As Pokes Report First Reported, Three Oklahoma State Players Headed to NFL Combine in Indy

STILLWATER – The first to come out was running back Ollie Gordon II as word started to leak out on the Senior Bowl reporting day back on Jan. 27. Gordon’s agent let loose with the news that the former Doak Walker and Earl Campbell Award winner had received his invitation to the NFL Combine. Pokes Report quickly contacted both edge defender and linebacker Collin Oliver and linebacker Nick Martin. Both players that day confirmed that they had been invited to the NFL Draft Combine that will run from Feb. 24 through March 3. 

Visit Indy

Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Here is the schedule for the NFL Combine that will take place again in Indianapolis, Ind. with most of the activities, interviews, physical testing, and media events taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. The medical testing and physicals will take place at the Colts medical partner, Methodist Hospital of Indiana. 

2025 NFL Combine Schedule - NFL Network will have full coverage of physical testing and position drills. You can see the complete list of 2025 NFL Combine participants here.

Mon. Feb. 24-Weds. Feb. 26 - Player and team Check-In, Some testing, some physicals, some media, and interviews between team personnel and combine attendees.

Thurs. Feb. 27 - Defensive Line and Linebackers physical testing and position drills

Fri., Feb. 28 - Defensive Backs and Tight Ends physical testing and position drills

Sat. March 1 - Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, and Running Backs physical testing and position drills

Sun. March 2 - Offensive Line and Specialists physical testing and position drills

Of the three Oklahoma State attendees, two will be featured the first day of coverage by the NFL Network and I would not miss it. Junior Nick Martin, who has been stellar for Oklahoma State on defense and the leading tackler in his sophomore season helping the Cowboys got to a 10-4 record and a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game. Martin has speed, more than I think most people realize.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Xavier Worthy with his record forty at the Combine in 2024.

I’m predicting that Martin will be the fastest linebacker at the Combine and one of the top five fastest players overall. This is the linebacker that caught Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy from behind in the Big 12 Championship Game. Worthy went on to set the NFL Combine record in the 40-yard dash last February with a time of 4.21 seconds.

Martin had an injury interrupted season this year as he was lsot after a knee injury in the fourth game at Kansas State. He still showed up as one of the leading tacklers for Oklahoma State while only playing in four games. Martin’s junior season was one for the record books as his 140 total tackles and 83 solo tackles in 2023 were both the most by any Big 12 player since 2018. He played as a freshman, but that was his first season as a starter and he made an enormous impact, earning first team All-Big 12 honors from both league’s head coaches and the Associated Press, as well as honorable mention for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and recognition on the Phil Steele All-America fourth team. Martin had four tackles, two unassisted in the 2025 Senior Bowl.

Aaron Martinez-USA TODAY Sports

Martin catching Worthy from behind.

His speed will surprise folks as I expect him to run in the low 4.3 or high 4.2 as a linebacker. He is freaky fast. He is also very mature for his age. He is a leader and the kind of player and person that will represent a franchise well and be a strong leader in the community that he plays in. 

Collin Oliver will be featured on day one and perhaps, in both position groups. He is listed with the linebackers, but the 6-2, 245 pound Oliver is an edge rusher. His greatest talent, but he is not limited to it, is coming off the edge and putting pressure on the quarterback. He has a knack for that despite being smaller than most NFL edge players. He has proven over time that he can beat the blocks of bigger and longer offensive tackles. 

Oliver is  the 23rd three-time all-conference selection in OSU history and just the ninth defensive player to earn that distinction. He missed all but one and a half games his senior season with a foot injury. As a junior, he made 73 tackles with 45 solos, both of which ranked fourth on the team. Oliver had 6.0 sacks, which tied Nick Martin for the most on the team and the most among all Big 12 linebackers, As a sophomore, Oliver finished the year with 28 total tackles, 19 of which were solo stops, and he led the team 5.0 sacks and 12 quarterback hurries. 

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

Down goes Caleb Williams.

His freshman season he clinched the Bedlam game with a sack of Caleb Williams on the final series for Oklahoma. He was the unanimous Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year winner as decided by the league’s head coaches and earned freshman All-America honors from ESPN, 247Sports, The Athletic and PFF College. He was seventh in the FBS and with 11.5 sacks on the year. That total set a freshman record at Oklahoma State and ranked as the seventh-best single-season total in school history. 

Oliver did not make a tackle in the Senior Bowl and fought off a hamstring or thigh injury during the week, He did have a fumble recovery in the game. 

Running back Ollie Gordon will be working out and featured on Saturday along with the quarterbacks and wide receivers. 

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

Ollie Gordon II on the run vs. Arkansas.

Gordon, who finished his sophomore season as the nation’s best running back, winning the Doak Walker Award, unanimous All-America honors, the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (coaches and AP). Gordon led the nation in rushing yards (1,732), yards from scrimmage (2,062), 100-yard games (9), 150-yard games (5), 250-yard games (2) and carries of at least 20 yards (21), 30 yards (14), 40 yards (7) and 70 yards (2). He was also second in rushing touchdowns (21), total touchdowns (22), rushing yards after contact (1,056 via PFF) and all-purpose yards (2,062). As a junior last season with an offense that struggled, he still rushed for 880-yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. 

Gordon was voted the best back on his team (National) during the practice week of the 2025 Senior Bowl. In the game he threw for a touchdown pass (32 yards) and rushed nine times for 33-yards.