Derek Mason: "It’s Goons, Goblins and Gremlins" On Defensive Line
STILLWATER – We’re exactly one week away from the start of Oklahoma State’s 2022 season. There are certainly some questions about certain positions or personnel, but the one position group there aren’t many questions about is the defensive line.
Derek Mason and Greg Richmond return one of the top three defensive line groups in college football, and I don’t believe they’re third on that list. It’s a group that’s been talked about ad nauseam for months and months, but we’re finally to the start of the season.
The Pokes return several starters from last year’s team, including Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Collin Oliver, Brock Martin, Tyler Lacy and Sione Asi among others, but also return talented defensive end (LEO) Trace Ford.
The lone question that surrounded the defensive line entering the season is who’s going to be the starting group? I’ve asked several of the guys, including Collin Oliver and Trace Ford, and they’ve all had pretty similar answers: whoever Greg Richmond and Derek Mason send out there for the first snap will be the starters, but they’ll all get into the game and will hopefully make impacts.
Other than the obvious of having great talent across the line, the depth is going to be a huge key for the Pokes this season. They’re at least two deep at every position across the defensive line, and even deeper at some positions.
“We just want fresh horses in the game,” Mason said of his defensive line. “For us, we talked about it: it’s goons, goblins and gremlins. That's what we talk about ourselves. Nobody really cares who is the first guy. Everybody wants to be a guy. So, with that, everybody is expected to play their role, do their job and that D-line rotation is going to come in big for us. We need it."
So, after months and months of talking, it’s time to see what this group’s all about and they’ve got a pretty good running back and quarterback week one.
The Chippewas return Daniel Richardson, a QB who completed 60.4% of his passes in 2021 for 2,633 yards and 24 touchdowns to just six interceptions. RB Lew Nichols III is the reigning NCAA rushing leader and 2021 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year as he rushed for 1,848 yards and 16 touchdowns on 314 carries. He also caught 40 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns, ranking first in all-purpose yards with 2,186.
“Central Michigan’s a talented football team,” said OSU defensive coordinator Derek Mason. “[Jim McElwain’s] a really good football coach; they run the football well, but I think what’s different about Central Michigan is that they throw the football really well, too. He’s got good weapons; everyone talks about the running back being a good runner, but I think when you look at 35-40-plus catches, it tells you a lot about what his skillset is. The tight end is probably the next great one to come out of Central Michigan. Wideouts, they’re looking to see who’s gonna come along, but they’ve got a returner, No. 6, with 40-plus catches. This is gonna be a ballgame where we’re gonna get in the first quarter and see exactly who they are.”
