The Cowboys boasted one of the most effective offensive line units in the Big 12 last season, and there's reason to think it could be even better in 2024. Let's take a look at Oklahoma State's position groups with big boys up front.
Be sure to check out our other previews: QB | RB | WR | TE
everyone's back
Oklahoma State returns seven offensive linemen who started multiple games last season and did not lose any lettermen up front. Sounds like a hell of a sales pitch for the returning Ollie Gordon. And his return, along with the rest of OSU's skill players returning, made the Pokes linemen's choices to run it back a little easier.
This is what it looked like at the start last year.
Joe Michalski (14)
Dalton Cooper (13)
Preston Wilson (12)
Jake Springfield (11)
Cole Birmingham (10)
Jason Brooks (7)
Taylor Mitelko (3)
All these returning starters are also a boon for returning QB Alan Bowman, whose jersey was mostly clean last year. OSU ranks him second in the Big 12 in sacks allowed, and nationally he is tied for eighth, allowing just 13 sacks (including the sack of Bowman, who took over at the start of the Big 12 game). He only had 7). The Cowboys allowed 0.93 sacks per game, tied for seventh with Georgia.
Also returning are linemen with playing experience in Noah McKinney, Austin Kawecky, Jack Endeen, Davis Dotson and Jacoby Sanders, who should get more opportunities this fall.
who is the new guy
In addition to the returning talent, experience and cohesion, the Cowboys added a Power Five tackle with years of starting experience. Arizona State transfer Isaiah Glass arrived on campus this spring and is competing for a role among a deep and talented OL group.
Glass is no stranger to OSU. If it were the Sun Devils, he would have gone to Stillwater for last year's meeting. He started against the Cowboys in 2022. Glass started all 12 games in 2022 before starting three games for ASU last season. He played in six games in a reserve role as a freshman in 2021.
“He starts a lot,” Gundy said of Glass earlier this week. “He has a lot of experience. He is mature. He has good physical ability. He is strong and moves well with his feet. We watched his conference on video And we raced against him, so we had a pretty good feel for what he was going to bring. have. …
“Hopefully we have seven guys who can play without blinking in the first game, maybe eight, I don't know. Let's see. After that, you know, they… started dropping like flies and by the end of the year, we were down to five people. I hope that doesn't happen, but that's history.”
Important number: 23.56
OSU's spring media guide lists the Cowboys offensive line as likely the most experienced in college football. It's hard to predict something like this this early. You know, it's all about portals too. But the Cowboys are very experienced. This group of returning starters, excluding Glass, has played in a total of 284 games and started 200 games. 6 super seniors and 1 redshirt senior. When the Cowboys open the season against South Dakota State on Aug. 31, their average age will be 23.56 years old.
Outlook for OL
The Cowboys' offense was strong, especially toward the end of last season. With Gordon, Bowman, and all of the big men back to help facilitate the playmaking of the receivers, the Pokes should be able to hit the ground running in the fall. As Gundy alluded to, health is always a concern, but the Cowboys are in as good a position up front as they've ever been with both experience and depth.
Spring OL depth chart prediction
The rotation for this group is subject to change, with coaches looking to rotate in new blockers to take advantage of depth, but this is about what the depth chart will look like in Week 1. That's a half-educated guess.
(first army)
LT — Cooper
LG — Brooks
C — Michalski
RG — Wilson
RT — Springfield
(Second team)
LT — Harvey
LG — Birmingham
C — Kawesi
RG — Mitelco
RT — Glass
