The Key to OSU’s Defensive Success This Season Might be its Defensive Line

I couldn’t tell you the last time Oklahoma State’s defensive line was a definitive strength entering a season, but I’m … about 96% comfortable going there right now. As we sit here, on Aug. 25, this unit looks on paper to be deep, talented and star-studded with potential NFL players.

It’s not just that Trace Ford has me seeing Von Miller flashbacks or that Tyler Lacy profiles as a breakout star to bank on coming off the other edge. It’s that from top to bottom, stars to secondary players, I feel a sense of strange confidence this unit will be competent — a feeling that mostly lingers between terror and anxiety in previous years at this time.

Maybe it’s a matter of expectations. Last season there really were none, with OSU essentially starting from scratch up front, particularly at the tackle spots. But this year Israel Antwine and Cameron Murray return at those respective positions, Ford and Lacy return at their respective edge positions, and then OSU adds Calvin Bundage as another disruptive force off the edge after a season recovering from injury. Brock Martin is a factor here as well and should slot in as a QB-chasing specialist. And then there’s the likes of Brendon Evers and Sione Asi who will get run in the tackle rotation, too. All of those players have quality experience either as starters or as impactful rotation-level players.

“Defensive line depth is always important based on the offenses we see in this league with quarterback play and skill play and the speed of the game,” Mike Gundy said on Monday.  “So to keep those guys rotating in and fresh is really important to our defense.”

Murray, who will be a redshirt senior and is expected to start at defensive tackle, says the defensive line’s depth has not gone unnoticed by him this fall, either.

“Depth makes it a whole lot easier,” he said recently. “Seeing more guys under me doing just as well because we all want each other to succeed. I don’t have to play as many snaps [with more depth]. I can get rest more. I feel like we’re all on the same page.”

The strength of the OSU defense looks like it will be in the secondary this season. Kolby Harvell-Peel returns as an All-American candidate. Tre Sterling looks the part of an All-Big 12er. Rodarius Williams returns for his Perry Ellis degree. Those are all known commodities and the headliners of OSU’s starters on defense who are returning. But the potential impact and sheer depth along the defensive line quietly has a chance to be the unit’s strength.

“I thought we had a great finish to last year,” said defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. “I see veteran players who know what to do, and who have a lot of speed. I see more depth than ever, and a chance to be a well-rounded unit.”