'He’s just the total package': Why linebacker Xavier Benson can make early impact at Oklahoma State​

Scott Wright
Oklahoman

STILLWATER — Xavier Benson will arrive at Oklahoma State next month and he’ll be put straight to work.

Based on all the circumstances, the Tyler (Texas) Junior College linebacker has the most significant opportunity to make an early impact out of anyone OSU signed in the 2022 recruiting class on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Benson arrives with experience, not just in junior college, but at the Big 12 level. He started 10 games for Texas Tech as a redshirt freshman in 2019.

At OSU, he steps into the position in most need of immediate help. OSU loses both its starting linebackers, Malcolm Rodriguez and Devin Harper, who have been the heartbeat of the defense this season.

Rodriguez and Harper combined for 204 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and nine sacks this season.

“I don’t know if there’s any pair of linebackers that have been as valuable as what those guys have been for us,” OSU head coach Mike Gundy said. “Malcolm Rodriguez should’ve been a first-team All-American. Regardless, he was second-team All-American. Devin Harper’s been fantastic.

“We know we have good young guys behind them. There’s several guys, but we needed one mature player to come in, because we don’t play two guys. We want to play four. So we needed one guy to come in who’s mature, and (Benson has) had a bunch of reps. He’s older. He gets it. He’s physically mature. He’s excited about being here.”

This season, backups Lamont Bishop, who will be a senior, and Mason Cobb, who will be a junior, saw limited playing time at the inside linebacker position manned by Harper. The group is less experienced behind Rodriguez at the outside linebacker position.

That’s where Benson ideally fits.

“He could play safety the way he runs. He can fly,” said Tyler JC coach Thomas Rocco. “You immediately notice how quickly he can get somewhere — how quickly he can get to the ball, and what he does when he gets there. He tends to beat blockers with little effort.

“He’s a student of the game, too, so his football IQ and play recognition make him play faster than most. He loves it.”

Benson was a three-star recruit in 2018 when he came out of Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas. He redshirted at Texas Tech in 2018, then earned a starting job the next year. He played in 12 games, starting 10, and finished with 57 tackles with four for loss and a sack.

Benson opted out of the 2020 pandemic season, then entered the transfer portal. His life experiences give him a leg up on handling the transition in moving from junior college back to the Big 12.

“That guy is more resilient than any 20-year-old I’ve ever met,” Rocco said. “He’s been through good times, hard times. He’s seen a little bit of everything. There’s nothing I don’t think he can’t handle, transition-wise.

“As a person, he’s even more impressive than he is as a player. He’s very charismatic. Xavier is a leader. He can take over a whole locker room or dorm building. He loves football so much, and he uses the game to express himself. He’s just the total package.”

In his lone season at Tyler, Benson had 120 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions in 12 games.

“As a player, he’s as good as any I’ve ever seen,” Rocco said. “He’s got some really high-level ability. He does things that make you enjoy watching football.

“He’s got a knack for finding the football. I’m guessing at Oklahoma State, they’ll put him in the position to affect a lot of plays, and I think that’s how you get the most out of him. You gotta capitalize on what he can do for you.”

Is the event still on just with the Tulsa game? So no refund?

Or is OSU going to schedule another opponent?

Or is the event just getting cancelled?

Curious what sparks OSU fans interest?

Enters the portal for his final year

Hinting at a return?

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It was reported on another OK State forum that Taylor Lamont would not wrestle tonight due to injury. I could not ascertain if this is true. I do know he shown as unavailable on 12/3 due to injury but have not seen anything since. If he is out tonight it will probably be the only chance for Utah Valley to score as Romero is out for the season. I was looking forward to seein how Mastro fared against Lamont as Flo has him ranked 5th and Mastro 7th. Lamont has a history of injuries (knee) but placed 5th in the NCAA, I hope he can wrestle.

I’ll provide a link to a story and @Been Jammin @davidallen or @my_2cents can compare it to the cnn article of the same story and show us how it’s different.

I assume these are white victims, that’s why this is being highlighted by Fox News.

"I know vaccination requirements are unpopular for many, not even popular for those who are anxious to get them. My administration has put them in place not to control your life, but to save your life and the lives of others." - Brandon

*

Just heard on TV, Tre Sterling, Tanner Mcalester, Braydon Johnson, maybe Jarrick Converse/. & we already knew Brock Martin.

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Here's an old rule to remember: Leftists accuse others of what they're actually doing.

Or are we just gonna blow it off like we did the CCG?

I thought they were mad at LR for taking g recruits to USC! Feeling hypocrites.
4 star athlete committed to Clemson secretly enrolled at OU.

And thought it perfectly described some our leftist friends on this board. Some our right-leaning friends as well.

I had a phone call with an attorney in Lexington who is a big KU fan. Their game with Louisville has been cancelled due to Covid issues with Louisville. He said the rumors around KU basketball is a possible match up with OSU and doing it on a home and home basis. If so that might lead to a sell out at GIA.

Leaning towards DirectTV Stream. Would appreciate any opinions on the matter.

Lack of journalism or common sense is on full display with this one.https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/586491-the-day-democracy-almost-died

I can see how lots of this is absence of Cade, but we played well without him last year. We've regressed defensively and that's not on Cade. Our offense has not been playing well and we're dropping games we should win. AA is playing like his freshman or first half of last year, and MAM and RW have regressed it seems like.

I'm totally open to the cause, but maybe there's a culture or coaching influence that left? Seems like Pastrana was in the middle of everything and he left after last season.

They did 13-15 today of the top 15 freshmen this year. Oliver has to be #1, right? I can't think of any other freshmen who played like he did this year. I was watching Bedlam again and late in the 4th quarter ou triple-teamed him on some plays (double-team by OL and RB chipping on him).

And wait on treatment until they get bad. Common recommendations from the cdc - which Many or most? Hospitals follow. I've said all along- murder. Then the drugs they gave them were deadly - some STILL being given.

Francis Collins told others to take down the Great Barrington document signed by NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND experts about how bad lockdowns and keeping known early treatments from patients was. This man with Fauchi and others SHOULD BE TRIED FOR MURDER.

Knowles didn't coach a position while here. Moved about during practice, watched and coached the entire defense. Gundy called him a walk around coordinator.

Hyper aggressive Pelosi DC cops brown short thugs have now officially killed 4 unnarmed Trump protestors lawfully and peacefully protesting a Coup of a sitting president with a week long fraud election steal.

Mostly women and seniors- all unnarmed Murdered in cold blood. Our America. Unreal.

Reminder 1- The one and only drug that Moderna ever has gotten approved by the FDA is this emergency use vaccine, I know I'm not making this up!! So only one drug and it was this vaccine and it's experimental for emergency use, yes you can't make this up.
Bet most of the shot takers didn't know this bc our media is total propaganda.


Also a reminder that Pfizer quit counting breakthrough cases, you know we can't have too many of those out there in the public knowledge. Media didn't tell you this one either I bet.

What a freaking cluster of crap all this shit