PFB’s Defensive Depth Chart Prediction Entering Fall Camp

OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART PREDICTION

Moreso than the Cowboys’ offense, there’s a veil of mystery around the Pokes’ defense.

Talking heads, for the most part, feel good about the Cowboys’ offense because Maxwell watchlisters Drew Mestemaker and Caleb Hawkins will be standing in the backfield. Although the defense might not hold that level of star power, it has some nice pieces that produce a good group in 2026.

So, just as we did for the offense yesterday, let’s take a stab at predicting what the Cowboys’ defense will look like on this first day of fall camp for the Pokes. There were times last season when Skyler Cassity’s UNT defense would have three safeties and two linebackers and there were others where the Mean Green would have three linebackers and two safeties. So, I’m including three first-stringers in both of those sections.

Defensive End

DE1s: Jaleel Johnson (R-Sr., 6-4, 270), James Williams (R-Sr., 6-5, 256)
Second string: Malik Charles (R-Sr., 6-3, 284), Billy Walton III (R-So., 6-3, 253)

This has been the defensive group Eric Morris has been most bullish of this offseason, and it’s easy to see why with all the depth. I could’ve kept going and included guys like DeSean Brown, North Texas transfer Keviyan Huddleston and Troy transfer DJ Jackson.

It sounds as if Jaleel Johnson is in for a big year, with Morris tabbing him as the “most disruptive” defender of the spring.

Then I went with James Williams as his counterpart as the guy with the most Power Five experience in the room, having played at Nebraska and Florida State.

Despite things not going great on the scoreboard, Malik Charles had an impressive first year at the Division-I level last season after transferring from West Georgia. Battling through injuries, Charles took part in 11 of OSU’s games and recorded three sacks.

Billy Walton was a highly touted prospect a few years ago, redshirting at Texas before spending the past two seasons at SMU.

Defensive Tackle

DT1s: Braylon Rigsby (R-Jr., 6-3, 283), Jerry Lawson (Sr., 6-1, 312)
Second string: Fatafehi Vailea II (R-Sr., 6-1, 307), Saadiq Clements (R-Jr., 6-4, 310)

Braylon Rigsby garnered some shoutouts from his teammates at Big 12 Media Days last month, which is big for a team that was thought to be a little light on the defensive interior.

Rigsby comes to OSU from Texas Tech, taking part in 26 games across the past two seasons where he finished with 24 tackles and three tackles for loss.

A potential X factor in this group is North Texas transfer Fatafehi Vailea II. From 2022 to 2024, Vailea had 103 total tackles, six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He then started the first four games of UNT’s 2025 season but missed the rest of the year with injury. If he’s back to full strength and can handle the jump up in a level, it would be a big boon for the Pokes.

I’d also note that Iman Oates is still off OSU’s roster. Should he be able to play following his quest for eligibility, he’d certainly factor in here.

Linebacker

LB1s: Ethan Wesloski (R-Sr., 6-1, 234), Tate Romney (R-Sr., 6-1, 223), Isaiah Chisom (R-Jr., 6-0, 234)
Second string: Trip White (R-Sr., 6-3, 234), Jack Puckett (R-Sr., 6-0, 234), Carl’veon Young (R-Fr., 6-4, 240)

Ethan Wesloski has, thus far, been the posterboy of the Cowboys’ defense, and for good reason. He had 113 tackles at North Texas task season to go with nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery TD.

Tate Romney was in the group of defenders Morris shouted out at Big 12 Media Days. He made 70 tackles across 29 games at Arizona State.

Chisom finished with 84 tackles in the Big Ten last season at UCLA, so that first group looks relatively stout.

When thinking potential X factors, I’d lead redshirt freshman Carl’veon Young. He was a four-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class who played in the final four games of OSU’s season last year. He brings something different from a size perspective to that room.

Cornerback

CB1s: LaDainian Fields (R-So., 6-1, 176), Mo Horn (R-Sr., 5-11, 183)
Second string: Kollin Lewis (R-Jr., 5-10, 188), Kobi Foreman (So., 5-10, 175)

LaDainian Fields started getting some run midway through last season, and he was one of a few bright spots in that rough season. He finished in the Top 15 in PFF coverage grades among Big 12 corners, as he was targeted 13 times and gave up just two catches (while making two interceptions).

Mo Horn was a four-star prospect in the 2022 class out of Broken Arrow. He’s spent the past four seasons at Texas Tech and was a regular starter for the Red Raiders in 2024.

Kollin Lewis made two starts in the past two seasons at North Texas, playing in 23 games total.

A returner, Kobi Foreman didn’t redshirt last season, but with the new five-for-five rule, he still has four years of eligibility remaining. He’s also a problem in the return game, gaining 114 yards on nine kick returns last season.

Safety

S1s: Quinton Hammonds (Jr., 6-1, 206), Christian Bodnar (R-Jr., 6-0, 188), Mose Phillips III (Sr., 6-2, 196)
Second string: Evan Jackson (Sr., 5-11, 188), Vincent Holmes (R-Jr., 6-2, 175), Cameron Epps (R-Sr., 6-2, 207)

In the little bit I’ve gotten to watch on each of the 80+ guys the Cowboys have brought in, Christian Bodnar, a Liberty transfer, stood out. He brings a level of physicality to the safety position that should help the Cowboys in that nickel spot this season.

Quinton Hammonds was North Texas’ fifth-highest graded defender as a sophomore last season, per PFF. He took home a Bronco Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor after picking off two passes against Navy.

I’ll give the potential X factor of this group to returner Cameron Epps. Epps was an honorable mention for Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2023, starting 10 games on a team that made the Big 12 title game, but he hasn’t played a ton since.