Oklahoma State University Athletics
Richmond Leads a New Look Defensive Line
July 08, 2003 | Cowboy Football
by Chris Matthews
Kevin Williams made a lot of noise up front for the 2002 version of the Cowboy football team and went on to become the ninth overall selection in the NFL draft.
Another defensive linemen for Oklahoma State will be deserving of postseason accolades by season’s end. Many people do not realize that Greg Richmond tied Williams for the team lead in sacks, but Richmond only played in 11 of the Cowboys’ 13 games.
The Oklahoma City native recorded seven sacks a year ago that pushed back the opposition back a total of 57 yards. He also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble to go along with his 57 tackles.
Richmond has been working with OSU defensive line coach Karl Dunbar the last two seasons and says it is important to work with the same guy with the same personality who teaches you the same techniques you used the year before.
Coach Dunbar is a good guy to have teaching you those techniques with six years of playing experience in the NFL. Richmond and the rest of the defensive line are fortunate to have somebody with that kind of experience.
The defensive line this season will blend veteran leadership with talented incoming freshmen that will be looked at to contribute in the absence of Williams and LaWaylon Brown.
“I am very excited about this d-line corps that we have,” Richmond said. “I think we will be better than we were last year and we will have more depth. We will play with better technique that Coach Dunbar is teaching us. We are going to play hard.”
One of Richmond’s new responsibilities this season is filling the leadership void that was created when Terrence Robinson departed after last season.
“Terrence led by example,” Richmond said. “One of our goals is to just come together as a unit by working together this summer. I am a guy who is always going to talk, and I will try and back up the things I say. I am just looking forward to having a leadership role as a part of this defense.”
With Nebraska looming as the opener on the road, Richmond is working hard with the rest of his defense trying to get ready for such a big contest. The Nebraska game could be an early forecast to just how good the 2003 Cowboy football team is.
“ They could not have put this game in a better spot for us,” Richmond said. “It teaches us now that we have to stay focused on our summer work out and bust our tails knowing we are going to have a hard fought game to open the season on the road.”
The Cowboys have reason to be optimistic about what is to come during the 2003 season. Richmond will give Cowboy fans and the opposition somebody else to talk about on Oklahoma State’s defensive front.
