When talking about consistency at the head coach position in college football, Oklahoma State football’s Mike Gundy immediately jumps into the conversation.
The 56-year-old vet is 166-79 in his tenure and is fresh off his eighth 10-win season since 2010 after the Cowboys went 10-4 and reached the Big 12 Championship. That's impressive, especially for an old-school coach who is forced to adapt to the chaotic landscape of the sport that is centered around a revolving door of transfers and conference realignment.
Another breakout season is in store for the Cowboys in 2024, who return the second-most starters in the nation (21), including Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon II at running back.
With that being said, here are the three Oklahoma State position groups that stand out as the most talented heading into this season.
1. Running Backs
Few college football teams ran the ball as efficiently as Oklahoma State in 2023, which was a big reason why the Cowboys ranked 30th in the nation in total offense.
Of course, the rushing attack fell on the shoulders of Ollie Gordon, who took college football by storm last season. A unanimous first-team All-American and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, the Fort Worth, Texas, product led the nation in rushing yards (1,732) and 15-plus-yard runs (31), while finishing second in rushing touchdowns (21) and yards after contact (1,056). What’s even more mind-boggling is that Gordon, who finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting, compiled these numbers despite only having 19 carries through the first three games.
There is no question that the Oklahoma State offense will lean on Gordon’s star power once again, but the running back group also has the talent to back him up.
One name to keep an eye on is senior AJ Green, who spent three years at Arkansas before transferring in to Stillwater. A four-star prospect coming out of high school, Green racked up 953 rushing yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry in his career. Having a veteran rusher like Green should compliment Gordon nicely.
Also adding depth is Indiana transfer Trent Howland. A big, bruiser of a running back (6-foot-3, 240), Howland led the Hoosiers in rushing in 2023 behind 354 yards on the ground.
With Gordon looking to elevate his overall production following a brilliant 2023 campaign, Oklahoma State is a strong bet to yet again feature one of the top backfields in the country this season.
2. Linebackers
The Cowboys have a ton of talent at the second level defensively and it all starts with Collin Oliver and Nick Martin — two of the best linebackers in the Big 12.
Following a pair of highly productive seasons at the college level, including being named the unanimous Big 12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, Oliver continued to mold himself into one of the best edge rushers in the nation last season. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native recorded 73 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, six sacks (led all Big 12 linebackers), and four forced fumbles (third in FBS). A 2023 second-team All-Big 12 selection, Oliver’s 26 career pressures are the most in program history.
After not cracking the starting lineup in his first two seasons in Stillwater, Martin shined all over the field and was the ironman for Oklahoma State’s defense in 2023. A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Martin led the team with 140 tackles (sixth in FBS) and 83 solo tackles (third in FBS) to go along with two interceptions.
Losing Xavier Benson to the NFL draft leaves a hole at the other linebacker spot in second-year coordinator Bryan Nardo’s 3-3-5 defense. A favorite to fill the void is talented outside linebacker Justin Wright, who was forced to medically redshirt the 2023 season after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 2. A Tulsa transfer in 2023, Wright was an All-AAC selection in 2022 and has 254 tackles and 27.5 tackles for loss to his name at the college level. Wright possesses the most upside, but other backers, such as Jeff Roberson (14 appearances in 2023), Gabe Brown (11 appearances in 2023) and touted true freshman Temerrick Johnson, will make a push for the starting job this offseason.
It goes without saying this group will once again be the heart, soul, and fist of the Cowboys’ defense in 2024.
3. Offensive Line
This position group is arguably the best and most experienced on the team, and is primed to be one of the best units in the country in 2024.
Oklahoma State ranked first in the Big 12 in sacks allowed last season, while the offense's 2.25 percent quarterback sack rate was the third-best in college football a season ago.
The offensive line has a combined 200 career starts entering next season and is anchored by 2023 honorable mention Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year Joe Michalski. The 6-foot-5, 303-pound center has 23 starts under his belt to go along with 1,035 offensive snaps in 2023, which was the most among Power Five offensive linemen. An elite pass blocker, Michalski surrendered only eight pressures and zero sacks across 617 pass-blocking snaps last season.
Rounding out the interior are rising fifth-year seniors Jason Brooks Jr. and Preston Wilson. A Vanderbilt transfer in 2022, Brooks Jr. accounted for 393 snaps last season, yielding just three sacks and 13 pressures in that span. Wilson brings more experience to the table, as his 34 career starts are the second-most of any returning Cowboy, including 13 in 2023.
Oklahoma State is stout on the outside as well. A pair of 2023 honorable-mention All-Big 12 tackles will return in Jake Springfield and Dalton Cooper. Springfield, who is a former walk-on, had a career year regarding efficiency at the left tackle spot. Across 687 snaps, he surrendered just one sack and 13 pressures. On the right side, Cooper, who transferred in from Texas State ahead of last season, had a highly-productive year as well, allowing just three sacks on 576 pass-blocking snaps and posting the fifth-best run-blocking grade among Big 12 tackles according to Pro Football Focus. His 49 career starts at the FBS level lead the team too.
The Cowboys’ recruiting and transfer portal signings in recent times leaves no doubt about the talent and production along the offensive line. Now sixth-year offensive line coach Charlie Dickey, who was a part of the Bill Snyder coaching tree at Kansas State, will be tasked with taking this unit’s game to another notch this offseason.