OSU position preview: Defensive line
Here’s a look at Oklahoma State’s defensive line:
Starters
Jordan Brailford (RJr., 6-3,
250)
Trey Carter (RSr., 6-3, 299) Darrion Daniels (Sr., 6-3, 320)
Cole Walterscheid (RSr.,
6-5, 260)
Key backups
Jarrell Owens (RSr., 6-3, 265)
Enoch Smith Jr. (RSr., 6-2,
295)
Cameron Murray (RSo., 6-2, 290)
Brock Martin (RFr., 6-4,
242)
Mike Scott (RJr., 6-5, 240) Scouting ahead
This season: The Cowboys arguably have as much depth at defensive line as they do any position group.
Walterscheid has the most career starts of any of OSU’s returning defensive players, while Owens (12), Daniels (10), Brailford (9) and Carter (3) have combined 34. Add in Smith, who made no starts but played in 11 of OSU’s 13 games last season, and the Cowboys have six experienced players to rotate through their defensive line. Perhaps most fortunate for the Cowboys is that the group is split between tackles and ends.
After playing hurt for most of 2017, Owens is back to 100 percent, which could make him a force on the outside for the Cowboys. Daniels and Carter combined to start all 13 games a year ago and together could prove to be quite the inside tandem.
The future: Although he signed five in the 2018 class, defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements has long had 2019 circled on his recruiting calendar. With six seniors this season, Clements recognized the upcoming class would be crucial. Luckily, he’ll have some help in handling it, as coach Mike Gundy added former Cowboy Greg Richmond as a second defensive line coach.
Together, they’ve snagged verbal commitments from four Texas defensive lineman, including Walterscheid’s younger brother, Kody. Grant Mahon out of Denton Guyer has already committed to OSU’s 2020 class.