Chad Whitener: Oklahoma State’s Young Corners ‘Are Ready to Go’

Expectations for this fall are high among the Cowboy faithful. But every daydreamed thought of a potential Big 12 title (and more) is tempered by a creeping doubt: Really, how good is this defense? And the question is well-founded.

Last season, with senior corners Ashton Lampkin and grad-transfer Lenzy Pipkins — and three-year contributing junior Ramon Richards — the Cowboys gave up a ton of deep balls. OSU was 98th nationally, allowing 252.8 passing yards per game. They were fifth in the Big 12, giving up 113 passing plays of 10 yards or more.

Now with the two seniors gone and both returning seniors Ramon Richards and Darius Curry moving to safety, it will fall to graduate transfer Adrian Baker to provide the experience at corner. At least, the only starting experience.

Chad Whitener, a senior linebacker and one of the leaders of the defense, says his groups’ biggest challenge is getting the younger guys to buy in.

“The older guys, they’ve all been a part of the program,” Whitener told PFB. “They’re good to go, and the younger guys, it’s really just getting them into the rhythm of things and them understanding if they’re willing to buy in and they’re willing to sacrifice like we’re willing to sacrifice for each other, then we’ll be good to go.”

So why all the confidence from Mike Gundy and those inside the program? According to Whitener, it goes back to the way they practice as a defense. To him, players being prepared should not be an issue.

“Coach Spencer will not put guys out there who are not ready to go,” said Whitener. “So, that’s really where the confidence, I feel, stems from.”

Whitener pointed out two young corners that he expects to have big years, redshirt freshman Rodarius Williams and sophomore A.J. Green. And Whitener credits the talent across the line at receiver for their advanced development.

“Those (cornerbacks) can play,” he said. “They had a really good spring. All through metabolics and 7-on-7, all summer they’ve had really good reps at everything, especially going against our receiving corps.

“They’re one of the best if not the best receiving corps in the nation, so these guys are ready to go for us this next year.”

Aside from practice, Williams is untested at the Division-I level. Green played in nine games as a true freshman a year ago, recording two tackles, both against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.

Let’s hope that Chad Whitener’s (and Mike Gundy’s) confidence is also well-founded. Because for this Cowboy team full of senior leaders, the stakes are as high as ever.

“They’ll have really big years, I feel like. And we need them to have big years to do what we want to do.”