Oklahoma State University Athletics
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In Focus – Defensive Line
April 06, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER - Heading into the 2018 season, the Cowboy defensive line should again be a strong point for Oklahoma State football.
Coach Joe Bob Clements has built a tradition of impactful players on the defensive front, and there's no reason to think this season should be any different, especially with the addition of another set of eyes and hands working with the group in new coach Greg Richmond.
The Cowboys return several proven playmakers in defensive ends Jordan Brailford, Jarrell Owens and Cole Walterscheid, and defensive tackles Darrion Daniels, Trey Carter and Enoch Smith. They give OSU 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.
Coach Joe Bob Clements has built a tradition of impactful players on the defensive front, and there's no reason to think this season should be any different, especially with the addition of another set of eyes and hands working with the group in new coach Greg Richmond.
The Cowboys return several proven playmakers in defensive ends Jordan Brailford, Jarrell Owens and Cole Walterscheid, and defensive tackles Darrion Daniels, Trey Carter and Enoch Smith. They give OSU 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.
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