Report: D-II All-American Linebacker Tristan Exline Taking Oklahoma State Visit

PORTAL TRACKER

Tristan Exline made 143 tackles this season, which included 19.5 tackles for loss. That’ll play.

Exline will visit Stillwater over the next week, according to The Business of Athletes. He’ll also check out Iowa State, Baylor and West Virginia.

Listed at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, Exline has played his entire college career at UT-Permian Basin. He set program records for tackles for loss (19.5) and solo tackles (80) for the Falcons this season. Exline also tallied 5.5 sacks, an interception, four quarterback hurries and a pair of forced fumbles.

This season saw Exline secure double-digit tackles in five games, including a 20-tackle day against Eastern New Mexico, where Exline had six tackles for loss.

For his work, Exline earned All-America honors from the AFCA, the Associated Press, the Division-II Conference Commissioners Association and Don Hansen.

The 2025 season was Exline’s second 100-tackle year after he finished 2024 with 104 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Exline’s three-year UTPB tenure ended with 272 total tackles, 39 tackles for loss, a dozen sacks, three interceptions and four forced fumbles.

Exline hails from China Spring, Texas, which is in the Waco area. He should have one year of eligibility (and a redshirt, should he need it) available.

Like with most positions, the Cowboys need some help at linebacker entering the portal window with the likes of Bryan McCoy and Brandon Rawls finishing out their eligibility in 2025. A handful of depth linebackers also hit the portal, but of note jumbo-DB-turned-linebacker Jacobi Oliphant Jr. announced this week that he intends on staying in Stillwater.