Thabo Mwaniki’s Departure Leaves a Void at a Place of Need for OSU

The news broke earlier this week that sophomore safety Thabo Mwaniki had requested his release from Oklahoma State and will transfer. The former three-star recruit recorded 39 total tackles, 1 interception and 1 tackle for loss in his 17 games played for the Cowboys. He began the season as a starter, but lost his over time to freshman Jarrick Bernard.

With Mwaniki no longer on the team, the safety position currently looks like this:

• Kanion Williams, Fr.
• Sean Michael Flanagan, Fr.
• Jarrick Bernard, Fr.
• Jason Taylor II, Fr.
• Kolby Peel, Fr.
• Tre Sterling, R-Fr.
• Malcolm Rodriguez, So.
• Za’Carrius Green, R-Jr.
• Malik Givens, R-Jr.
• Kenneth Edison-McGruder, Sr.

Out of the freshman listed above, Flanagan, Taylor and Williams will redshirt based on number of games played, so they will be freshman again next season. As you can see, there is plenty of youth at this spot and they will only lose Edison-McGruder heading into next season.

However, on the recruiting front the Cowboys currently don’t have a safety signed in the 2019 class. After missing out on Dax Hill, Oklahoma State has yet to sign anyone else at this position. There’s always a possibility that one of their linebacker or cornerback commits could be converted to safety, especially someone like Kamryn Farrar.

Colorado, where Farrar was originally committed before flipping to Oklahoma State, had recruited him to play their “Buff backer” linebacker/safety hybrid position. He definitely fits the mold of the Edison-McGruder type safety in Jim Knowles’ defense.

Outside of Farrar, there are several other commits who could potentially move to the safety position if needed, but no one currently is listed as a safety.

The same holds true for the Cowboys’ 2020 class as their four current commitments don’t include a safety. Additionally, the three offers they have out to guys at the safety spot don’t look promising based on recruiting analysts’ predictions.

Things start to get a little worrisome for the Pokes as Knowles’ defense normally calls for three safeties to be on the field at the same time. If all holds steady, Oklahoma State will have nine safeties on the roster for 2019, three starters and six players on the bench. This is two less than what they had this year, when you count KEM and Mwaniki. The Cowboys will then lose Givens and Green for the 2020 season, putting them at six total safeties.

The Pokes still have time to sign a safety in the 2019 cycle, and they have a while until the 2020 class wraps up, but with Mwaniki transferring it makes recruiting at the safety position a little more interesting moving forward.