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

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Sep 17, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner (24) runs the ball as Oklahoma State Cowboys linebacker Chad Whitener (45) defends during the first quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /

Middle linebacker Chad Whitener experienced a breakout season during his sophomore campaign back in 2015. He followed that up with another solid season, leading the Cowboy defense to help head coach Mike Gundy to rack up his second 10-win season in a row.

This year, Whitener will be counted on to produce some of the biggest numbers and be the biggest leader on the defensive side of the ball for Oklahoma State. He’ll be starting alongside redshirt junior weakside linebacker Justin Phillips and senior strongside linebacker Kirk Tucker. However, Whitener is the only one of the three with significant starting experience.

Whitener’s career numbers are more than impressive. Through two years at Oklahoma State and one year with the California Golden Bears he racked up nearly 170 total tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown.

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If Whitener can put together more performances like he did against the TCU Horned Frogs in 2015, where he intercepted quarterback Trevone Boykin twice and returned one for a touchdown, he’ll be up for All-Big 12 honors for the first time in his career.

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