Big Board: Oklahoma State’s Defensive Line Targets

Our big board series featuring some of OSU’s top targets on a position-by-position basis continues today with a look at who is floating on the radar for the Cowboys along the defensive front — both at defensive tackle and defensive end.

Tyler Lacy sealed one spot of need as an edge rusher when he became one of the many who committed over the last month, and the Sachse defensive end likely won’t be the last one Joe Bob Clements hauls in before signing day.

Let’s have a look at the remaining targets for now, but based on this list and how Clements has recruited in the past, I’d also keep an open mind for names to emerge on this list later in the summer and into fall. He has a knack for unearthing hidden gems under big boulders.

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Israel Antwine — Defensive tackle

Local defensive tackle Israel Antwine of Millwood High School is a solid option at defensive tackle for 2018, and perhaps one of the biggest high school names still available that might be a viable option. He’s a late riser on the recruiting trail but at 6-foot-3 and 286 pounds he’s a legit target and a local area kid.

The downside with Antwine is that he’s getting the full court press elsewhere. He told Pistols Firing that Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri and Memphis are currently recruiting him the hardest.

Tate Wildeman — Defensive end

Wildeman was a bit of a wild card when OSU offered him a scholarship. The Colorado native is a 6-foot-5 edge rusher who, at the time of his OSU offer, was a relative unknown. Iowa, Arizona State, Nevada, and Nebraska have all offered since — and he’s a current Nebraska pledge.

At this point with Lacy in the fold, I think OSU and Wildeman will likely cool. The 2018 class won’t be big on defensive ends, perhaps two at the most, so OSU might file this offer away for now until signing day gets closer and the staff reassesses their scholarship count. Wildeman doesn’t seem to me to be a must-get prospect — and OSU might have the luxury to be picky here.

Tayland Humphrey — Defensive tackle

The self-proclaimed best defensive tackle in the country is Tayland Humphrey, a 6-foot-5, 350-pound run-stuffer who is a beast of a prospect. Humphrey, who is with Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, is originally from Klein Oak, Texas, and has been on the OSU radar for quite some time. He has offers from nearly 25 schools that includes OSU, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Louisville, Alabama, Florida State and others.

Because Humphrey is a junior college prospect, he’d be an immediate plug-and-play guy in the middle where OSU has had success with a long line of junior college guys like Mote Maile, Calvin Barnett and Ofa Hautau.

As a freshman last season for Hutch, Humphrey had 32 tackles, 1.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss. He’ll be done with his two-year degree in December, so he could be an early enrollee at his next destination. He will have three years to play two following the 2017 football season.

Alton Robinson — Defensive end

Robinson is a former Texas A&M signee who failed to qualify and is eligible to jump back up to Division for 2018. He’s a hard-hitting pass-rusher from NEO in Miami (Miam-uh) and to this point, has garnered surprisingly little interest. His offers include OSU, Colorado State and Kentucky.

Robinson collected 67 tackles at NEO and 14 sacks to lead the Southwest Junior College Football Conference last season. Should he qualify, OSU might have the inside track. He’s already made an unofficial visit to Stillwater during last football season. But the cat might be out of the bag if he puts up similar production as he did as a freshman for NEO last season again as a sophomore.