PFF: Oklahoma State Returns Top-10 Linebacker Group

STILLWATER – The nation is starting to learn what Oklahoma State fans have known for a while: Cowboy football is returning one of the top linebacker groups in the country this season.

PFF is releasing its top position groups and is up to linebacker, where they have the Cowboys as the No. 9 overall linebacker groups in college football.

USATODAY Sports

“While Abdul Carter switched from off-ball linebacker to edge defender, Collin Oliver did the opposite. While he wasn’t allowed to pin his ears back as much, Oliver remained an elite pass-rusher. He led all FBS linebackers with 37 pressures last season. The junior also flashed some skills when he wasn’t attacking the quarterback, placing third among Big 12 linebackers with a 75.0 coverage grade. He’s my No. 6 returning linebacker in college football. 

The Cowboys also brought back another starter in Nickolas Martin, who was second to Oliver with 19 pressures among Big 12 linebackers last year.”

Oliver is coming off a Second Team All-Big 12 season in 2023, in which he recorded 73 total tackles, 45 of which were solo stops, six sacks, 37 quarterback pressures, which led all FBS linebackers, four forced fumbles and one recovery.

Jerod Hill/OSU Athletics

As for Martin, he finished last season with a First Team All-Big 12 selection following an incredible breakout performance.

As a first year starter, Martin led the Big 12 in total tackles, solo tackles and tackles per game. He finished the season with 140 total tackles and 83 solo stops, which were the most by any Big 12 defender since 2018.

The Cowboys also have redshirt senior Justin Wright back, who missed most of the 2023 season with an injury, redshirt sophomore Gabe Brown who’s set to play a bigger role, as well as redshirt senior Jeff Roberson.