Defense shuts down S. Alabama offense

Ala. — A week ago, Kirk Tucker walked onto the field for the season-opening coin toss as a special-teams captain, stuck deep on Oklahoma State’s defensive depth chart.

Next week, he could be a starting linebacker when the Cowboys play their biggest game of this early season.

And if Friday night’s performance in OSU’s 44-7 win over South Alabama at Ladd-Peebles Stadium was any indication, the senior who coach Mike Gundy described as a “journeyman” is ready for whatever role the Cowboys need from him.

“He’s like that lifer in the minor leagues,” Gundy said of Tucker. “He shows up, he’s on every special teams, gets out there and plays hard, makes some plays on defense and now is becoming more of a factor for us defensively.”

A depleted linebacker

unit that traveled without one starter (Kenneth Edison-McGruder) and one oft-used backup (Kevin Henry) lost another regular when Calvin Bundage was ejected for targeting — a penalty that will cost him the first half of next week’s game at Pittsburgh.

Edison-McGruder is battling an undisclosed injury and Gundy described him as “dayto-day.” Henry is done for the year with a knee injury, according to Gundy.

Both injuries came in the two days prior to Friday’s game, leaving Tucker with little time behind Bundage at the outside linebacker position.

“This has been happening since my freshman year, really,” Tucker said, referencing previous instances when injuries have led to extended playing time. “I get extra reps by watching and putting myself into plays.”

Tucker stepped in with a quarterback sack, a hurry and a tackle for loss among his four tackles.

“Not a surprise,” defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said. “That wasn’t an issue at all. I don’t think anybody else panicked.

“Kirk, he’s been around a long time, and he knows to stay ready.”

On a night when everyone waited to see just how flashy Oklahoma State’s offensive show might be, and when the ticker was counting down to Cowboy history for quarterback Mason Rudolph, the Pokes on defense were the dominant ones.

The game was only minutes old before South Alabama’s starting quarterback was out of the game, taking multiple hits on the Jaguars’ first two series.

The second quarter was halfway over before South Alabama recorded a first down.

With a defensive line that kept constant pressure on the quarterback, Oklahoma State allowed South Alabama only 68 passing yards in the first half, and nothing on 12 rushing attempts.

The Jaguars had only one legitimate scoring opportunity through three quarters — missing a 31-yard field goal — and surpassed the 100-yard mark about five minutes into the fourth quarter.

“I thought the defense was excellent,” Gundy said.

“Our guys did a good job of stopping the run and getting off the field and allowed our offense to get going.”