a good one."

On his comfort level playing tackle:
"Pretty comfortable. I mean, I played the entire season in 2021, the Fiesta Bowl year, at left tackle, so pretty comfortable. It's pretty normal … I, for the most part, was playing left guard all spring ball. Coach Dickey called me up, talked to me, told me he wanted me to move to left tackle. I listened to Dickey, he knows what he's doing, so it was a good move."

Running Back Ollie Gordon II

On the differences of practicing in full pads:
"It's kind of the same because our defense always goes a hundred miles an hour, but there's a little change because our offensive linemen can move and attach themselves to the defense now that we have full pads on. We can actually move without having to stop and slow down. Stuff like that plays a part too."

On long practice days:
"In the long run, it's going to help us. Like Coach Gundy says, in the third or fourth quarter when teams get tired, they fall apart. For us to do this out here, it'll keep us together and learn how to fight through adversity and being tired."

On John Wozniak's leadership:
"Coach Wozniak always puts his part in. He's a great coach. He always tells us what we need to hear and what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong. With him and us communicating, it's great."

Safety Lyrik Rawls

On practicing in full pads:
"You know we're always going to bring energy. Pads, shoulder pads, or shorts, you know we're out here every day bringing the energy."

On Kale Smith's success in camp:
"He's actually my neighbor, so sometimes we sit back on the porch. I just tell him to focus and lock in on what we got to do on the field, and things are going to show up as they have been for him."

On changing defensively:
"I feel like (Coach Nardo) made sure everybody was learning it together. You go sit with your group positions. All make sure you're on the same page learning it. So I feel like it's going pretty good for us … When I got here, I started with Coach Knowles, then I had (Derek) Mason, now I got Nardo. I feel like I've already learned so much defense just being here. I feel like as I get into it and adjust it makes a lot of sense, what he's trying to do with us."

The Oklahoma State football team is scheduled to open the 2023 season September 2 when it faces Central Arkansas at Boone Pickens Stadium, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.