Linebacker depth will be continual issue
Moving Malcolm Rodriguez from safety to linebacker helped Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles toge this best available players on the field Friday night at Oregon State.
But it didn't necessarily boost the depth at linebacker, where Oklahoma State continues to battle injuries.
OSU's three most experienced linebackers — Calvin Bu nd age, Kevin Henry and Dev in Harper—were out with injuries. Bundage and Harper didn't make the trip and could be out extended periods.
Rodriguez and Amen Ogbongbemiga had to play nearly every meaningful snap at the Cowboys' two linebacker positions.
“We're down a few guys,” Knowles said. “It's tough, because those guys had to play a lot. And by moving Malcolm, we became a little thinner at safety, too. We're gonna be putting it together all year, that's for sure.”
Greenwood, Cassity move to offense
LC Greenwood is a receiver again. And Braden Cassity is a Cowboy back.
Those two position changes were revealed during pregame warmups Friday.
Greenwood, who was a receiver for his first two seasons on campus, moved to linebacker in the spring, and was still there at the start of preseason camp.
But the 6- foot -3,212pound redshirt sophomore was wearing No .80 and catching passes with other receivers before the game.
Cassity, a 6-2, 240-pound redshirt freshman, had been playing defensive end, but moved to Cowboy back, where Oklahoma State has battled attrition.
Larry Joubert and Jake Ross had to leave the team because of health concerns, and true f r eshman Grays o n Boomer recently suffered a torn ACL.