Report: Oklahoma State Defensive Tackle De’Marion Thomas Expected to Redshirt

Following a rough start to the year and changes being made at head coach and defensive coordinator, another Cowboy will reportedly shut things down.

Defensive tackle De’Marion Thomas is expected to take a redshirt and sit out the remainder of the season, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. Nakos’ initially report did not mention the transfer portal.

Thomas has started in each of the Cowboys’ first four games and has taken part in 148 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. That snap total is third among OSU defensive linemen (trailing Wendell Gregory and Jaleel Johnson) but is first among interior D-linemen.

Thomas had made 13 tackles this season including a tackle for loss.

He Tulsa-Union alum, Thomas returned to his home state this past offseason after spending his first two years at Vanderbilt. He didn’t redshirt with the commodores, leading to him having one available now.

Playing in 10 games as a true freshman in 2023, Thomas finished the year with seven tackles and a tackle for loss. He started all 13 of Vandy’s games as a sophomore in 2024, finishing with 34 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.

Oklahoma State fired longtime coach Mike Gundy last week before the Cowboys’ 45-27 loss to Baylor. After giving up those 45 points and more than 600 yards of offense, the program parted ways with first-year defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on Sunday after just four games. Clint Bowen will step in as the Cowboys’ interim DC.

With Gundy’s firing, a 30-day window opened for Cowboys to jump in the transfer portal should they choose. Again, Nakos’ initial report on Thomas didn’t mention the portal, but with the four-game redshirt rule and the Cowboys just passing that threshold, players uncertain about their futures who have a redshirt to use can shut it down without conceding the year.

Since Gundy’s firing long snapper Shea Freibaum has announced his intentions to enter the portal while safeties Dylan Smith and DeAndre Boykins will reportedly do the same.