Ashton Lepo’s Loyalty Throughout Four-Year Career at Michigan State Prepared Him for Opportunity to Be a Cowboy

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STILLWATER ​— On Tuesday, receiver Wyatt Young described Oklahoma State’s roster as self-proclaimed misfits, all looking for something to prove.

Unlike several of his new teammates, right tackle Ashton Lepo didn’t need to demonstrate he could play at the Power Four level. He’d already done that, starting 14 games at Michigan State, but after a less-than-ideal ending, he did have something left to prove.

“Yeah, I think you know I was loyal to that place,” Lepo said. “I was there for four years, graduated, and I went through a lot of different stuff that happened there. Obviously, you guys probably know, but I think going through that stuff made me tougher in the aspect of my mental toughness.”

Lepo was a four-star prospect ranked the 25th best tackle in his class by On3 (and 50th at the position by 247Sports). He redshirted in 2022 and played only 96 snaps in 2023 before taking over as the full-season starter in 2024.

Last season was a bit of a roller coaster for Lepo. He didn’t start the first two games, but did rotate in, playing 61% of snaps in the season opener. According to reports online, Lepo got hurt in that game, but still played 37% of snaps in Week 2 against Boston College.

After missing MSU’s next two games entirely, Lepo started twice, against Big Ten opponents, before being ruled out with a season-ending injury.

“I’ve been in those same spots where it is like you got hurt and you’re trying to fight your way back in,” Lepo said on Tuesday when asked about Braydon Nelson’s return to the offensive line after missing time this offseason due to injury.

Lepo is currently fifth on OSU’s roster, playing 311 snaps. Center Tyler Mercer and left tackle Shaun Torgeson are the only linemen with more playing time.

At Michigan State, Lepo said he learned to always focus on improving, regardless of the results of the last game. Even if he wasn’t getting the playing time he wanted.

“I kind of had to learn that, you know, just from like older guys over my experience at Michigan State,” Lepo said. “Learn from older guys, and you know what they’ve been through and how to, how I can use that for my advantage for the next couple years.”

He believes Oklahoma State’s offensive line play has improved in the last couple games, and it seems Pro Football Focus agrees. OSU posted its best run-blocking grade of the season (78.1) at West Virginia, and the 63.1 showing against UCF is the team’s second-best showing against an FBS opponent and a considerable improvement from the sub-57-point performances against Tulsa and Oregon.

Some of that rise is due to Lepo, who posted a season-best run-blocking grade (70.5) at West Virginia and followed that up with a 66.1 (his second-best showing on the year against an FBS team).

“I think just our communication gotten a lot better,” Lepo said of the line’s improvement. “You know, from the first game to now, it’s just night and day. Just getting the call from Mercer down, and everyone being all together. You know, knowing exactly what we’re going to do for that play. I feel like it’s been a lot better.”

He said learning how to communicate during game situations is tough to replicate in practice, even though the team aims speakers blaring music at them.

Lepo is usually a relatively quiet guy during interviews, but he perked up when asked what he thought of Drew Mestemaker’s willingness to hit guys when running the ball.

“He’s a chippy player, and I love that man,” Lepo said. “It gets us going.”

Lepo had a key block springing Mestemaker for his 11-yard rushing touchdown last week.

“I kinda looked over look at the front,” Lepo said. “I knew exactly what I had to do. Tyler blocked back, went around, Joe (Hanson) put him in, I was like this is perfect … ​

“I look out there, I’m running, I see one guy just sitting there. I’m like, I’m going right at you, and I hit him, I look over to my right, and I see Drew flying by, and I’m just, it’s a great feeling.”