Oklahoma State University Athletics
Spring Preview: Defensive Line
March 31, 2022 | Cowboy Football
With spring football practice underway at Oklahoma State, okstate.com is taking a look at the status of every position group to break down the personnel and how things look heading into the 2022 season. Next up, the Cowboy defensive line:
The defensive line is by far the deepest and most experienced position group at Oklahoma State in 2022. With only two significant contributors gone from the unit, it brings back 80% of its tackles, 90% of its tackles for loss, 86% of its sacks, 78% of its quarterback hurries and 82% of its starts from last season.
Although several players rotated in, defensive ends Collin Oliver, Tyler Lacy and Brock Martin, and defensive tackle Brendon Evers are the returning players who made the biggest impact last season. Oliver - a true freshman in 2021 - led the Big 12 and ranked seventh in the FBS in sacks, earning freshman All-America and Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. The other three are veterans who are long-time playmakers in their senior year and have already combined for 79 career starts.
The Cowboys also welcome back another outside playmaker in redshirt junior Trace Ford, who is set to return to the field with 15 career starts after missing last season with an injury. Other exterior linemen with meaningful playing experience include Kody Walterscheid, Tyren Irby, Ben Kopenski, Nathan Latu and Jake Schultz. Freshman Landon Dean is also enrolled early to participate in spring practice.
On the inside of the line, Evers will be joined by Sione Asi and Samuela Tuihalamaka, who both have multiple starts under their belts, as well as Xavier Ross, Aden Kelley and Collin Clay, who have all played at FBS level.
There are 10 other defensive linemen who bring the position group to 24 total players this spring, making it the deepest group on the team in both numbers and experience. Of OSU's 152 total starts on the defensive line the past three years, 102 are from players returning in 2022.
