Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Football Claims Pair of Honors at Cowboy Choice Awards
August 27, 2022 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma State football team claimed two honors for its performance in the 2021 season Saturday night at Cowboy Choice Awards, as linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez was honored as the Cowboy Breakthrough Athlete and the team was named the Cowboy Team of the Year.
The event was hosted by Oklahoma State Athletics at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts and celebrated the 2021-22 accomplishment of the OSU's student-athletes and teams.
A Wagoner, Oklahoma, native who spent five years in Stillwater, Rodriguez began his career as a lightly recruited high school athlete and became one of the best defensive players to ever play at Oklahoma State.
In his final season he earned All-America honors from nearly every organization that releases a team to become the fourth All-America linebacker in school history. He was a three-time All-Big 12 pick and two-time Academic All-Big 12 pick who finished his career as the fourth player in OSU history and the first since 1982 to record more than 400 career tackles. He was also voted a team captain by his teammates in each of his final two seasons.
On top of that, his eight career forced fumbles were the fifth-most in school history, his 48 career starts were tied for the third-most in school history and his 60 games played, all of which were played consecutively, set a school record. He also led the team in tackles in each of his final three seasons to become just the third player in school history to do so.
When Rodriguez wrapped up his career, he was among the leaders of all active FBS players in several career categories, including solo tackles (No. 3), total tackles (No. 5), solo tackles per game (No. 10), defensive touchdowns (No. 12) forced fumbles (No. 13) and assisted tackles (No. 19).
The 2022 Oklahoma State football team accomplished more over the course of the season than most thought it was capable of. Voted fourth in the Big 12 preseason poll and left out of the preseason AP Top 25, the Cowboys were safely under the radar entering the year.
By the end of the season, the Cowboys had tied a school season record with 12 total wins, finished the regular season alone on top of the Big 12 standings, won the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl after a win over No. 5 Notre Dame and were the only team in the FBS with three victories over 11-win teams.
On top of that, OSU set a school record with seven home wins, recorded its third perfect home season since 1960, tied a school record with five wins over AP Top 25 opponents and tied for its third-best finish ever in the final AP poll at No. 7.
Oklahoma State is scheduled to open the 2022 season September 1 when it faces Central Michigan at Boone Pickens Stadium, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT on FS1.
Season tickets for Cowboy football are on sale now and provide the best value and seating options for fans. Tickets are available online through okstate.com/tickets and by calling or texting 877-255-4678.
Fans who have purchased tickets in the past are encouraged to link their online account for access to Paciolan – OSU's new fan engagement and ticketing software. Each account for previous buyers has a unique PIN that has been emailed out. If assistance is needed or fans have not received a PIN, then contact the ticket office via call or text.
The event was hosted by Oklahoma State Athletics at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts and celebrated the 2021-22 accomplishment of the OSU's student-athletes and teams.
A Wagoner, Oklahoma, native who spent five years in Stillwater, Rodriguez began his career as a lightly recruited high school athlete and became one of the best defensive players to ever play at Oklahoma State.
In his final season he earned All-America honors from nearly every organization that releases a team to become the fourth All-America linebacker in school history. He was a three-time All-Big 12 pick and two-time Academic All-Big 12 pick who finished his career as the fourth player in OSU history and the first since 1982 to record more than 400 career tackles. He was also voted a team captain by his teammates in each of his final two seasons.
On top of that, his eight career forced fumbles were the fifth-most in school history, his 48 career starts were tied for the third-most in school history and his 60 games played, all of which were played consecutively, set a school record. He also led the team in tackles in each of his final three seasons to become just the third player in school history to do so.
When Rodriguez wrapped up his career, he was among the leaders of all active FBS players in several career categories, including solo tackles (No. 3), total tackles (No. 5), solo tackles per game (No. 10), defensive touchdowns (No. 12) forced fumbles (No. 13) and assisted tackles (No. 19).
The 2022 Oklahoma State football team accomplished more over the course of the season than most thought it was capable of. Voted fourth in the Big 12 preseason poll and left out of the preseason AP Top 25, the Cowboys were safely under the radar entering the year.
By the end of the season, the Cowboys had tied a school season record with 12 total wins, finished the regular season alone on top of the Big 12 standings, won the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl after a win over No. 5 Notre Dame and were the only team in the FBS with three victories over 11-win teams.
On top of that, OSU set a school record with seven home wins, recorded its third perfect home season since 1960, tied a school record with five wins over AP Top 25 opponents and tied for its third-best finish ever in the final AP poll at No. 7.
Oklahoma State is scheduled to open the 2022 season September 1 when it faces Central Michigan at Boone Pickens Stadium, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT on FS1.
Season tickets for Cowboy football are on sale now and provide the best value and seating options for fans. Tickets are available online through okstate.com/tickets and by calling or texting 877-255-4678.
Fans who have purchased tickets in the past are encouraged to link their online account for access to Paciolan – OSU's new fan engagement and ticketing software. Each account for previous buyers has a unique PIN that has been emailed out. If assistance is needed or fans have not received a PIN, then contact the ticket office via call or text.
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