Collin Clay Emerges on the Defensive Line for the Cowboys

STILLWATER – Fortunately, I don’t have to do it very often because I don’t make the mistake often. I doubted Collin Clay. I saw Clay in high school as a defensive end at Putnam City, but his senior season I didn’t see his better games. He had 62 tackles, three sacks, and 5.5 tackles-for-loss. He had lots of offers including Oklahoma State, but he chose Arkansas where he actually played as a true freshman and had 17 tackles, two against Alabama. I didn’t think anything about it, and then Clay transferred to Oklahoma State. He did it during the pandemic year of 2020. Clay tore his ACL and then was trying to rehab and get back into shape in the middle of COVID.

Darren Shrum (@DarrenShrum1) Twitter

Warren Clay was more recognizeable early, even hanging with OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum.

I honestly doubted him. I answered inquiries on the radio that I wasn’t sure he would contribute. One of his siblings, younger brother Warren became an iconic figure as a young, loud, proud Cowboy at games at Boone Pickens Stadium. He even had his own NIL with t-shirts and sweatshirts. Meanwhile, the quieter member of the Clay family pushed on trying to get back on the field. Clay did not play a down in two full seasons. He gained weight with his 6-3 frame up to 310-pounds. A position move to tackle had him adjusting further. I could see day-to-day his determination.

Honestly, after his first career start against Texas where he finished with five tackles and a tackle-for-loss, a hefty day for a defensive tackles especially against a team like the Longhorns.

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Clay rushing Texas QB Quinn Ewers.

“He got pushed around a little early, but he really came on,” head coach Mike Gundy told me after game last Saturday. “He was a real force for us on defense.”

After that I had to apologize. I missed on Collin Clay big. Thankfully, he didn’t get too upset over the radio sideline reporter having doubts.

“These past two years have been tough just dealing with ACL surgery,” Clay started. “It’s not easy to come back from and I had a bunch of people supporting me and just helping to bring me back because I had a time where I was ready to give up. Coach (Rob) Glass and everybody (strength staff and teammates) kept encouraging me and telling me it was going to get better. Everything happens for a reason, and it just motivated me to work harder.”

Clay says he is the quiet one in his family. He’ll let Warren cheerlead. Now, his younger brother has even more to yell about with big brother out there making tackles, 12 on the season and two tackles-for-loss with four quarterback hurries. He’s got a strong group of supporters and believers on his side. You can include me. I’m convinced.

“I just want to thank all of my coaches and everybody just for getting me back to this point,” Clay added thanking his support group again. “Without them I would be in this position and they always, they’re going to make sure I’m fine. It’s all about continuing to build on weeks.”

This will be a good week to build on because games between Oklahoma State and Kansas State always feature playmakers, a good dose of special teams, but they are also line of scrimmage games. You must win the line of scrimmage in Manhattan.