Oklahoma State University Athletics
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20-for-20: Korie Black’s Time as One of OSU’s Most Experienced Starters
October 26, 2023 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Korie Black has blossomed into one of Oklahoma State's most experienced football players and turned into a defensive leader in the process.
Entering the 2023 season, Black was one of two returning defenders who started every game in 2022, the other being linebacker Xavier Benson. The two of them picked up their respective 20th consecutive start last week against West Virginia, which leads the team by nine games. For Black, all of his career starts have come in that 20-game span.
Last season, Black had a solid first season in a starting role, picking up 25 total tackles, including 18 unassisted stops. He forced the first fumble of his career in the second half of the Iowa State matchup which halted an impressive drive by the Cyclones and propelled the Cowboys to a 20-14 win.
Black has also been a staple on OSU's special teams, where he has excelled in multiple facets, specifically when defending field goals and PATs. In 2022, Black returned a blocked field goal by Sione Asi for a touchdown, the first score of his career. For OSU, it was the first time since 1999 a player returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown.
As a sophomore in 2021, he blocked a field goal in the 2021 Big 12 Championship game against Baylor and recovered three muffed punts leading up to that game to rank No. 3 in the FBS in fumble recoveries.
Black said himself and the other special teamers realize the importance of their role in that respect.
"People are willing to actually commit to the team and be willing to play special teams," Black said. "A lot of us take a lot of pride in that. Also, we know that we can help the team win the game. It's really big for us and I think that's the biggest thing."
Being a high-caliber player on special teams helped him earn a starting spot on defense. Now at 44 collegiate games and 20 starts, all in orange and black, Black has embraced a mentorship role for younger cornerbacks, especially fellow cornerbacks Cam Smith, Dylan Smith and D.J. McKinney.
"I try to help everybody," Black said. "That's the good thing about our room – we all communicate with each other. We can be like, 'hey, I saw this,' no matter how old we are. Anything that can help."
Likewise, he said the leadership role trickles down from player to player, starting with him.
"Cam's a little older, so he's able to help Dylan and D.J. with his experience," Black said. "I'm a little bit older than Cam, so I can tell him what I've been through, and it's getting passed down. I think that's real big for the room."
The communication within his position group has helped Black be on pace to have the best season of his career.
The senior cornerback recorded the first interception of his career last weekend against the West Virginia Mountaineers. With his pick, the Cowboy defense had intercepted a pass in three-straight games and five overall in those three games. In the season opener against Central Arkansas, he blocked a field goal for the second time in his career and forced the first fumble of the year en route to defensive MVP honors. More than halfway through the season, he's tied for second on the team in pass breakups with three. He's also only 13 tackles shy of a personal season best.
While much of his success this season has come from a combination of experience and talent, Black also credits his defensive front for helping to ease the coverage.
"We're lucky to have a great defensive line, so we've got guys who are able to rush the quarterback really good," Black said. "That makes our job easier because that's less time we have to cover somebody. Instead of having to cover for four to five seconds, we have to do it for two to three seconds. It just makes our jobs easier."
OSU is set to face Cincinnati on Saturday in the 102nd celebration of "America's Greatest Homecoming."
Black looks to continue his solid performance and lead the defense to perhaps a fourth-straight game with an interception.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Entering the 2023 season, Black was one of two returning defenders who started every game in 2022, the other being linebacker Xavier Benson. The two of them picked up their respective 20th consecutive start last week against West Virginia, which leads the team by nine games. For Black, all of his career starts have come in that 20-game span.
Last season, Black had a solid first season in a starting role, picking up 25 total tackles, including 18 unassisted stops. He forced the first fumble of his career in the second half of the Iowa State matchup which halted an impressive drive by the Cyclones and propelled the Cowboys to a 20-14 win.
Black has also been a staple on OSU's special teams, where he has excelled in multiple facets, specifically when defending field goals and PATs. In 2022, Black returned a blocked field goal by Sione Asi for a touchdown, the first score of his career. For OSU, it was the first time since 1999 a player returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown.
As a sophomore in 2021, he blocked a field goal in the 2021 Big 12 Championship game against Baylor and recovered three muffed punts leading up to that game to rank No. 3 in the FBS in fumble recoveries.
Black said himself and the other special teamers realize the importance of their role in that respect.
"People are willing to actually commit to the team and be willing to play special teams," Black said. "A lot of us take a lot of pride in that. Also, we know that we can help the team win the game. It's really big for us and I think that's the biggest thing."
Being a high-caliber player on special teams helped him earn a starting spot on defense. Now at 44 collegiate games and 20 starts, all in orange and black, Black has embraced a mentorship role for younger cornerbacks, especially fellow cornerbacks Cam Smith, Dylan Smith and D.J. McKinney.
"I try to help everybody," Black said. "That's the good thing about our room – we all communicate with each other. We can be like, 'hey, I saw this,' no matter how old we are. Anything that can help."
Likewise, he said the leadership role trickles down from player to player, starting with him.
"Cam's a little older, so he's able to help Dylan and D.J. with his experience," Black said. "I'm a little bit older than Cam, so I can tell him what I've been through, and it's getting passed down. I think that's real big for the room."
The communication within his position group has helped Black be on pace to have the best season of his career.
The senior cornerback recorded the first interception of his career last weekend against the West Virginia Mountaineers. With his pick, the Cowboy defense had intercepted a pass in three-straight games and five overall in those three games. In the season opener against Central Arkansas, he blocked a field goal for the second time in his career and forced the first fumble of the year en route to defensive MVP honors. More than halfway through the season, he's tied for second on the team in pass breakups with three. He's also only 13 tackles shy of a personal season best.
While much of his success this season has come from a combination of experience and talent, Black also credits his defensive front for helping to ease the coverage.
"We're lucky to have a great defensive line, so we've got guys who are able to rush the quarterback really good," Black said. "That makes our job easier because that's less time we have to cover somebody. Instead of having to cover for four to five seconds, we have to do it for two to three seconds. It just makes our jobs easier."
OSU is set to face Cincinnati on Saturday in the 102nd celebration of "America's Greatest Homecoming."
Black looks to continue his solid performance and lead the defense to perhaps a fourth-straight game with an interception.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
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