PFB’s Final Oklahoma State Depth Chart Prediction Ahead of the 2026 Football Season

By this time next week, we should have a more official depth chart to breakdown ahead of the Cowboys’ season opener, so before that, let’s get in one last prediction.

I last predicted Oklahoma State’s depth chart before fall camp. With the knowledge gained throughout August, some spots have stayed the same while others have changed. So, here’s my final prediction for the Cowboys’ two-deep.

Quarterback

Starter: Drew Mestemaker (R-So., 6-3, 215)
Backup: Brodie Vehrs (Fr., 5-11, 205)

No surprises with the starter.

In reality, there will probably be an OR between Vehrs and UMass transfer Grant Jordan, but the longer the offseason has lingered, the more I’ve heard about Vehrs slinging the pill around in practice. A good sign for the future.

Running Back

Starter: Caleb Hawkins (So., 6-0, 219)
Backup: Tre Page (R-So., 5-8, 184)

Similarly, there’s no surprise in the starting role, but behind him, I’d expect a few guys to get some run.

I’ve marked Tarleton State transfer Tre Page as RB2. He ran for 839 yards and seven scores as a redshirt freshman in the FCS last season and provides a nice yin to Hawkins’ yang in terms of running style. But I also wouldn’t be surprised to see James Madison transfer Ayo Adeyi getting some run.

Wide Receiver

Starters: Wyatt Young (Jr., 6-0, 199), Chris Barnes (R-So., 5-7, 169), Justin Bowick (R-Sr., 6-5, 209)
Backups: Miles Coleman (Jr., 5-6, 158), Terrence Lewis (So., 5-11, 170), Dayvon Standard (Fr., 6-4, 185)

Justin Bowick was already considered a starter, but his stock began soaring throughout the summer and early portions of fall camp.

The same can be said about Terrence Lewis and Dayvon Standard. Lewis had a solid freshman season at UNT last year with 184 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Standard joined the program this summer after signing in February and has garnered a few different shoutouts from the head coach since fall got going.

Tight End

Starter: Donovan Green (R-Sr., 6-3, 238)
Backup: Oscar Hammond (R-Sr., 6-3, 243) OR Carson Kolb (R-So., 6-4, 243)

I don’t feel great about using an OR as a crutch here, but it feels like this is going to be health-dependent.

About a week ago, Morris said, “If we played a game tomorrow, I mean, there’s a good chance (Carson Kolb) our starting tight end right now.” Kolb then noted there were some minor injuries ahead of him leading to his run with the ones.

Offensive Line

Starters
LT: Jacob Sexton (R-Sr., 6-6, 328)
LG: Johnny Dickson III (R-Sr., 6-2, 317)
C: Tyler Mercer (R-So., 6-4, 300)
RG: Joseph Hanson (Sr., 6-4, 302)
RT: Shaun Torgeson (R-So., 6-4, 302)

Key Reserves
Ashton Lepo (R-Sr., 6-7, 320)
Braydon Nelson (Jr., 6-4, 327)
Desmond Magiya (R-Jr., 6-4, 333)
Jakobe Sanders (R-Jr. 6-2, 327)

There was a little bit of shuffling from our pre-fall camp predictions, most notably with Shaun Torgeson — another surprise of the summer — further emerging. This week, Morris said Torgeson would probably start at right tackle if they played the next day.

Coastal Carolina transfer Joseph Hanson sounds likely to move inside after earning All-Sun Belt second team honors at right tackle last season.

I wouldn’t count Michigan State transfer Ashton Lepo out of contention at right tackle, and when Braydon Nelson returners to full-go after battling some preseason injuries, he could very well play a factor.

Defensive End

Starters: Jaleel Johnson (R-Sr., 6-4, 270), James Williams (R-Sr., 6-5, 256)
Key Reserves: Malik Charles (R-Sr., 6-3, 284), Keviyan Huddleston (R-Jr., 6-4, 269), Billy Walton III (R-So., 6-3, 253), DJ Jackson (Sr., 6-4, 243)

I went with a crazy amount of reserves because any coach who has talked about the defensive ends to this point has mentioned how deep the Cowboys are. Morris went so far this week as to say it doesn’t really matter who starts along the defensive line because there will be so much rotation.

Huddleston and Jackson have both been added after not appearing on my pre-fall camp predictions. Huddleston was probably an oversight on my part pre-fall, as he led UNT in sacks last season. And then I’ve heard Jackson’s name mentioned a few times this fall. A transfer from Troy, Jackson had a pair of sacks for the Trojans last season.

Defensive Tackle

Starters: Braylon Rigsby (R-Jr., 6-3, 283), Iman Oates (R-Sr., 6-3, 317)
Key Reserves: Jerry Lawson (Sr., 6-1, 312), Saadiq Clements (R-Jr., 6-4, 310), Enai White (R-Sr., 6-5, 300), Fatafehi Vailea II (R-Sr., 6-1, 307), Savion Barthelemy (Fr., 6-3, 286)

Likewise, depth reigns supreme.

I’ve added Iman Oates to the prediction after not knowing much about his future going into the fall. I guess there’s still a world where he’s deemed ineligible. But he’s on the roster, so, I’m including him.

The big riser from this group is freshman Savion Barthelemy, who the Cowboys’ staff swiped from Iowa State ahead of the February signing day.

Linebacker

Starters: Ethan Wesloski (R-Sr., 6-1, 234), Tate Romney (R-Sr., 6-1, 223), Isaiah Chisom (R-Jr., 6-0, 234)
Backups: Dallas Winner-Johnson (R-Jr., 6-5, 225), Trip White (R-Sr., 6-3, 234), Jack Puckett (R-Sr., 6-0, 234)

I, again, included three starters, though Cassity will likely have just two of these guys on the field most of the time.

It’s the same starting group I predicted pre-fall, but I’ve added Tulane transfer Dallas Winner-Johnson to the reserves after hearing his name a few times throughout fall camp. Winner-Johnson was an FCS Freshman All-American at Missouri State in 2024 before transferring to Tulane last season and playing in the Green Wave’s final 10 games, including the CFP contest.

Cornerback

Starters: LaDainian Fields (R-So., 6-1, 176), Mo Horn (R-Sr., 5-11, 183)
Backups: Kollin Lewis (R-Jr., 5-10, 188), Kobi Foreman (So., 5-10, 175)

I think two of these four guys are going to start, but it’s where I feel least confident in naming exactly who will start.

Just a few weeks ago, defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity called the corner position battle an “open competition.” I’m leaning the returning potential of Fields and the experience of Horn. But Lewis has experience in Cassity’s defense, and Morris has shouted out Foreman’s tenacity this fall.

Another name to look out for is Vanderbilt transfer Trudell Berry.

Safety

Starters: Quinton Hammonds (Jr., 6-1, 206), Mose Phillips III (Sr., 6-2, 196), Christian Bodnar (R-Jr., 6-0, 188)
Backups: Markeith Williams (R-Sr., 6-2, 175), Evan Jackson (Sr., 5-11, 188), Vincent Holmes (R-Jr., 6-2, 175), Cameron Epps (R-Sr., 6-2, 207)

These are the seven names Cassity mentioned battling it out at safety two weeks back.

Hammonds, Phillips, Williams, Jackson and Holmes are battling it out for the two more traditional spots.

Bodnar sounds like he’s going to start at nickel with Morris labeling him a potential “household name.” Cassity also noted that Epps and Holmes (playing both spots) are getting some run at nickel.