David Kabongo Discusses Experience as a Freshman, Gundy’s Winning Culture

STILLWATER — The Cowboys were an old team last year, but a few true freshmen were able to carve out some playing time.

Safety David Kabongo played 95 snaps in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, more than any other OSU freshman defender. The only true freshmen to play more than Kabongo were tight end Josh Ford (392 snaps) and quarterback Maealiuaki Smith (131).

Kabongo played seven games last season, making him a true sophomore entering 2025. As a freshman, he recorded 20 tackles, including a sack.

He had multiple tackles in every game, apart from one. That included a seven-takedown performance in OSU’s season finale against Colorado. Kabongo said this week that the experience gained in Year 1 has helped him entering Year 2.

“It’s helped me adjust to the speed, for sure,” Kabongo said. “Because the speed coming from high school to college, I had to get used to it. I came early in the spring last year, and it was kind of like a shock to me. But those players last year, they taught me to just calm down, just slow down. The game is gonna slow down for you. That’s what I picked up.”

Coming out of Byron Nelson High School in the Fort Worth area, Kabongo was a three-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class. He chose Oklahoma State over reported offers from Texas, Utah, Missouri, Arizona State, Kansas and others.

He had some help navigating his freshman season. Classmate Landyn Cleveland, another safety from the DFW metroplex, also got some run as a freshman, taking part in eight of the Cowboys’ games. Kabongo said it was nice having someone to bounce things off of as the pair got their first taste of college football.

“Me and Landyn have a history in high school,” Kabongo said. “We’ve played against each other. We talked to each other throughout our recruitment and stuff like that, and he kind of influenced me to come here. We have a really good brotherhood.”

The connection with Cleveland might’ve played a role in getting Kabongo to Stillwater, but Kabongo also said Mike Gundy’s proven track record was an enticing facet of wearing orange.

“The winning culture,” said Kabongo on what drew him to Oklahoma State. “Mike Gundy’s had, before last season, Mike Gundy’s had like 19 winning seasons. I wanted to go somewhere where I know I could play and I know I’m gonna win. That was my mindset.”

Kabongo and Cleveland have new position coaches this spring.
Greg Brown is coaching the Cowboy safeties. He was on staff as a defensive analyst last season. He has a ridiculous amount of experience, coaching defensive backs at Purdue, Colorado, the Atlanta Falcons (two stints), the San Diego Chargers, the Tennessee Oilers, the San Francisco 49ers, Alabama, Louisville, Missouri and Auburn — just to name a few.

OSU also brought in Kevie Thompson to assist with the safeties and nickels. He was most recently the defensive coordinator at East Mississippi Community College.

“I feel like this new coaching staff is amazing,” Kabongo said. “I feel like we’re on the right track. Everybody’s together. Everybody’s saying one thing. It’s not out of order. No disrespect to the old coaching staff, but everybody’s on the same page. Everybody has the same mentality to attack. That’s what I like about this new coaching staff.”