2019 Big Board: OSU’s Top Targets at Linebacker

The 2018 linebacker class featuring Blake Barron and Kolby Peel addressed major needs for Oklahoma State to help sustain losses of Chad Whitener, Gyasi Akem and Kirk Tucker, but the 2019 class will be equally as vital.

Finding a replacement to quarterback the middle of the defense for the future is perhaps at the top of the priority list for new DC Jim Knowles.

So in today’s big board series, let’s take a look at the linebacker prospects who are on the radar currently in the 2019 class. You can check out our previous series on different positions in the links below.

QB | RB | CB | OL | DE | DT 

Rockwall was fruitful for Oklahoma State in the 2018 class at linebacker, where the staff plucked Blake Barron. Now they have a shot to pick off Barron’s former teammate, Anfernee Orji, an outside-backer who stands at 6-1, 200 pounds.

OSU has hosted Orji for several visits, but his older brother, Alston, who signed with Vanderbilt in 2018, could play a major factor here. Vandy might be the favorite with OSU playing a close second.

Four-star Saint Louis star Shammond Cooper is the big whale OSU is chasing in 2019. Not only because he is a top-300 prospect, but because he’s one of the top inside-backers in the country.

He would fill a major positional need for the Cowboys. But beating out OU, Clemson, Illinois and the 33 other programs who have offered seems like a difficult challenge that will be hard to overcome … especially for a first year defensive coordinator.

It’s rare that OSU dips into Florida with any success (sans Mike Boynton, of course), so it’d be surprising if OSU snagged top-200 outside-backer Rian Davis in 2019. Davis is a four-star recruit ranked as the No. 11 outside linebacker in the country.

Clemson, Georgia … all the big dogs are after him.

OSU was in early for 2019 outside-backer Nana Osafo-Mensah with one of his first offers in May 2017 before he went national, but it made no difference. The four-star prospect will pick between Texas or Notre Dame when he makes his commitment public in just over two weeks.