Filling linebacker void key since Oklahoma State is 'not gonna replace' Malcolm Rodriguez
STILLWATER — In assessing his offense through four practices of preseason camp, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy pointed to the key factor in their success being the ability to fill the void of graduated running back Jaylen Warren.
Asked if the defense faced a similar challenge in replacing linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, a four-year starter who is one of just four Cowboys in history with more than 400 tackles in a career.
Gundy promptly turned up the heat on that comparison while he spoke at Oklahoma State football media day on Saturday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
“Probably more difficult,” Gundy said of replacing Rodriguez. “For a standup guy on the second level, I thought he was the best player in the country.
“So it’s extremely difficult to replace him. We’re not gonna replace him this year. That’s not gonna happen. We’re gonna run guys out there, but these guys aren’t in that position in their careers right now to replace him.
“That doesn’t mean we can’t take up slack in other areas.”
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Rodriguez led the team with 130 tackles last season, and fellow linebacker Devin Harper was second with 96.
Now, both spots must be filled, with junior Mason Cobb and junior-college transfer Xavier Benson in the best position to step in.
One key change Gundy made in the offseason to help ease the linebacker transition was to hand the linebacker coaching job to Joe Bob Clements, rather than to bring in an outsider after former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left.
“I wanted to keep continuity on that side of the ball,” Gundy said. “These young guys need a lot, and to bring somebody from the outside in that doesn’t understand our language, our terminology, and have him learning and the players learning could set us back.”
After eight seasons coaching OSU’s defensive line, Clements settled in quickly as the linebackers coach, and his players appreciate the comfort level he has provided.
“Having Joe Bob around us more, we’re becoming a tight-knit unit,” said Cobb, a junior who is the front-runner to start at the inside spot manned by Harper last season. “We rotate guys through a lot at both positions, so I’m not going with the same person every play. For us to be able to do that and all be on the same page has a lot to do with Joe Bob and the tightness of our group as linebackers.”
In addition to Gundy, 39 players visited with the media on Saturday. Here are some other takeaways from OSU’s Media Day:
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Caleb Etienne eyes LT job
Redshirt junior Caleb Etienne is at the front of the line to win the starting left tackle job thanks to the dramatic improvement he’s shown over his 14 months on campus. It was a physical and mental makeover. Listed at 6-foot-7, Etienne dropped from 370 pounds to his current weight of 325, and during that time, he showed vast growth in his understanding of the game.
“It was gradual,” Etienne said. “I had to get in the playbook, grind, show that I wanted a spot on the O-line and be a part of it. It was a process. It wasn’t easy.”
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Collin Oliver looks different
On the topic of weight, the size of sophomore defensive end Collin Oliver has been a hot topic early in camp. Oliver played at 220 pounds last fall when he became a freshman All-American and led the Big 12 with 11.5 sacks.
Oliver says he weighs 245 pounds now, and Gundy knows the youngster from Edmond Santa Fe isn’t finished developing.
“He doesn’t even look like the same person,” Gundy said. “He’s just getting started. It wouldn’t surprise me, at this time next year, if he’s 260.”
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Blaine Green's role in offense
In the middle of last season, Blaine Green began splitting time between an inside receiver role and the tight end position. This year, he’s more tight end than receiver, and his weight reflects it. Though he’s listed on the roster at 220 pounds, he says he’s roughly 230 now, which he hopes will help him block defensive ends with a little more force.
Not to worry, though. He’s not so big that he can’t still share clothes with his twin brother, Bryson.
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Who will back up Dominic Richardson?
Redshirt freshman running back Jaden Nixon, who will be a top contender to back up starter Dominic Richardson, knows the position group is light on experience, but he feels confident in their ability to form a strong committee this season.
Behind Richardson, the group includes Nixon, transfer sophomore Deondre Jackson, redshirt sophomore Zach Middleton and true freshmen Ollie Gordon and C.J. Brown.
“That opportunity for everybody is open,” Nixon said. “Everybody’s competing right now, just working as hard as they can to see who’s gonna be next up. Even if somebody gets hurt, then we’re gonna have other people able to step up and help the team in a big way.”
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Who will be OSU's top kicker?
Placekicker Alex Hale had a great season in 2020, hitting 13 of 14 field goals before an injury ended his year. Then he struggled getting back to that level last fall, eventually being replaced by Tanner Brown — who converted 17 of 21 attempts, with only one miss inside of 40 yards, over the final 10 games.
Now, both are locked in what has the makings of an intense competition for the starting job in preseason camp.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State linebackers in flux with Malcolm Rodriguez off to NFL
