Oklahoma State Football: Ranking the 10 best players on the roster

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Oct 29, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Ramon Richards (7) reacts after dropping the ball intended for West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Ka’Raun White (2) during the first half at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /

The converted cornerback to safety, Ramon Richards, looks to fill a huge role in the Cowboy defense this season. With former safety Jordan Sterns gone, Richards also has huge shoes to fill. The fact that he’ll start next to Tre Flowers should make the transition at least a little bit easier.

Richards made huge strides, improving drastically over his last two seasons in Stillwater as a cornerback. He has eight career interceptions, and returned two of those for touchdowns. Having that ball hawking presence at the safety position should help out defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer immensely.

The biggest worry for Oklahoma State in the wake of Richards’ position change is the gap he leaves at corner on the depth chart. Clemson transfer Adrian Baker could plug that gap as well as the pair of sophomore cornerbacks A.J. Green and Madre Harper. Expect Harper to step up in a big way in 2017.

Richards brings another dynamic to the safety position that Sterns could not. Deep balls were a weak point of Sterns’ game and also one of Richards’ strongest. Richards became a well-developed coverage corner in his time behind No. 1 corners such as Kevin Peterson and Ashton Lampkin.

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