Mike Gundy Thinks OSU’s Offensive Line Will Be Improved in 2018

There are plenty of questions surrounding Mike Gundy’s squad heading into fall camp. How does he replace the program’s all-time leader in QB records and wins? How does he replace a Biletnikoff winner? What does Jim Knowles’ defense look like against Big 12 competition?

But one of the bigger questions that is getting less pub centers around OSU’s rebuilding offensive line which loses a lot of experience from last year.

The group did get a boost when Larry Williams was granted a sixth year of eligibility. Williams has earned starter’s reps at right guard in each of the last two offseasons but saw both effectively end with leg injuries.

If he can stay healthy, it makes for a core of interior linemen with starting experience with Marcus Keyes at left guard and Johnny Wilson who spelled Williams last year and even stood in for Brad Lundblade twice at center.

But on the ends the Cowboys will be replacing longtime starter Zach Crabtree at right tackle and graduate transfer Aaron Cochran on the blind side. OSU only returns three starts from either tackle position, all by Teven Jenkins. And two of his were actually at guard while OSU struggled to plug injury holes across its offensive front at the start of conference play.

When asked about his attitude on the group that will be protecting his new QB (whoever that is), Mike Gundy was more than optimistic.

“I think that our offensive line will be better than last year,” said Gundy. “We’ve got four young men that will get quality time that have played a lot of reps against quality opponents. I know that our overall size and strength combination will be better. We will have one position that we won’t have any experience at, but we’ve been down this road before.

“I’ve always felt like you needed seven offensive linemen to stay fairly healthy and be competitive in order to have a good offense, meaning you need two centers and a role guard and a role tackle. I think we will have that this year. I’m excited about those guys.”

That increase and size and strength comes largely thanks to offensive line coach Josh Henson, who enters the second year at his post after already adding five high school linemen in his first recruiting class. The previous two offensive line coaches (Bob Connelly and Greg Adkins) brought in just five total high school signees (that stuck) — over four classes.

The Cowboys will be counting on a lot of young linemen to adapt quickly, but Henson seems like the coach to get them there and Gundy likes the depth in the trenches he lacked over recent years.

“We do have a couple young players that, if they pick it up quick and adjust well to Saturdays, they could make us considerably better in the latter part of the season,” said Gundy.