4. College Football News Preview 2020: Oklahoma State Cowboys Defense 3 Things To Know
– The defense was good enough. Oklahoma State will never push Alabama when it comes to killer Ds, but as long as it can hold serve once in a while in the Big 12 so the offense can do its thing, it’s doing its job.
There wasn’t one crippling issue last season – the Cowboys finished seventh in the Big 12 in total defense and fifth in scoring D – but it could still stand to be a wee bit better, and that’s about to happen.
12 of the top 13 tacklers are back, most of the top pass rushers return, and there’s enough size and depth to expect an overall production upgrade.
– The line was okay at getting behind the line, but it could use more from the ends and hope for more on the inside with a stronger rotation. The ends got their feet wet – they were all underclassmen last season – with Trace Ford the undersized speedster with the upside to bet the game-wrecker last year’s bunch was missing. There isn’t a true 320-pound thumper on the inside, but there’s good enough production and depth to be better.
– The linebackers should be the stars early on. Canadien Amen Ogbongbemiga was the do-it-all force, but safety-sized Malcolm Rodriguez led the team in tackles. More option and depth in the 4-2-5 would be nice, but those two are good as it.
The secondary loses star corner AJ Green, but everyone else is back including terrific-hitting safety Kolby Harvell-Peel. Considering the alignment prefers to use three safeties, get excited about the top six options all returning.