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Three Freshmen Ready to Help OSU’s Defense

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We’ve already looked at some offensive newcomers ready to make a dent in their first year (or first year playing significant minutes). Now let’s turn our attention to a Cowboy defense that that is as deep as it has ever been in some areas and unproven in others. Here are three freshmen (and in some cases, redshirt freshmen) who could have a huge impact on 2017.

Rodarius Williams (CB)

Oklahoma State is essentially replacing all of their cornerback production from a year ago. Ashton Lampkin and Lenzy Pipkins are gone and the heir apparent to “head cover man,” Ramon Richards, has shifted to the middle of the field.

Clemson grad-transfer Adrian Baker is a huge lift in both talent and experience but he can only cover one side of the field at a time. There will be young corners learning on the fly. So when looking at which freshmen could make an impact for Mike Gundy’s 2017 defense, a rookie corner has to be on the list.

Williams was a three-star prospect out of Louisiana. He spurned offers from the likes of Oklahoma, Nebraska, Cal and Houston to stick with the Cowboys. At 6-foot, he’s got the kind of size the Cowboys have been recruiting for their corners. He used his redshirt year under Rob Glass and Co. to pack on 10 pounds and is up to 180.

Williams was probably in the mix to start had the Cowboys not secured their grad-transfer help from last year’s national champ. He should definitely be in the mix for reps with the likes of sophomore corners Madre Harper and A.J. Green.

Williams and Co. will likely take their lumps, at least early on. But one way or another they will have an impact.

“We’re young at the corner position,” Mike Gundy said during the spring. “Ramon (Richards) was an experienced player that we moved to safety because we think it adds a lot to our defense, but we need young corners to play better than they would traditionally play in order for us to have the type of year we hope to have.”

No pressure, guys.

Cameron Murray (DT)

While corner rotations may keep Glenn Spencer up at night, he’s not losing any sleep over the depth across his defensive line. Joe Bob Clements continues to prove his value, showing up to fall camp with a seemingly deeper line each year. He’s lost his best player two years in a row to the NFL Draft but he always seems to have another big (and capable) body ready to step in.

One of those bodies ready to compete for reps is a 6-foot-2, 290-pound redshirt freshman named Cameron Murray. Defensive tackle is a deep spot for the Cowboys but Mike Gundy would love to see his line make hockey-line style changes and Murray should figure into at least the three-deep.

Murray was a bit of an under-the-radar recruit but held offers from Arizona, Louisiana Tech and Kansas. 247 Sports ranked the three-star prospect the No. 14 player out of Arkansas in the 2016 class. He’s already put on 10 pounds since arriving a year ago and should continue to transform his body under Rob Glass’ tutelage.

With the size to contribute, Murray has a chance to climb the depth chart. A Big 12 season can be grueling for defensive linemen as they try to keep up with the weekly track meet. Players get dinged up. Guys go out. Even with the depth in the middle, Murray stands a solid chance of earning meaningful reps this year.

Devin Harper (LB)

The Cowboys have a sneaky deep and talented linebacker corps but if there is one freshman poised to make splash in 2017, it may be Devin Harper.

Oklahoma State recruited Harper as an athlete out of Knoxville, Tennessee. He was an all-state selection and a two-way player Karns High School. As a senior he averaged 213 all-purpose yards per game as a running back including a 345-yard, four-touchdown outing.

The Cowboys secured his commitment prior to the start of his senior season which seems to be one reason his offer list didn’t explode.

Since arriving on campus a year ago, Harper has transformed his body. He was recruited at 210 pounds. Now he’s up to a whopping 240. That’s Chad Whitener’s size!

In fact, he and the fifth-year senior are the two biggest linebackers on the roster. And he’s a freshman. With that size and with a year in the room with Glenn Spencer, Harper should be ready to lay the wood on somebody.

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