Depth Chart Projection: Breaking Down Oklahoma State’s Defense Entering Fall Camp

The Cowboys get back on the field in less than 24 hours.

Oklahoma State starts its fall camp on Wednesday morning, but before the pads start popping and the whistles start blowing, let’s take a gander at how I think the Cowboys’ defense will look entering fall camp. If you didn’t see, we looked at the offense on Monday. It’s important to note this is far from official and a lot can change between now and when the season kicks off.

Safety

S1s — Kendal Daniels (redshirt sophomore), Lyrik Rawls (redshirt sophomore), Trey Rucker (redshirt senior)
S2s — Ty Williams (redshirt sophomore), Lardarius Webb Jr. (junior), Nick Session (redshirt junior)

There is a lot of turnover at the back of OSU’s defense, but it’s a group with a lot of promise. Preseason All-Big 12 selection Kendal Daniels leads the way and should be a monster in Bryan Nardo’s new 3-3-5 scheme. Meanwhile, Lyrik Rawls and Trey Rucker each made an impact in OSU’s bowl game in 2022, with the pair combining for eight tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble.

But there are plenty of other talented defensive backs who will compete this fall in guys like Williams, Webb, Session and Raymond Gay. Webb is the only newcomer of that group, joining from the junior college level.

Cornerback

CB1s — Korie Black (senior), Cam Smith (redshirt sophomore)
CB2s — Kenneth Harris (senior), D.J, McKinney (redshirt freshman)

Korie Black enters 2023 as the most experienced defensive back on the Cowboys’ roster having played in 37 games in his OSU career. But it will be odd not seeing Jabbar Muhammad lining up opposite of Black in 2023 after Muhammad’s transfer to Washington. Cam Smith earned his first three career starts last season and looks to be the favorite to start the year because of that.

OSU’s brought in Kenneth Harris from Arkansas State this offseason. The Cowboys have done well with transfer corners over the years, and Harris could be another example of that. D.J. McKinney had some hype around him with how he performed in camps as a freshman, so expect him to compete as well. Other names to watch out for are Cameron Epps (perhaps at safety, as well), Kale Smith, De’kelvion Beamon and Jordan Reagan.

Linebacker

LB1s — Collin Oliver (junior), Justin Wright (redshirt senior), Xavier Benson (redshirt senior)
LB2s — Donovan Stephens (redshirt sophomore), Jeff Roberson (redshirt junior), Nickolas Martin (redshirt sophomore)

The big news for this group from the offseason is the addition of Collin Oliver, moving back from a defensive end spot where he was incredibly successful in his first two seasons at OSU. The group also welcomes Justin Wright, a player with a ton of production at Tulsa, starting the past three seasons.

Behind the first group, there are a lot of promising, but unproven talent. It should be interesting to see Sept. 2 who runs out there when the starters need a breather, but Stephens, Roberson and Martin are my best guesses at this point.

Defensive Line

DE1 — Anthony Goodlow (redshirt senior)
DE2 — Kody Walterscheid (redshirt senior)

DT1 — Justin Kirkland (sophomore)
DT2 — Collin Clay (redshirt senior)

DE1 — Nathan Latu (redshirt senior)
DE2 — DeSean Brown (redshirt freshman)

The Cowboys have some absolute monsters on the defensive front, starting with 6-foot-4, 346-pound Utah Tech transfer Justin Kirkland. But even beyond Kirkland, take a look at these heights and weights:

Goodlow: 6-5, 283 pounds
Latu: 6-4, 265 pounds
Walterscheid: 6-6, 281 pounds
Brown: 6-3, 254 pounds
Clay: 6-3, 310 pounds

It’s another exciting but unproven group filled with newcomers and players who worked their way up through the depth chart. Other guys to watch out for are Isreal Isuman-Hundley and Xavier Ross.