Oklahoma State Center Joe Michalski Announces Return for 2024 Season

TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER

A key cog in an offensive line that paved the way for the nation’s leading rusher will be back in 2024.

Senior center Joe Michalski announced via Pokes With A Purpose on Tuesday that he will return for a sixth season in Stillwater. He is eligible to do so because of the pandemic.

Hey @CowboyFB fans…#OL600 & @PokesPurpose has secured one of the best in the country… and one of @Ollie_Gordon2 ‘s main men… back for a special 2024 season! He is a Cowboy4life…@JoeMichalski2! #WeTakeCareofOurOwn https://t.co/sEgH9GByKQ #OL600 https://t.co/sEgH9GByKQ… pic.twitter.com/I490CsQj0i

— Scott Albertson (@ScottAAlbertson) December 5, 2023

Michalski has started every game for the Cowboys this season, playing 954 snaps, per Pro Football Focus, entering OSU’s Texas Bowl appearance against Texas A&M. According to PFF, Michalski has allowed no sacks this season in 539 opponent pressure opportunities while allowing only eight pressures. His 99.3 pass-blocking efficiency rating ranks tops among Big 12 linemen with at least 800 snaps.

Michalski was the highest-graded center in the country for Week 7, per PFF, for his performance against Kansas. He was OSU’s highest-graded offensive lineman in three games this season: Arizona State, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Out of Kansas City, Michalski joined the Cowboys as part of the 2019 recruiting class, picking the Pokes over offers from Texas State, Cornell, Yale and others. After redshirting in 2019 and primarily playing special teams in 2020, Michalski made his first four starts in OSU’s Fiesta Bowl-winning 2021 season, a year in which he played in all 14 of the Cowboys’ games. He started five times in 2022, playing in 12 of OSU’s games.