Linebacker Bryan McCoy Among National Leaders in Tackles

The Cowboys certainly didn’t get the result they were after up in the Pacific Northwest, but a transfer linebacker continued his strong statistical start as a Cowboy.

Bryan McCoy Jr. finished with nine tackles, including a half tackle for loss, in Oklahoma State’s 69-3 loss to the Oregon Ducks this past weekend. That brings McCoy’s total tackles up to 23 this season, which is tied for eighth in the entire country. McCoy’s 11.5 tackles per game also rank eighth nationally.

Perhaps more impressive than the sheer volume of tackles McCoy has accumulated in his first two games in orange is the fact that, according to PFF, he hasn’t missed a tackle this season.

Among the 24 players with at least 20 tackles so far this season, only McCoy and Louisiana Tech’s Mekhi Mason have reached that threshold without a missed tackle, according to PFF.

McCoy ranks fifth in the Big 12 in total tackles, but two of the players ahead of him (K-State’s Austin Romaine and Kansas’ Trey Lathan) have played three games already.

Put bluntly, McCoy is tackling everyone.

Who Is Bryan McCoy Jr.?

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Listed at 6-feet, 225 pounds, McCoy transferred from Akron this offseason. He spent three years with the Zips, making 237 tackles during that time.

He made 120 tackles in 2024, which ranked fourth in the MAC. His 10 tackles per game ranked third in the MAC.

As a true sophomore in 2023, McCoy made 94 tackles, including a career-best six tackles for loss.

McCoy took part in 10 games as a true freshman with the Zips, including three starts. He finished that year with 23 tackles.

Hailing from Chicago, McCoy was an All-MAC Second Team selection in 2024 and made the Third Team in 2023.

Out of Joliet West High School, McCoy was a two-star recruit in the 2022 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. He was listed as the No. 2,190 player in the class in the 247Sports Composite ranking. He picked Akron over offers from Air Force and Indiana State.

Out of the transfer portal, he also announced offers to Kansas and Memphis before picking the Pokes.

Don’t Overlook Brandon Rawls

There’s another transfer linebacker who also has a ton of tackles two games into his Cowboy career: Brandon Rawls.

A 6-feet, 240-pound Saginaw Valley State transfer, Rawls jumped up to the Division-I level and kept producing. He’s up to 19 tackles this year, which ranks seventh in the Big 12 and is tied for 25th nationally.

His best year in terms of tackles at Saginaw Valley State was in 2023, where he made 65. He’s on pace to finish his first season at the Division-I level with 114.

Similar to McCoy, Rawls isn’t missing much either, with PFF having him with one missed tackle through two games.