Breaking down OSU’s linebacker position
Here’s a look at Oklahoma State’s linebacker position group:
Starters
Justin Phillips (RSr., 6-0, 230)
Calvin Bundage (Jr., 6-2, 215)
Key backups
Amen Ogbongbemiga (RSo., 6-0, 225) Devin Harper (RSo., 6-1, 231)
Kevin Henry (RJr., 6-0, 231)
Patrick Macon (RJr., 6-3, 244)
Philip Redwine-Bryant (RJr., 6-2, 228) Blake Barron (Fr., 6-0, 225)
Scouting ahead
This season: Though the Cowboys graduated one starter in Chad Whitener, the move to the 4-2-5 scheme leaves them with starters returning at both linebacker positions.
Additionally, the transition out of the 4-3 leaves them with some serious depth at the position, even after the news over the weekend that Patrick Macon will miss two months or more with a foot injury.
Ogbongbemiga continued to gain more playing time throughout last season and is a solid backup to Phillips at the middle linebacker spot. Harper was a reliable special teams player who is among the backups at Bundage’s weakside spot.
Henry, who was showing promise before tearing his ACL in early September a year ago, is a viable backup at both positions and will work his way onto the field.
The future: Linebacker recruiting has been limited the last two years. Barron was the only one in the 2018 class, a year after Macon and Brendan Vaughn — who is no longer with the team — were signed.
Na’Drian Dizadare from Shreveport, Louisiana, is committed for 2019, and OSU could be in the market for another. Perhaps someone like Myles Jernigan, the cousin of defensive line commit Jayden Jernigan.