Cole Birmingham navigates 'weird, difficult' career at Oklahoma State

Nov. 21—Monday evening served as a moment of reflection for Oklahoma State offensive lineman Cole Birmingham. He's gone through nearly everything since arriving in Stillwater in 2019, from the Fiesta Bowl to watching two seasons from the sidelines.

Ahead of the Cowboys hosting BYU on Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC), Birmingham shared what his time at OSU has meant to him. There was only one way to properly describe it.

"What am I, in my fifth year now? It goes by fast," Birmingham said through a laugh. "I've had a weird career, but I'm just happy to be here and happy to be with the team. I couldn't imagine myself being anywhere else."

As one of 28 seniors on this year's squad, this weekend could be the final game of Birmingham's collegiate career. And should it be, it'd end a long, windy road that he's navigated up to this point.

The 6-foot-5, 325-pound redshirt senior made his first start during the Cowboys' nonconference matchup with Tulsa in 2020. About 20 plays in, to his recollection, he had a high ankle sprain and torn ligaments that kept him out until OSU faced Miami in the Cheez-It Bowl.

Birmingham played the first game of 2021 at right guard before spending the last 13 games at left tackle.

Then, in spring ball before the 2022 season, he injured his knee and was forced to miss all of the following season.

"It's been kind of weird and difficult to deal with," Birmingham said. "But it's been good. I've had everyone here helping me out, everyone getting with me and making sure — great training staff and everything like that working with me to get me back to where I need to be."

Weird and difficult would apply to this year, too. The Katy, Texas, native hasn't undergone any injuries ahead of the regular-season finale outside of the usual bumps and bruises. But the Cowboys — and especially the offensive line — have faced their fair share of adversity on their way to contending for a Big 12 championship.

OSU entered its bye week at 2-2 on the heels of back-to-back losses to South Alabama and at Iowa State. The offensive line was banged up. They weren't at full strength yet, Cowboys coach Mike Gundy preached.

Since then, the Pokes have boasted one of the best offensive fronts in the Big 12 — so much so that Gundy, when asked what he's thankful for in the spirit of Thanksgiving, said he's thankful for OSU finally figuring out how to run block.

Birmingham's part in that has been filling voids when needed. He started the season at left tackle, and he's since started to fill in at left guard with Jason "Queso" Brooks, sustaining what's likely a season-ending injury.

"I wanna be wherever I can to help the team," he said. "I feel comfortable playing wherever they put me. I just want to be able to help the team. Big team guy."

It also helps to have Ollie Gordon, the Cowboys' Heisman-contending sophomore running back who's taken the country by storm after getting a meager 19 carries through the first three games. Now, with the help of Birmingham and the guys up front, Gordon enters Saturday with 211 carries for 1,414 yards and 15 touchdowns.

"When we see him pop those runs and he does whatever his extra stuff is, it's great," Birmingham said. "We have a sense of pride for that."

Despite allowing an average of one sack a game thus far, and despite Gordon's emergence onto the national scene, Birmingham said OSU's offensive line still has a ways to go. That's the pursuit of perfection talking.

But regardless of how this season comes to a close, the Cowboys could have all of next spring, summer and fall to continue chasing. Per this reporter's count, all six offensive linemen who have played crucial roles this fall — Birmingham, Brooks, Dalton Cooper, Joe Michalski, Preston Wilson, Jake Springfield — could return.

While they're all veterans, they'll have a decision to make when the season ends because of an extra year of eligibility from COVID-19 impacting the 2020 season.

So, yes, Saturday could be Birmingham's final game as a Cowboy. Don't count on it, though.

"I'll just take it as it goes. Obviously, it'd be fun to come back, and I probably will come back and just play another year," he said. "We'll figure it out."

Follow News Press sports reporter Jon Walker on Twitter @ByJonWalker for updates on Oklahoma State athletics, Stillwater High and more.