Every Big 12 conference fan knows that Oklahoma State football is always a tough team to beat. Head coach Mike Gundy has the team near the top of the league year in and year out. 2024 should be no different. The Cowboys return rusher Ollie Gordon II, who won the Doak Walker Award last season. The team has another dangerous weapon, however, that should also be one of the best weapons in the league.
Dangerous Oklahoma State weapon for the 2024 season
The Cowboys have a defensive player that should be a breakout star during this upcoming campaign. That player is defensive graduate transfer Obi Ezeigbo, an edge rusher who previously played Division II football for Gannon University in Pennsylvania. While many will scoff at a player who only has Division II football experience, that would be a mistake. Ezeigbo is a work horse who will be one of the best pass rushers in the Big 12 conference this season.
During his time at Gannon, the edge got better year after year. He finished the 2023 season with 7.5 sacks, leading the team in that category. He also had 10.5 tackles for loss, which was third on the team. He lives in opposing backfields. He also had the most tackles of any defensive lineman for Gannon, with 54 total stops, per OSU sports communications.
Ezeigbo is also going to be one of the most experienced defensive linemen in the Big 12 conference this season. He played for four years of Division II football and appeared in games each season in college. Oklahoma State football lost two of their edge players after last season, so the veteran should be able to step in right away and get snaps for the Cowboys. He is also already familiar with Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo. Nardo coached at Gannon during the 2022 season, so the two already have a short hand with one another.
During that 2022 season, Ezeigbo recorded 25 tackles. He had 12 solo stops. He had the trust of Nardo; the defensive lineman played in all of Gannon's games that year. He was tied for third on the team in tackles for loss that season, even though he was used as a reserve. That is certainly impressive. The opportunity is certainly there for Ezeigbo to get some solid playing time in Stillwater.
Oklahoma State's 2024 season outlook
Oklahoma State football is hoping Ezeigbo can help their defense remain near the top of the league. Oklahoma and Texas have left the Big 12 for the SEC, and four new schools are joining the Big 12. They are Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah. Oklahoma State fans expect the team to remain competitive in the new version of the conference. There's no reason to believe that the Cowboys won't be able to continue winning games. Gordon is likely to be the conference's preseason player of the year, and Gundy is as good as any coach in this league.
Oklahoma State football opens their 2024 season with a non conference game against South Dakota State. The Cowboys also play Arkansas and Tulsa in the non conference portion of their schedule. Ezeigbo will get plenty of chances early to show Cowboys fans what he can do. He will compete for the starting position at edge, and will be surely used a lot in third-down situations for the defense.
The Cowboys kick off their Big 12 Conference schedule against newcomer Utah, in a September 21 game.
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