Spring Football Primer - Defense and Specialists - Oklahoma State University Athletics

   First-year coordinator Jim Knowles ushers in a new era for the Oklahoma State defense in 2018. A veteran coach who joins the Cowboys after helping lead Duke to five bowl appearances in the last six seasons, he inherits a strong and deep defensive line that includes Jordan Brailford, Jarrell Owens, Cole Walterscheid, Darrion Daniels, Trey Carter and Enoch Smith Jr., plus a linebacker corps that is led by Justin Phillips and Calvin Bundage. There is some sorting out to do in the secondary, as both of OSU's safeties from a year ago have moved on to graduation and the depth chart needs filling out at cornerback behind a pair of returning starters in A.J. Green and Rodarius Williams.

Defensive Line
   The defensive line has been an area of strength for Oklahoma State throughout Joe Bob Clements' tenure coaching that group and there's no reason to think that will change in 2018, as the Cowboys return several proven playmakers in the trenches. In defensive ends Jordan Brailford, Jarrell Owens and Cole Walterscheid, and defensive tackles Darrion Daniels, Trey Carter and Enoch Smith, OSU has six battle-tested performers who are all capable of starting and playing important reps.
   Brailford was a regular contributor on the Cowboys' Sugar Bowl team in 2015 before losing the 2016 season to injury. He returned in 2017 and started nine games. His 57 tackles were the most among any OSU defensive lineman a year ago and he added five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, both of which were good for second on the team.
   Owens is an interesting player to watch this offseason, because he is almost back to 100 percent healthy after playing most of 2017 injured. Even hobbled as he was a season ago, he still posted three tackles for loss, a sack, four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. A fully-healthy Owens would be a significant boost to Oklahoma State's pass rush for the coming campaign.
   Among OSU's group of defensive linemen, nobody has more career starts to his credit than Walterscheid, who has earned the starting nod 21 times during his Cowboy career. At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Walterscheid has the ideal frame for a defensive end and has been a steady performer for each of the past two seasons.
   Though his role in the spring may be limited as he recovers from the injury sustained late in the season, Daniels will be a name to remember moving into the fall, because when healthy, he has proven to be a disruptive presence on the interior of the defensive line. In the meantime, however, Carter (2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries in 2017) and Smith (2.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2017) figure to get the bulk of the first-team reps during the spring.
   Another name to know when discussing Oklahoma State's defensive line is new coach Greg Richmond. A former first-team All-Big 12 defensive end for the Cowboys during his playing days, Richmond will work alongside Clements in mentoring the Cowboy defensive front.

Linebacker
   What kind of impact will new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles have at Oklahoma State? It'll start with the impact he has with the position group he works closest with - the linebackers.
   Though OSU lost veteran leader Chad Whitener to graduation, Knowles inherits a pair of proven performers at outside linebacker in Justin Phillips and Calvin Bundage. The two combined for 118 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks a year ago. In Kenneth Edison-McGruder, he has a capable third option as well. Kevin Henry returns from injury and Devin Harper could also factor into the rotation.
   One of the early decisions Knowles will have to make is what he wants to do with the middle linebacker position this spring, because there is no obvious candidate to step in and fill the void left by Whitener's graduation.
   In terms of returning production at the position, redshirt sophomore Amen Ogbongbemiga is OSU's top returner there with 16 career tackles. Another name to know is that of junior college transfer Patrick Macon, who redshirted last year after being named the national junior college defensive player of the year in 2016.

Cornerback
   Junior A.J. Green and redshirt sophomore Rodarius Williams both started every game last season and are back in 2018. The 2017 season served as a learning experience for the two of them, with Green making a name for himself by tying for second in the Big 12 with four interceptions and Williams matching an Oklahoma State freshman record by breaking up 10 passes.
   Green and Williams are the only two corners on the spring roster with substantial game experience on defense, though redshirt junior Bryce Balous has been a contributor on special teams for each of the past two seasons. A pair of young players to watch are redshirt freshmen Kris McCune and Lamarcus Morton.

Safety
   Both of last year's starters - Tre Flowers and Ramon Richards have graduated, which means that regardless of what happens, Oklahoma State will have a new look at safety.
   Thabo Mwaniki is the only player with significant game experience at the position. He was the only member of OSU's freshman class of 2017 to start a game last season, as he started twice. Mwaniki finished his freshman campaign with 22 tackles and an interception.
   Beyond Mwaniki, the players with the most substantial game experience are redshirt junior Za'Carrius Green, junior Chance Cook and sophomore Malcolm Rodriguez, all of whom have been important special teams players to this point of their respective careers, but none of whom have played sustained game reps on defense.
   Two early-enrollee freshmen are in the mix, with Sean Michael Flanagan and Jarrick Bernard both in place for spring practice. Redshirt freshman Trey Sterling will also get a look.

Specialists
   The Cowboys have reason for optimism in the kicking game, as both of last year's starters - kicker Matt Ammendola and punter Zach Sinor - are back.
   Ammendola led the Big 12 in scoring a year ago with 139 points. His 23 field goals made in 2017 led the league and ranked fifth in the FBS. No returning kicker in the Power Five conferences made more field goals than Ammendola last season and he brings a streak of 11 consecutive field goals made into the 2018 season.
   Sinor was one of the nation's elite punters in 2016 and is looking to return to that form, when he led all FBS punters with 62.5 percent of his punts being downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line, a figure that was nearly 10 percentage points better than any other punter in the nation that year.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Spring Football Primer - Defense and Specialists

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