Now a nose guard, Oklahoma State's Collin Clay excited by role in new defense

OKSTATE1 · Aug 21, 2023

Now a nose guard, Oklahoma State's Collin Clay excited by role in new defense

Scott Wright
The Oklahoman

STILLWATER — Collin Clay is starting to like that new label that he picked up with Oklahoma State’s change to coordinator Bryan Nardo’s defense.

Nose guard.

“It’s new,” Clay said. “It’s pretty cool, actually.”

A standout defensive end at Putnam City High School in the class of 2019, Clay stuck with that position in his freshman season at Arkansas. He transferred to OSU in 2020, suffered a couple of injuries and gradually grew into a defensive tackle in a scheme that was then using a four-man front.

When Nardo arrived with his 3-3-5 defense, the 6-foot-3, 310-pound Clay moved further toward the middle, now aligned directly over the ball.

Collin Clay

“I enjoy playing this position now, because of the energy that they’ve brought into this position,” Clay said. “They’re relying on us because we’re in the middle of the defense. It starts with us. It starts with all of us up front.”

Clay has had to learn a few new tricks to get used to the role, having fewer bodies around him on the defensive line.

“Being a nose guard, we have to expect a double-team every single play,” he said. “The responsibility aspect, you don’t have the same responsibilities from a D-tackle to a nose guard. That’s the biggest difference.”

Clay says his new position is more fun than his old one, but being on the field is the most important thing. After missing the 2020 and 2021 seasons with injuries, Clay played in 12 of 13 games last season, earning a few starts in the second half of the season. His five quarterback hurries were the most among OSU’s interior linemen last year.

“Collin is a guy that’s developed his body,” head coach Mike Gundy said. “He’s, I don’t know, 320-ish or something like that. He was injured for a while, he’s kinda grown up. Developed some more toughness, and he is a powerful dude.”

Gundy says his defensive line has more depth across the board than he’s seen in recent memory, even when they shift into their four-man front, which they’ll still use on occasion this season.

Justin Kirkland

But in the three-man front, the depth is incredible, with as many as five players who could help at nose guard.

That group has some new faces, like Utah Tech transfer Justin Kirkland, the 6-foot-4, 346-pound sophomore who is battling Clay for the starting job. Also, Iman Oates, the Tulsa Edison product who came in from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in January.

So the Cowboys have the luxury to rotate linemen and keep legs fresh later into games for a group of players that seems to fit the new role well.

“We’re coming to work every single day,” Clay said. “We hold each other accountable and we bring that energy every single time, regardless of who’s out there. We’re all gonna make sure we’re doing our job and that we’re being consistent.

“Being disruptive, getting knock-back, playing football.”