Before he was OSU's 'strongest' player, Justin Kirkland grew up surrounded by Utah fans​

• Sep 19, 2024

Tyler Waldrep​

OSU Sports Writer


STILLWATER — Oklahoma State defensive lineman Justin Kirkland’s phone has been a bit busier this week ahead of Saturday’s game against No. 12 Utah.
Which makes sense, considering he grew up about an hour north of the Utes in Roy, Utah.

“I got a couple buddies who are texting me this week,” Kirkland said. “Like, ‘hey, we’re not friends this week.’”

Kirkland initially played for Utah Tech in 2022 before joining the Cowboys ahead of 2023. Despite the jump in competition, Kirkland carved out a sizable role, playing at least 20-plus snaps right from the beginning. He finished 2023 as a starter during the final six games last season.


In 2023, Pro Football Focus graded him eighth among OSU defenders who played at least 200 snaps with a grade of 68.2. This fall, his marks are even higher, as he currently sits third with a score of 71.5.

“Last year (I) was kind of a deer in the headlights first couple games,” Kirkland said.

Kirkland feels more comfortable in year two, just don’t expect that to show up on the stat sheets, given his role as an interior defensive lineman.

The 6-3, 345-pound defender has only recorded three total tackles this season, but that doesn’t begin to describe his impact.



“He’s a load,” Oklahoma State center Joe Michalski said. “He’s a big dude. I mean, that’s probably the strongest person I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Kirkland can back it up in the weight room. In the preseason, he estimated his one-rep max for squat and bench was 650 and 508, respectively. However, Kirkland said he could probably bench 225, 51 times.
That would match the reported total set by Justin Ernest in 1999, although most credit Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea as the official record holder with 49 reps at 225 in 2011.

The Utah native is excited to put that strength to good use against some familiar faces on Saturday.
“I think it’ll be a fun one,” Kirkland said.


Kirkland said he probably has better connections with players on the current BYU roster, but his family definitely leaned heavily in favor of Utah over BYU growing up, even though he never considered himself a fan of either growing up.

“I know a lot of those guys (at Utah), rooting for them when they’re not playing us stuff like that,” Kirkland said. “But I mean, this week, let’s give it to them.”

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The new left talking point: Trump is going to deport ANY CITIZEN that was NOT born in America!

Notice she's completely ignoring illegals, she's now claiming Trump wants to deport CITIZENS.

@my_2cents and @Breastman will be here shortly parroting this fresh new talking point.

Didn't Hillary just say we should jail people for doing this? Rules for thee...

Who has edge in Oklahoma State football vs Utah? Ollie Gordon eyes breakout against Utes​

Scott Wright
The Oklahoman

STILLWATER — The likenesses of the teams seem to be everywhere.

Head coaches in their 20th year.

Quarterbacks in their seventh season.

Programs known for top-25 finishes without top-25 recruiting classes.

Oklahoma State and Utah align in many ways, but their first meeting in a Big 12 game will separate them in their equal pursuit of a conference title.

The 15th-ranked Cowboys host No. 10 Utah at 3 p.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.

At different times by different sportsbooks, each team has been viewed as the point-spread favorite this week, with most of them inching toward the Pokes late in the week.

Regardless, the matchups look fairly even, so let’s dive into the breakdown a little deeper:

When Oklahoma State runs the ball​

Yet again the most intriguing element of the game for the OSU offense. Can the Cowboys get Ollie Gordon II running wild again? It seems like an eventual certainty. But this week? Opponents are averaging 3.1 yards per carry and 109.0 yards per game against a Utes defense that naturally focuses its efforts on stopping the run. And if they increase the efforts there, it could be a real struggle for the Cowboys.

When Oklahoma State throws the ball​

To counterbalance Utah’s desire to stop the run, OSU quarterback Alan Bowman needs to continue with the efficient start to his season. The seventh-year QB has had one bad half of football through three games, totaling 967 yards on a completion percentage of 67.0 with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. When he gets one-on-one opportunities on Saturday, Bowman needs to cash in.

When Utah runs the ball​

Overall, the Utes have been a balanced offense, but the run game has been a bit more effective, averaging 192.0 yards per game. With seventh-year quarterback Cameron Rising expected to return after suffering a laceration on his throwing hand that kept him out the last game-and-a-half, he adds more value to the run game with his mobility, though he prefers to use it to keep passing plays alive rather than to gain yardage on foot.

When Utah throws the ball​

Here’s where Rising’s hand will be tested the most. If the cut is impacting his accuracy, the OSU defense must turn that into takeaways. The big key for OSU will be getting pressure on Rising in the pocket, and not letting him get loose to keep plays alive. Those situations have not been good for OSU last year and early this year, seeing several big plays made by quarterbacks who escaped the pocket.

Bowman currently sits in 6th.

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The “pager terrorism” opened a new frontier in indiscriminate violence. As an aside, it is interesting that is was perpetrated by a country that says it is the most moral country in the world. For all their sins Hamas & Hezbollah don’t flaunt their hypocrisy like Zionists do.

So obviously God approves. Besides, the Chosen Ones don’t murder anyone, it’s all Hamas’ fault.

Some of the $85 billion in military armaments the US abandoned in Kabul will wind up in Lebanon very soon??

Anyone else watching this game and having a bad reminder from last year??? lol

20 degrees difference between what they are used to and the temperature on Saturday could be a factor.

Every time they unsuccessfully try to kill President Trump he walks away bigger than ever. Which is why they absolutely have to kill him now.

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so what’s changed?

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1. 100 degrees plus on the field

2. Fast paced on offense

Utah is a very good team, and well coached. But, they don’t play games when the temperature is over 100 on the field. I believe they will wear out by the end of the third quarter. We need to play a clean game. If we do, the weather will help us.

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The left always treats law-abiding citizens like they are criminal and criminal like they are law-abiding citizens.

I noticed a response on a thread related to the cost of going to the 2024 world championships and watching Coach Taylor compete. Round trip airfare and a hotel for a week cost a little under $1200 or less per person.. What strikes me about that is that is about 1/3 of what the NCAA is asking for a single all session ticket to the NCAA tournament in Philly. Pretty sad..

Apparently some kids did some things, as our towel-headed congresswoman would say. That’s about all I can glean from the various stories posted. Can anybody be of help?

What gives?

Starting QB heads to the locker room early.

Deion is exactly who we thought we is. His son exhibiting what his father taught him.

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Spewing anti-Israeli propaganda to its own people. Calling for peace. Calling for a cease fire. Who do these people think they are? Don’t they know the correct mantra is “Just Win, Baby!”