Notebook: Why Cleveland Stayed, Pahl’s National Standing and a 300-Pound Tight End

STILLWATER — The storylines of this Oklahoma State football season have mainly had to do with things off the field, and with the Cowboys’ poor performance on the field this season, it’s easy to see why.

But, though they might not have to do with the Big 12 title picture, there are still on-field storylines taking place ahead of Oklahoma State’s trip to Lawrence for a game against the Jayhawks at 3 p.m. Saturday. Here are three.

Why Landyn Cleveland Stayed

When Mike Gundy was fired and the portal opened for OSU players, there probably weren’t many Cowboys who had more of an incentive to hop in than Landyn Cleveland … and he didn’t.

Cleveland is a true sophomore safety, meaning he had a redshirt available. On top of that, he was recruited to Stillwater by Bryan Nardo, who was let go after last season. And David Kabongo, Cleveland’s classmate who was also a true sophomore safety, did hop in.

Coming out of Mansfield Legacy High School, Cleveland had offers to Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas and many more. But he elected to stick the rest of this season out with the Pokes.

“Last year, I was a true freshman,” Cleveland said. “I played, but I didn’t play how I wanted to. So, really, this year was really like I could go show everybody this is my time. This is what Landyn Cleveland can do.

“The coaches and all that, we had a chance to get in the portal. We had a chance to redshirt, but I just felt like why do that when I got seven more games to go play football and I know I can go out there and play. So, I didn’t see no point in doing it.”

Cleveland played 91 snaps across eight games as a freshman with 53 of those snaps coming on defense. In eight games as a sophomore, Cleveland has played 283 snaps, 226 of which have come on defense.

He’s made 27 tackles this season, 1.5 of which have been for loss. He’s also broken up a pair of passes.

Wes Pahl’s Heavy Workload Proves His Talent

Wes Pahl has gotten a lot of work in this season.

Pahl has punted 48 times, which is the second-most nationally trailing only UMass’ Keegan Andrews, and it’s not just that the Pokes’ punter is booting a lot of balls, he’s hammering them.

His 46.12 average ranks 16th nationally, a number that is sadly probably helped by OSU’s offensive deficiencies. Pahl is one of 10 punters who have booted a ball at least 71 yards this season. His 14 punts downed inside the 20-yard line are tied for 22nd nationally. His 4.15 average hang time ranks 12th nationally.

In many metrics, Pahl is one of the best punters in America, and his numbers are tested with him having so many data points.

“It basically just pops off your foot,” said Pahl when asked if he knows its a big kick off his foot. “Like when you play golf, swing just feels effortless, flies off your foot. Good contact, good swing, when it all comes together, it feels great.”

OSU’s ‘New’ 300-Pound Tight End

The other offensive linemen on OSU’s roster joke with Gage Stanaland that he’s a “part-timer.”

With redshirts, injuries and portal departures hitting OSU’s tight end room hard, Stanaland — a 6-foot-3, 300-pound redshirt sophomore from Tuscola, Texas — has been being used as a jumbo tight end in recent weeks. It’s happened so much of late that he is now rocking No. 89.

According to PFF, Stanaland has played 35 offensive snaps this season — 16 of which have come on the offensive line, with the other 19 coming at tight end. All of those tight end snaps have come in the Cowboys’ past three games.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Stanaland said. “I like being out on the edge. I like wearing number 89. I like doing what my coaches tell me, first and foremost, but it’s been a lot of fun.”

A pass hasn’t come his way yet, but Stanaland is open to the idea.

“I would love that,” Stanaland said. “I’d love to catch a ball, and I’d do my best to catch a ball.”