Dalton Cooper Looking Forward to Chance to Battle Tyler Batty Once Again
STILLWATER – There are two things that not many people could’ve predicted going into this season. One, Oklahoma State struggling as much and BYU being as good. But here we are and the two teams are set for a showdown in Provo this coming Friday with the Pokes looking to bounce back in a huge way and play spoiler to the Cougars.
I don’t want to say a herculean task for the Pokes as they still have talent on the roster, but it’s certainly going to be a difficult challenge as the Cougars are really good in true night games, especially at home.
Certainly, plenty of talent in blue and white this season, but a guy who really stands out is one of last year’s standouts: Tyler Batty, a 6-5, 275-pound senior defensive end. He was named to just about every preseason watch list heading into this season and while his numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, he’s still a physical force. Just ask OSU offensive tackle, Dalton Cooper.
Batty had a whale of a game in Stillwater last year recording six total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack in the double overtime loss to the Pokes. However, what doesn’t show up on a box score is one-on-one battles and he definitely got after Cooper last year.
“[Tyler Batty] had my number last year,” said Cooper. “It was the last home game, last game of the regular season before we went to play Texas in the Big 12 Championship. I kind of didn’t play very well and [Batty] brought it to me. He was good.”
Batty had a real chance to go pro last year as he recorded 57 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Cooper joked that he kind of wished Batty had taken his chances in the NFL, but that it was good to get another shot at him to prove last year was a fluke.
“You always want to go out there and do your best and whenever someone gets the better of you, you wanna go out there and prove you can hang with those guys and just do better than you did last year.”
Cooper has played well at times this season and will get his chance to try and get some back on Batty this coming Friday as the Pokes travel out to Provo, UT, for a 9:15 p.m. CT kick against the Cougars.