Will Oklahoma State Be Able to Stop the Run in 2026? The Defensive Tackle Group Will Be Key

STILLWATER — Since Jim Knowles left after the Cowboys’ historic 2021 season, Oklahoma State’s defense has been in a constant state of turnover, which is most evident when you look at the Pokes’ inability to stop the run in recent seasons.

New defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity marks OSU’s sixth defensive coordinator in as many seasons, going back to Knowles in 2021. Bryan Nardo is the only coordinator in that stretch that spent two seasons calling the Cowboys’ defense, but even that is a little misleading, as he ran his 3-3-5 in 2023 before OSU shifted back to a four-man front in 2024. Then last season alone, the Cowboys had two D coordinators in Todd Grantham, who was fired just four games into his OSU tenure which made way for Clint Bowen on an interim basis.

Since that magical run in 2021, no OSU defense has allowed fewer than 4.3 yards per carry. The best the Cowboys have ranked in the Big 12 in yards per carry allowed since 2021 is ninth, which happened in 2023 (when the Big 12 had 14 teams) and in 2022 (when the Big 12 had 10 teams).

The peak of OSU’s run game yuckiness came in 2024 when the Cowboys ranked last in the Big 12 and 126th (of 134) nationally, giving up 5.41 yards per rush. That ranks worst in OSU’s history — at least going back to 1940 when such stats were kept.

A good run defense often starts with good play on the defensive interior. OSU’s defensive tackle group has had some question marks about it this offseason, but on Wednesday, new OSU coach Eric Morris talked up some depth in that position group going into fall camp.

“I think getting Iman (Oates) back was huge for us in that regard,” Morris said. “Another big experienced body in there that really is taking care of business over the course of the last seven or eight months and learned the defense. But feel really good. Saadiq Clements is a guy who knows it. Jerry Lawson’s a guy that’s played in this defense under Coach Cassity at Abilene Christian. We have Savion Barthelemy’s new … that’s 315 pounds and super athletic. 

“Enai White is a guy. Braylon Rigsby. Those two are three techniques that are super athletic in there, I think can really rush the passer. So yeah, I think defensive line wise, as far as numbers, athleticism and guys I think that can really affect the game is something I feel really good about right now.”

One thing that initially stands out about OSU’s defensive tackles is that from simply a numbers standpoint, the Cowboys are deeper. OSU has 11 guys listed at defensive tackle on the 2026 roster. OSU has averaged 7.3 defensive tackles/nose guards the past three seasons, peaking at eight in 2023.

As we continue to learn this roster of newcomers, here’s a bit about each of the guys Morris mentioned:

Oates — A rare returner, Oates has gone most of this offseason not knowing whether he’d be able to play in 2026. Recently a judge granted him a temporary restraining order against the NCAA so that he could return to the practice field, but his status for in-game action is still somewhat up in the air, depending on how quickly the legal process moves.

Out of Tulsa-Edison, Oates played one season at NEO in 2022, where he secured 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks. He redshirted at OSU in 2023 before playing in all of OSU’s games the past two seasons, totaling 39 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks.

Saadiq Clements — Listed at 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, Clements is a North Texas transfer who began his college career at Louisville in 2023. He played in two games across two seasons at Louisville, with last season being his first and only at UNT.

He played in all 13 of the Mean Green’s games, finishing the year with 30 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Jerry Lawson — Speaking of Louisville, that’s where Lawson joins the Cowboys from, but he also has experience with Cassity.

Listed at 6-1, 312 pounds, Lawson played in all 13 of the Cardinals’ games last season, where he made 16 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Before that he played in 25 games across two seasons at Abilene Christian. The first of those seasons (2023) came with Cassity as defensive coordinator. In his two years at the FCS level, Lawson combined for 106 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks — some nutty numbers for a defensive tackle.

Savion Barthelemy — Per the roster, Barthelemy (a true freshman) weighs 286 pounds, but based on Morris saying he’s at 315 pounds, he seems to have added some weight since being in a college program.

Barthelemy hails from New Orleans by way of Belle Chasse High School, where he also played some tight end. He was at one point committed to Jimmy Rogers at both Washington State and Iowa State before the Cowboys were able to secure his signature.

Enai White — White has Power Conference experience, having played at Texas A&M and Penn State.

He appeared in eight games for the Nittany Lions last season, making three tackles, including a sack. He played in 14 games at A&M between 2022 and 2024, making 11 tackles and three sacks in that time.

Braylon Risby — Risby garnered some shoutouts from his teammates at Big 12 Media Days last month. Listed at 6-foot-3, 283 pounds, he comes to Stillwater after making a College Football Playoff run with Texas Tech last season.

He played in all 14 of the Red Raiders’ games in 2025 as a redshirt sophomore, finishing with six tackles. He played in a dozen games as a redshirt freshman in 2024, finishing with 18 tackles, and three tackles for loss.

Morris also gushed about returning defensive end Malik Charles on Wednesday.

He’s listed at 284 pounds on OSU’s roster, but Morris tabbed him at “300-plus” pounds, saying he can help on the inside and the outside.

Another guy to look out for is Fatafehi Vailea II, another UNT transfer.

Vailea had been a starter for the Mean Green in each of the past four seasons. An injury after four games last season ended his year early. In that game he got hurt in, he had 10 tackles — which is absurd for a DT.