Defensive Notebook: Jordan Brailford Looks Bigger Than Ever

Behind the quote barrage coach Mike Gundy was giving reporters at the Oklahoma State football team’s second day of padded spring practice, there were in fact humans warming up to play a game called football.

There was no Animal Planet back there or rattlesnakes or Wild Bill, no. But there were some entertaining and interesting moments from the first 15 minutes of practice. Here they are in all their glory:

• Gundy showed up to practice about 20 minutes after Mike Yurcich and Glenn Spencer got the offense and defense going on their walkthroughs. That is indeed when the viper talk began.

• He also talked about other things, like football.

• Filling in at Richards’ former position to start were redshirt senior Darius Curry and sophomore A.J. Green, who wears No. 4 (he wore No. 22 last year). Again, not much to see from the 15-minute non-contact portion the media could see, but there are two names for you.
• The second fleet of corners were sophomore Madre Harper and redshirt freshman Rodarius Williams.

• The corners’ coach Tim Duffie was wearing an OSU baseball cap. I think that was a first for me, not just seeing Duffie in one, but any football coach.

• Former safety Kenneth Edison-McGruder was in there as a would-be starter at star linebacker. Calvin Bundage was his No. 2.

• Along the defensive line, there was some news to report. Defensive end Jordan Brailford wore pads and was full-go in all of the drills. He came in second during the walkthrough behind last season’s starter Cole Walterscheid.

• Brailford looked big, much bigger than last year. Last year Brailford was listed at 245 pounds. He did not play because of a stress fracture in his leg. On this year’s roster, he is at 250, but, man, he looks more like 275. He said he is happy to be back.

• Senior defensive end Tralund Webber was there, but he wasn’t in pads.

• Vili Levini was there, too, but he also wasn’t in pads. He is recovering from a season-ending injury he suffered last year against Kansas State.

• At linebacker, there seemed to be a collage of guys rotating in and out. Edison-McGruder was there. Chad Whitener of course was there to start. Justin Phillips was one of the first three getting reps. Bundage, junior college transfer Patrick Macon (who rocks that No. 44 jersey) and Kevin Henry got time in, too. Good, solid core of guys for sure.