Taking Stock - Future of OSU Football: Many Gone, Some Back and Kawecki Could Be Anchor
(This is the fourth in a series of stories projecting what the offseason activity and the roster building will be like following the end of the 2024 season later this month. Previous stories include quarterbacks, high school recruiting, and linebackers. We are moving back to defense because I thought it would be better if we skipped around from offense-to-defense-to-special-teams.
The major factors that Mike Gundy, Kenyatta Wright, Todd Bradford, and the staff involved in high school/junior college recruiting and transfer portal evaluation and recruiting will have are as follows:
- House vs. NCAA lawsuit settlement results including revenue sharing and NCAA roster limits (105)
- NIL collectives and money available
- Number of current players that decide to go into the portal vs. stay on the OSU roster
This is going to be the largest movement of players from one program to another across the board in college football. It will be the most massive changing of rosters in the history of organized sports, professional or collegiate. Those two are now because of the court rulings, one in the same.)
STILLWATER – Why not tackle the largest position in personnel on the team. Offensive line has under performed this season in a major way. It is hard to explain with all the experience. Returning center Joe Michalski is an NFL prospect. Dalton Cooper has been consistent at left tackle until he suffered a torn plantar in his foot. Right tackle Jake Springfield was injured early in the season with an ankle and took five games to return against BYU. For some reason with so much experience it didn’t click this season. It will be a major emphasis to rebuild and be a strong force for the 2025 season and beyond.
It is easy to start listing the players that will be gone. Springfield, Michalski, Cooper, Preston Wilson, Cole Birmingham, and Taylor Miterko have all exhausted their eligibility after six years in college football. Jason Brooks Jr. pulled away from the program and is red-shirting to preserve another season. He will go into the portal to find a new home.
With the 105 scholarship limit set to come into play for the 2025 season there will be a severe cutback on the number of offensive linemen on the roster. This seasonthe Cowboys had 25 offensive linemen after Brooks left the team.
Now with seven players confirmed as leaving and three (Jaylan Beckley, Isaiah Kema, and Ryker Haff) coming on board in the 2025 class with the possibility of two more additions and 19 (including walkons) still on the roster there is going to be massive reconstruction. Walkons will likely be told to look for other options if they want to continue playing.
This is part of the new world of college football with revenue sharing and NIL post House vs. NCAA settlement set to be final in April. Hard conversations are going to be held informing some players there is no room for them on the roster. I also have no doubt that Oklahoma State will enhance their offensive line some through the upcoming transfer portal window. Evaluations for likely potential transfer portal entries has gone on and there is a list ready. That is the case at all positions on the roster.
The one starting holdover from this season that I believe the Cowboys will want to keep is tackle Isaia Glass (6-4, 305). The transfer from Arizona State has another season to play. He would make an excellent left tackle.
Before being injured in practice prior to the TCU game, backup center and guard Austin Kawecki (6-4, 300) has played prominently in games with BYU, Baylor, and Arizona State. The redshirt sophomore from Frisco, Texas is versatile, smart, and physical. He is a potential leader for the future offense line.
Other young offensive linemen that look ready to play include Davis Dotson (6-6, 305), Noah McKinney (6-5, 320), Gage Stanaland (6-4, 300), Jack Endean (6-5, 310), and Jarrett Henry (6-5, 315). That fivesome could play guard or tackle. Jakobe Sanders (6-2, 325) is a definite guard or center candidate. Redshirt freshmen Nuku Mafi (6-5, 320), Caleb Hackleman (6-6, 295), and Chauncey Johnson (6-5, 300) would all get good looks in the spring.
That is 11 offensive linemen plus the three recruits committed in the 2025 class make a total of 14. There will likely be a cap of 17-or-18 on offensive linemen. That means three of four others between any other linemen kept off the current roster, added members of the recruiting class, or transfer portal additions. That is provided all of these linemen on the page decide to stay and don’t venture into the transfer portal themselves.
All of this has been evaluated and my report here is an educated guess. There could be some variations in who the Cowboys want to keep and how they would go about filling any vacancies in the portal or recruiting. I do know they recently offered Miguel Chavez (6-5, 300) from Muskogee and they are still recruiting St. George (Desert Hills), Utah offensive tackle Simona Fuailetolo (6-6, 300).
It is a jigsaw puzzle, but one that Oklahoma State has plotted out to make the pieces fit the way they want them too.