OSU position break downs....O'Colly....Moved to The Corral
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2021 position breakdown: Defensive line
- Chris Becker, Assistant Sports Editor, @bhris_cecker316
- Jun 2, 2021 Updated Jun 3, 2021
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The game was the final game of the regular season, and Ford tore his ACL in non-contact fashion.
Ford, a critical piece to OSU’s defensive line, lived the part prior to his injury in 2020. Ford, despite the injury, finished second on the defense in sacks with 4.5.
The Cowboys expect Ford to be ready come their first game of the 2021 season.
The Cowboys return a large portion of the defensive line from 2020, after losing Calvin Bundage and Cameron Murray to the NFL draft.
Although Murray and Bundage acccounted for the majority of the Cowboys line success, the new bodies have experience. Israel Antwine and Brock Martin have both seen large amounts of playing time on the field.
Martin should be expected to jump into a starting role opposite of Ford in OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles LEO position.
Despite losing bodies up front the Cowboys defensive line with Ford, Anwine, Martin, the possible return of Jayden Jernigan and Collin Clay is shaping up to be a star on the Cowboys defense.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
2021 position breakdown: Cowboy backs
- Chris Becker, Assistant Sports Editor, @bhris_cecker316
- Jun 9, 2021 Updated Jun 16, 2021
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The Cowboys are now left with just Logan Carter as the lone Cowboy Back on the OSU roster to have caught a pass last season. The Cowboys, however, return Braden Cassity and Quinton Stewart from the 2020 season.
Cassity, who sees a lot of time lining up in the backfield as a fullback, got solid reps catching the ball during OSU’s spring game.
Coach Mike Gundy has seen the improvement of both Carter and Cassity over the course of the offseason, and is confident in the position moving forward.
“Logan has been awesome, and Cassity just keeps coming along,” Gundy said. “Those guys are always going to be important to our offense. That is a position we have to be careful with health wise because of immaturity beyond those two.”
The Cowboys also have 3-star junior college tight end Austin Jarrad coming in for the 2021 season, who can provide depth to the position.
“Logan’s got a lot of reps, Cassity’s got some and then beyond that we have up and coming guys who don’t have any experience,” Gundy said.
Although the Cowboy Backs don’t often catch passes in OSU’s offense they are crucial to the success of the pass and run game. In 2020, Woods and Carter combined for 16 receptions for 213 yards and two touchdowns. However, in the run game their presence is crucial for blocking both on the line and down the field as the play progresses through the field levels.
In the passing game they provide a role not only from catching occasional passes, but spacing the field and taking coverage away from other receivers allowing them to catch more passes.
Although the Cowboy Backs may not break the stat sheet they have a huge impact on the offense, but the Cowboys will have to see some new faces finding their way into the rotation to fill the void left by the transfer of Jelani Woods.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
2021 position preview: Offensive line
- Chris Becker, Assistant Sports Editor, @bhris_cecker316
- Jun 16, 2021 Updated Jul 2, 2021
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His caption on his Instagram post announcing his return was simple:
“Unfinished business,” the caption read.
Sills took advantage of the free COVID-19 eligibility, choosing to play one more collegiate football season. His return boosts a Cowboys offensive line that lost two of their starters from 2020.
Center Ry Schneider and tackle Teven Jenkins decided to take the professional route, and not take the NCAA’s free year. Jenkins was drafted to the Chicago Bears in the second round of the NFL draft.
The Cowboys however, have the bodies up front this upcoming season they didn’t have at this point in the 2020 offseason. Due to injuries throughout the past season, the Cowboys young lineman, like Jake Springfield and Preston Wilson, earned experience up front during this time.
“Unfortunately, what we went through last year, we started the season with a group of five and by the time we were in the sixth or seventh game, we never got back to that group of five until maybe the eighth game,” coach Mike Gundy said. “So, it’s good for them to work together and get used to communicating."
The Cowboys also return Hunter Anthony, who can play both guard and tackle, and Cole Birmingham. Both started OSU’s first game last season before season ending injuries.
Offensive line coach Charlie Dickey brought in center transfer Danny Godlevske, who has experience starting, something the Cowboys lack with the depature of Schneider.
“(Godlevske) has a terrific attitude, work-ethic, mental approach, didn’t miss a snap, didn’t miss anything in practice," Gundy said. "I pushed those guys really hard in the spring. He made that transition, not only mentally — which is not easy — but he also did it physically.”
The Cowboys offensive line is in a much better place in the summer of 2021 then it was in the summer of 2020 because of those injuries it suffered through last season, which gave a lot of players valuable experience.
“I’m excited about them coming together as a group and I’m really excited they stayed healthy in the spring and it gives them a chance to get stronger, develop more and stay healthy and play well in the fall,” Gundy said.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
2021 position preview: Linebackers
- Dean Ruhl, Sports Editor, @the_ruhl_book
- Jun 23, 2021 Updated Jul 2, 2021
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As he watched former Oklahoma State linebackers Amen Ogbongbemiga and Calvin Bundage sign contracts with NFL teams as undrafted free agents, Rodriguez remained in Stillwater for spring practice.
He knew the ropes - this was the fourth spring he spent with coach Mike Gundy and his staff - but this time he wasn't a wide-eyed freshman. He was expected to be the leader.
"I just talked to my family and coaches and I felt like I had a few more things to work on," Rodriguez said. "Also I was getting my degree in the fall so it was kind of a no-brainer to come back."
Rodriguez, a senior who accepted the NCAA's offer for a free year of eligibility, will anchor the linebacker corps. He led the team in tackles with 82, the second consecutive season he has accomplished this.
Add on seven of those being tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, Rodriguez, who started every game this past season cements the linebackers.
"I've been working on my drops, reading the (quarterbacks) and playing with my hands more at the line of scrimmage," Rodriguez said.
Devin Harper will also be a valuable asset. The redshirt senior only started one game, but made appeared in all 11 games, ranking sixth on the team with 37 tackles.
Lamont Bishop, a transfer from Iowa Central Community College, was expected to have an immediate impact after his transfer in 2020, but an undisclosed injury sidelined him for the entire season.
Gundy said Bishop was one of the many players who arrived on campus last season out of shape, an added setback along with the injury, but has since gotten into shape.
Gundy said Bishop ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, something he was impressed by especially at Bishop's weight (235).
"We have to find a way to get him on the field," Gundy said. "We don't have a lot of guys who can run that fast that weight that much that at this point I don't think he's scared of football, so we've got to get him out there."
The depth of the group will be built around redshirt sophomores Na'Drian Dizadare and Kamryn Farrar and redshirt freshmen Constantino Borrelli, Jeff Roberson and Tyler Berryhill.
"Our young linebackers are functioning pretty well," Gundy said.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
2021 position breakdown: Cornerbacks
- Dean Ruhl, Sports Editor, @the_ruhl_book
- Jun 30, 2021 Updated Jul 7, 2021
Consoled by his mother, he anxiously awaited for his phone to ring. As the NFL draft crept closer to the seventh, and final round, the former Oklahoma State cornerback knew time was running out to hear his named called.
Eventually, the call did come. In the sixth round, with the No. 201 overall pick, Williams was selected by the New York Giants, and found himself packing his bags for East Rutherford that evening.
While Williams would be filling in an opening in New York, he was leaving an even bigger opening back in Stillwater.
Since arriving on campus in 2016, Williams started 48 consecutive games, an OSU record, and was regarded as one of the better shutdown cornerbacks at the college level.
"We’ll have a couple corners that’ll be in the rotation that will have to learn on the run," coach Mike Gundy said. "The other guys, they’ve all played forever and they should be better of eliminating getting their eyes violated on run-pass which is what happens in this league."
With Williams' departure, senior Jarrick Bernard-Converse assumes the role of leader on the team. Similar to Williams, Bernard-Converse currently leads the team in consecutive starts with 33.
“You have to start with trusting each other and trusting the scheme that coach (Jim) Knowles is telling us to do," Bernard-Converse said. "Just going out and competing every day and playing our hardest and doing our job. I think that is going to be our key focus this year for getting us to the top."
The starter alongside Williams last season, Bernard-Converse led the cornerback corps in tackles with 32, 27 of which were unassisted.
Bernard-Converse's starting spot is solidified, but the other remaining opening could land with one of two players.
Graduate transfer Christian Holmes used his extra year of eligibility to return to OSU, after appearing in all 11 games last season. Holmes led the cornerbacks in tackles for loss with three, and was credited with 25 tackles in 2020.
Junior Thomas Harper also is a viable starter for the Cowboys. Harper also played in all 11 games last season, totaling 31 tackles, and interception and fumble recovery.
While the starting rotation is set, the cornerback group will be able to flex its depth this season.
Korie Black, Jabbar Muhammad, Demarco Jones and Jordan Reagan are all sophomores or below heading into the season, and have received considerable praise from Gundy.
“The jump (Black) made from last year to this year is phenomenal,” safety Tre Sterling said. “The footwork he has, the speed he has and breaking on balls and routes. He definitely is balling out and chasing a (starting) spot right now.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Even a better read IMO: From CFN
Oklahoma State Cowboys College Football Preview 2021: Offense
2020 Record: 8-3 overall, 6-3 in Big 12Head Coach: Mike Gundy, 17th year, 137-67
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 19
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 22
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 50
Oklahoma State Cowboys College Football Preview 2021: Offense
– The Oklahoma State offense was okay, but it wasn’t anywhere near the high-flying fun show it should’ve been. It struggled with injuries, the running game wasn’t quite devastating enough, and the offensive line struggled mightily in pass protection and when it came to keeping defensive fronts out of the backfield.The team still went 8-3 with wins over Iowa State, Tulsa, and in the bowl over Miami, but the O can do a whole lot more. There’s plenty of work to do at the skill spots along with some big losses on the O line, but it’s Oklahoma State. The offense is going to be very, very good, but there’s a concern at …
– Wide receiver. The Cowboys lose top three targets Tylan Wallace, Dillon Stoner and Landon Wolf for a passing game that – like the rest of the offense in 2020 – was fine, but wasn’t as good as it should’ve been.
On the plus side, the cupboard is hardly bare with Braydon Johnson back after finishing third on the team with 248 yards leading a corps that should be dangerous with a little time.
6-3 former Washington State Cougar Tay Martin is back for a super-senior season – he didn’t quite blow up with 15 catches after making 143 grabs for Wazzu – and speedy Brennan Pressley showed off his upside with 118 yards and three scores in the bowl win over Miami.
Getting them the ball is junior Spencer Sanders, who was banged up a bit throughout last year but threw for over 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has to cut down on his picks, but he’s a baller. Former big recruit Shane Illingworth got his feet wet last year when – he’s a strong No. 2.
– Chuba Hubbard wasn’t able to recreate the magic of 2019, and now he’s off to the Carolina Panthers. 222-pound senior Dezmon Jackson and 200-pound senior LD Brown combined for close to 1,000 yards with six touchdowns. The backfield is good, and it’s getting better with Jaylen Warren coming in from Utah State.
Star OT Tevin Jenkins is a Chicago Bear, but three starters are back on the line, and there’s help from the transfer portal.
It might not be splashy, but getting center Danny Godlevske from Miami University is a big deal. There’s enough depth to come up with a few good position battles around the former RedHawk and former West Virginia guard Josh Sills.
Oklahoma State Cowboys College Football Preview 2021: Defense
– There were some meltdown moments, but the defense allowed 21 points or fewer six times, was No. 1 in the country at third down stops, and the pass rush was among the best in the Big 12.A little more consistency would be a plus, but there are plenty of positives to build on after allowing 379 yards and 23.5 points per game. Seven starters are expected to be back along with a whole lot of talented depth, with the stars in …
– The secondary – it should be outstanding. The Cowboys are loaded at safety with three good ones, led by Tre Sterling and his 74 tackles from last year along with Kolby Harvell-Peel and Tanner McCalister each with all-star upside.
The corner situation isn’t quite as strong without Rodarius Williams, but Jarrick Bernard-Converse is a good-sized all-around defender who can hit. It’s a young group, but it’s talented.
– The linebacking pros gets back leading tackler Malcolm Rodriguez – he made 82 tackles and three sacks with seven tackles for loss – but big hitter Amen Ogbongbemiga is done.
235-pound Devin Harper isn’t Ogbongbemiga, but he’s a good veteran who’ll step in and should be among the team’s leading tacklers after coming up with 37 stops.
– The line is going through a few changes, but it’ll be better this year. Trace Ford and Tyler Lacy are good pass rushers – Ford is a quick playmaker and Lacy brings more thump – and the front is set at tackle around a deep group starting with Israel Antwine and Sione Asi as the 300+ pound anchors.
Oklahoma State Cowboys College Football Preview 2021: Top Players
Best Oklahoma State Cowboys Offensive Player
OG Josh Sills, Sr.The Cowboys got themselves a star for the interior of the line. The 6-6, 330-pound Sills came over from West Virginia and was an immediate force and leader from his guard spot. He earned All-Big 12 honors, but he should be in the mix for more All-America recognition for his versatility – he can kick out to tackle if needed – and power.
2. RB LD Brown, Sr.
3. QB Spencer Sanders, Jr.
4. RB Dezmon Jackson, Sr.
5. PK Alex Hale, Jr.
Best Oklahoma State Cowboys Defensive Player
LB Malcolm Rodriguez, Sr.On a D with a few solid NFL prospects – safety Kolby Harvell-Peel should rise up the charts with a strong year – it’ll be Rodriguez who’s the statistical star and vocal leader of the D.
Around for his super-senior season, the 5-11, 225-pounder led the team with 82 tackles last season with three sacks and seven tackles for loss. He was a do-it-all playmaker in the 4-2-5, coming up with double-digit stops against Oklahoma and Texas.
2. S Kolby Harvell-Peel, Sr.
3. DE Tyler Lacy, Jr.
4. DE Trace Ford, Jr.
5. S Tre Sterling, Sr.
Top Incoming Oklahoma State Cowboys Transfer
C Danny Godlevske, Sr.The Cowboy line got a huge boost last year when Josh Sills came over from West Virginia and became a fixture, and while Godlevske might not be quite as talented, he could make just as big an impact at center.
The 6-3, 305-pounder isn’t massive, but he’s been a rock-solid all-star blocker for Miami University over the last three years. He’s quick, experienced, and he fills an immediate need.
Oklahoma State Cowboys College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
Oklahoma State Cowboys Biggest Key: Offense
Somehow do a bit more with the ground game without Chuba Hubbard. The Oklahoma State backfield cupboard is hardly bare with LD Brown and Dezmon Jackson two good veterans to go along with a deep stable of options to work into the mix.The Oklahoma State ground game was fine, but it wasn’t nearly as nasty as it the 2019 version when Hubbard was running wild. The Cowboys averaged 5.3 yards per run two years ago and just four yards per carry last season – the banged up Hubbard wasn’t as explosive.
It’s no coincidence that the three losses came on three of the worst rushing days of the season. The Cowboys didn’t hit 150 yards six times – they lost three of them, and the other three games were way-too-tight wins over Tulsa, Kansas State, and Miami.
They were 5-0 when hitting 200 rushing yards and have won their last seven games going back to last year when getting there.
Oklahoma State Cowboys Biggest Key: Defense
Come up with takeaways on a steadier basis. Takeaways don’t always equal wins for the team – the Cowboys lost the five-takeaway game against TCU – but they obviously help.The overall numbers were fine for the defense, and the turnovers have been there over the last few seasons, but it’s been a feast-or-famine thing.
The Cowboys generated 16 takeaways last year, but eight of them came in a two-game stretch against TCU and Texas Tech, and with two against both Kansas State and Miami. There were just six over the other seven games.
It was the same thing in 2019. OSU came up with multiple takeaways in six games, but got just two in the other seven games.
Oklahoma State Cowboys Key Player To A Successful Season
QB Spencer Sanders, Jr.He’s been good, but the offense needs more out of its quarterback.
No one was confusing Taylor Cornelius with Kyler Murray, but he threw for close to 4,000 yards with 32 touchdowns in 2018. That was coming off the almost 14,000 career passing yards and 92 touchdowns from the Mason Rudolph era.
Sanders brings plenty of mobility and experience, but he’s had two straight 2,000-yard passing seasons with 19 interceptions – that’s not how Oklahoma State rolls.
It’s his third year and he had a strong spring – watch out for a jump in efficiency. If he’s terrific, the Cowboys will be players – pushing Oklahoma and Iowa State – in the Big 12 race.
Oklahoma State Cowboys Key Game To The 2021 Season
Oklahoma, Nov. 7It’s been six straight losses and eight of the last nine, and now it’s back to being the last game in the regular season again. There are big back-to-back road games at Texas and Iowa State – the Cowboys have to at least split against those two – and there are plenty of landmines along the way, but …
It’s Oklahoma. It’s about time to win this again.
2020 Oklahoma State Cowboys Fun Stats
– 3rd Down Conversions: OSU 42% – Opponents 26.5%– Fumbles: Opponents 19 (lost 10) – OSU 12 (lost 6)
– Red Zone Scores: OSU 40-of-49 – Opponents 25-of-29
Oklahoma State Cowboys College Football Preview 2021: What Will Happen, Season Prediction
There’s something to be said for being consistently above-average, but Oklahoma State is way overdue to do something splashy – like get to the Big 12 Championship.The program has enjoyed 15 straight winning seasons with 15 straight bowl appearances under Mike Gundy, it won four of its last five bowl games, and it finished in the Big 12’s top three in five of the last six seasons and in ten of the last 12.
It’s been a strong run of consistency, but after four ten-win seasons in a five year stretch from 2013 to 2017, OSU hasn’t been above eight wins in any of the last three seasons, and the 23-3 stretch of 2010 and 2011 is now a long, long time ago.
And …
Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas.
Those five teams have been in the Big 12 Championship since the game kicked it back up in the 2017 season after a six-year hiatus.
Throw Kansas State into the mix – and forgetting about Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas A&M – and since the first Big 12 Championship in 1996, six of the ten current conference schools played in the spotlight game.
Oklahoma State might have won the 2011 Big 12 Championship and a piece of the 2010 version, but it joins Kansas, Texas Tech and West Virginia as the four current Big 12ers to never get that fun extra game.
With only some offense to the conference, it’s a ten-team league that usually has at least two teams each season that stink. So to get there already after this way too long preamble …
Go play in the Big 12 Championship, Oklahoma State.
SET THE OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS REGULAR SEASON WIN TOTAL AT … 8
Oklahoma is loaded this year, Iowa State is the media darling, and the attention will be on Texas because it’s Texas and it has a new head coach, but Oklahoma State could be the sneaky-good team in the mix.The offense needs to be sharper than it was last season, and it should be. The defense needs to be a bit more consistent and a little better than 2020, and it should be.
And again, it’s the Big 12. It’s not the SEC West or Big Ten East. If you’re good enough to be in the top three again, you should be good enough to finally win that one extra game to get to the top two to earn the invite to Arlington.
Road games at Texas and Iowa State will make that tough, and teams like Texas Tech and Kansas State are going to be rough in this super-senior year, so expect yet another very good above-average season with at least eight wins, a bowl appearance, and likely a post-season win.
That’s okay for this consistently rock-solid, but it would be nice to finally get a little bit more.
So ... more offense, mobility and efficiency are good ...but ... what weight is he wrestling?
