Wesloski is Confident, Feels the Defense at Oklahoma State Will Keep Pace with Offense
FRISCO, Texas – We went over it on our first day at the 2026 Big 12 Football Media Days. If life had turned out like the childhood dreams of McKinney, Texas athlete Ethan Wesloski he would have been catching his younger brother in the College World Series. Wesloski was a two-sport athlete who was a baseball catcher and slugger. Honestly, he said his brother was dreaming of playing quarterback, maybe a Tom Brady-type. Funny how dreams sometimes flip. Wesloski has no complaints.
It is very hard to look at him as anything other than a linebacker. He told me that he loves playing in the defense (last season at UNT and this fall at OSU) coordinated by Skyler Cassity, the son of former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Mike Cassity (1997-2000). Wesloski says the defense allows him freedom to make changes on the field and put the defense in the right spot. He is one of those video junkies and Cassity trusts his veteran linebacker to be the quarterback. Why wouldn’t he? Wesloski has made 233 tackles in his college career. He’s made 21.5 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks along with a bundle of turnovers.
There has been preseason talk that Oklahoma State might need to rely on quarterback Drew Mestemaker and the speedy complement of receivers along with talented running back Caleb Hawkins to outscore opponents.
Weslsoki disagrees.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t have one of the best units in the conference,” Wesloski said. “I’m blessed to be here (Oklahoma State) today. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I started out at UNT under the Seth Littrell and Phil Bennett staff. I learned a lot under Coach Bennett and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I got a chance to start and be a little bit of a leader on the team. Now I’m in my fourth year starting under Coach Morris.”
Bennett, the former SMU head coach and Texas A&M linebacker, has coordinated defenses at LSU, Texas A&M, TCU, Kansas State, Pittsburgh, Baylor, Arizona State and North Texas. He has forgotten more defense than most coaches will ever master.
Part of what Wesloski learned is the appreciation for the role each player has on the field on defense. I brought up potential weakness at defensive tackle. I was then told that Malik Charles, who stayed from last season but missed the spring is back up to 300 pounds.
“I haven’t seen him play a whole lot because of the injury, but I’ve seen him take some reps at defensive end and three-technique,” Wesloski said. “He’s an athletic guy and a dynamic guy and he’s going to make some plays for us in the backfield.”
He may become Wesloski’s best friend on the field. If Charles could play nose he would be the most athletic and quickest nose in the Big 12. That is the kind of player upfron that can make a linebacker’s job much easier.
