Oklahoma State 2021 Spring Football Preview: Linebackers

If there is a silver lining to the pandemic cloud that overshadowed college football last season, it’s that the NCAA is not counting 2020 toward players’ eligibility.

That’s a big deal for any program, but it’s a potential game-changer for Oklahoma State and its defense thanks to a couple of linebackers that decided to run it back.

Let’s continue there as we look at OSU’s position groups ahead of Saturday’s Spring Game.

Other Previews: QB | WR | RB | CW | OL | DL

The LB Room

Malcolm Rodriguez, Sr., 5-11, 225
Devin Harper, R-Sr., 6-0, 235
Na’Drian Dizadare, R-So., 6-2, 225
Kamryn Farrar, R-So., 5-11, 205
Jeff Roberson, R-Fr., 6-1, 223
Nickolas Martin, Fr., 6-0, 210
Lamont Bishop, R-Jr., 6-3, 230
Mason Cobb, So., 6-0, 230
Adam Martin, R-Sr., 5-11, 220
Aeneas Favors, R-Fr., 6-0, 215
Constantino Borrelli, 5-11, 215
Bo Hardy, R-Fr., 5-11, 205
Tyler Berryhill, R-Fr., 6-1, 210

On the Way

Donovan Stephens, 6-1, 205

Top Storyline: Running It Back

The Cowboys were set for a complete rebuild at linebacker this past season with four seniors taking the majority of snaps in 2020. Instead they returned two of them, including their leading tackler.

Jim Knowles did lose Amen Ogbongbemiga and Calvin Bundage — and their production and playmaking will be missed — but Malcolm Rodriguez and Devin Harper elected to take the NCAA up on its COVID-19 extended eligibility, providing the Cowboys’ defense a huge boon.

Rodriguez is coming off back-to-back all-conference seasons and has 34 career starts under his belt. Harper has been a regular contributor on OSU’s defense and on special teams for going on five years and appears ready to step into the role of a full-time starter.

Keep an Eye On: Mason Cobb

Cobb came to OSU as an under-the-radar talent out of Provo, Utah, and he finally got the the chance to turn heads this spring. Despite not have a spring camp or a conventional offseason to get up to speed, the true freshman saw the field in the final five games of 2020.

Now with a spring at his disposal and an extra year of eligibility, Cobb will be one of a class of college players to benefit from what is effectively a reset button in Year 2.

Outlook for 2021

It’s much brighter thanks to the return of Rodriguez and Harper. Now instead of a full rebuild at that crucial position, the Cowboys have a chance to build upon their defensive renaissance from 2020.

OSU has established starters at LB and thanks to the extended eligibility, the Cowboys should be closer to being set for the future with a nice mixture of depth and experience up and down the depth chart.