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Oklahoma State football: What can the Cowboys do for an encore in 2022?

By John Scimeca

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys talks with cornerback Korie Black #4 during the second half of the college football game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys talks with cornerback Korie Black #4 during the second half of the college football game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
(Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /

Defense

The OSU defense will be picking up the pieces from its standout 2021 performance, which might arguably go down as the best defense in school history.

The unit ranked first in the nation with 4.07 sacks per game and second in the nation with 8.1 tackles for loss per game. The Cowboys also ranked among the nation’s best 10 teams in terms of points allowed (18.1), rushing yards allowed (87.6), and total yards allowed (297.9) per game.

Three Cowboys from last year’s defense went in the 2022 NFL Draft — linebackers Malcolm Rodriguez and Devin Harper, and defensive back Christian Holmes. Several other starters transferred, including destinations like Ohio State and LSU.

Adding these losses to the departure of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (now at Ohio State) will make last season’s year of superlatives tough to match for this year’s OSU defense.

The defensive line, though, should be among the nation’s best. Defensive end Collin Oliver was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and was a freshman All-America after a standout rookie season with the Cowboys. The former Edmond Santa Fe star had the seventh-most sacks of any player in the country with 11.5, including several in the biggest moments of the season — namely, the takedown at the end of Bedlam of former OU quarterback Caleb Williams.

With Trace Ford returning from injury this year in addition to the returns of talented linemen Brock Martin and Tyler Lacy, opposing offensive lines will have their hands full with the Cowboys.

Linebacker Xavier Benson is a junior college transfer who comes to the Cowboys after also spending time at Texas Tech. He’s impressed in fall camp and could be an emerging leader on defense.

Pressure will fall on Jason Taylor II at the safety position in 2022 as a leader of the OSU secondary — the former Carl Albert standout provided some of the Cowboys’ biggest plays of the season, like the blocked field goal against Boise State and the pick-six to spark the comeback against Texas.

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