Oklahoma State University Athletics
Record Rewind: Leslie O’Neal’s 16.0 sacks in 1984
June 14, 2022 | Cowboy Football
Oklahoma State's defenses in 1984 and 1985 were two of the best in school history, and they were anchored by two-time All-America lineman Leslie O'Neal.
O'Neal was a dominant force on the teams which allowed just a total of 34 touchdowns over two seasons, the lowest totals ever at OSU. He was named Big Eight defensive player of the year in 1984 and earned All-Big Eight honors in each of his last three seasons as a Cowboy.
While earning unanimous first-team All-America honors in 1985, O'Neal's 1984 campaign was his best statistical season in the orange and black. O'Neal set a school record that stands to this day by registering 16.0 sacks for 118 yards lost and remains the OSU career leader with 34.0 sacks.
O'Neal terrorized opposing offensive lines as he recorded one or more sacks in nine of the 11 games in the '84 season. In six of the games, he posted multiple sacks with his best outing coming against OU where he racked up 3.0 sacks and 13 tackles against the Sooners.
The 1984 Cowboy defense ranks fourth in program history in total sacks with 42, and over half of those coming from O'Neal alone.
O'Neal went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL, spending 10 of those with the Chargers while becoming the franchise's all-time sacks leader with 105.5, although he missed nearly two seasons due to injury. The Cowboy great was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
O'Neal was a dominant force on the teams which allowed just a total of 34 touchdowns over two seasons, the lowest totals ever at OSU. He was named Big Eight defensive player of the year in 1984 and earned All-Big Eight honors in each of his last three seasons as a Cowboy.
While earning unanimous first-team All-America honors in 1985, O'Neal's 1984 campaign was his best statistical season in the orange and black. O'Neal set a school record that stands to this day by registering 16.0 sacks for 118 yards lost and remains the OSU career leader with 34.0 sacks.
O'Neal terrorized opposing offensive lines as he recorded one or more sacks in nine of the 11 games in the '84 season. In six of the games, he posted multiple sacks with his best outing coming against OU where he racked up 3.0 sacks and 13 tackles against the Sooners.
The 1984 Cowboy defense ranks fourth in program history in total sacks with 42, and over half of those coming from O'Neal alone.
O'Neal went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL, spending 10 of those with the Chargers while becoming the franchise's all-time sacks leader with 105.5, although he missed nearly two seasons due to injury. The Cowboy great was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
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