Oklahoma State University Athletics
Monday Football Practice Report
April 04, 2011 | Cowboy Football
April 4, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State football team practiced Monday in clear and windy conditions at Boone Pickens Stadium dressed in full pads. After the two-hour session, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Bill Young talked about what he has seen this spring.
"We're a very physical defense," Young said. "We've done a great job in our weight program in the winter and we have big, physical, fast, strong guys and they pack a punch when they hit you.
"We're making progress on the defensive line. It's slow, but we're making progress," Young said. "We're really focusing on Davidell Collins, Anthony Rogers and Chris Littlehead and trying to get them where they are ready to be starters or at least pushing to be starters. We have some veteran players like Nigel Nicholas and Jamie Blatnick that should be great players for us this fall, but we have got to supplement them with some other people."
Young said increased leadership from the returning players on defense is a focus of his during the spring.
"We've really encouraged our veterans and made them captains of our off-season program and tried to put them in leadership roles," Young said. "They have taken the bit and run with it. We're trying to foster that as much as we can and they are doing a good job."
With as many young players as Young expects to utilize this coming season, he said that one sophomore cornerback stands out.
"Justin Gilbert has really stepped it up for us this spring. He did a nice job for us last year in special teams, but he has made some really outstanding plays for us at the corner," Young said. "We've got some issues there with some injuries right now, but all in all, I think we're looking pretty good."
The Cowboys return to practice on Wednesday.
