How will Oklahoma State football replace Collin Oliver's pass rush? Here are some options
Scott WrightThe Oklahoman
STILLWATER — Upon learning of defensive end Collin Oliver’s injury in the second quarter of Saturday’s game against Arkansas, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II made his way around the locker room at halftime.
“We gotta win this one for C.O.,” Gordon told each player.
And they did, rallying from a two-touchdown deficit for a 39-31 victory in double-overtime.
Perhaps the same motivation can carry them forward this season, with news that Oliver will miss a “considerable number” of games because of a broken foot.
Oliver’s father posted on social media Sunday that his son has a Jones Fracture, a break in the fifth metatarsal, that will require surgery.
Replacing him won’t be easy, but the 14th-ranked Cowboys have a few options as they prepare to visit Tulsa for an 11 a.m. kickoff Saturday at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
Oliver’s father posted on social media Sunday that his son has a Jones Fracture, a break in the fifth metatarsal, that will require surgery.
Replacing him won’t be easy, but the 14th-ranked Cowboys have a few options as they prepare to visit Tulsa for an 11 a.m. kickoff Saturday at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
Oliver was a key piece in the Cowboys’ offseason adjustment to improve the pass rush, and it was working well so far. He had one sack and seven QB pressures in the season opener, and Saturday, he hit Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green as he threw, which caused an interception that Kale Smith returned for a touchdown.
That was the play he suffered the broken foot, and he was replaced by Division II transfer Obi Ezeigbo from that point.
Ezeigbo played well, finishing with nine tackles with 3.5 for loss and 2.0 sacks, but will have a much larger task ahead as the starter on the edge.
Who is Obi Ezeigbo?
Ezeigbo transferred from Gannon University, the same DII program where OSU defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo had been coaching.He had been committed to South Florida, and was also recruited by Baylor and others after he entered the transfer portal last winter.
Gundy said on Monday that they had recruited multiple defensive linemen in the portal during the offseason, but Ezeigbo was the only one they landed.
“The truth? He was very inexpensive,” Gundy said. “A number of players that we go after that were ready to play at this level, we can’t afford. He was a good buy, and a really quality young man that had had success, and has physical characteristics that we can work with.
“That’s why he ended up here in my opinion. We saw some things that we felt we could develop into a good player at this level, and it wasn’t gonna cost us the money that we didn’t have.”
Teammates have raved about Ezeigbo’s speed off the edge, which will be the key to his impact on the defense. And his overall quality of play impressed Gundy on Saturday.
“What he did was really compete,” Gundy said. “He really got put to the test with an extended number of plays that he really hadn’t had at this level.
“He actually played better than I thought he would, which can be the case a lot of times. We really don’t know how good a young man can be until he gets in there.
Gundy specifically credited Ezeigbo’s play in the fourth quarter and overtime when he had grown physically tired. Yet he stayed mentally sharp.
Who else could help on the edge?
The current OSU depth chart lists redshirt freshman Poasa Utu, a 6-foot, 225-pound linebacker, as Ezeigbo’s backup as the edge rusher. However, OSU’s ultimate answer to replacing Oliver likely involves some scheme adjustments.“We’re gonna investigate that this week, and come up with a plan for where we’re at at that particular position,” Gundy said. “And if we have to vary a style of play to get certain guys on the field with more maturity, we could do that.
“But we won’t know that til Thursday.”
For one, converted safety Kendal Daniels could see an uptick in snaps at linebacker. The Cowboys have used him primarily at that position, while still moving him into the secondary on occasion. He likely keeps his focus at linebacker now.
He played 58 of 93 snaps on Saturday, and that number could increase, getting him on the field with fellow linebackers Nick Martin and Jeff Roberson.
