By Jay Berry
The Oklahoma State Cowboys‘ offensive line is incredibly experienced, boasting 200 starts among both the starting five and depth players. This level of experience is rare in college football and has fostered a strong sense of teamwork and chemistry.
Veteran linemen have dedicated years to honing their skills, positioning the Cowboys to have one of the most formidable offensive lines in the country. As they prepare for the upcoming season, their battle-hardened offensive line will be a significant strength, providing a solid foundation for success.
Rushing Dominance
This offensive line unit consists of five starting redshirt seniors who paved the way for 2023 Doak Walker Award recipient Ollie Gordon II. Gordon led the nation in rushing yards last year with 1,732.
Gordon was among the leaders in rushing touchdowns, finishing second in the nation with 21.
Career Starts
The Oklahoma State starting five have 172 combined career starts.
Center Joe Michalski anchors the unit. Michalski has 23 career starts, was a 2023 team captain, and received an honorable mention for the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year award.
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They have a solid pair of bookend offensive tackles: Dalton Cooper, with 49 career starts, and Jake Springfield, with 40 career starts. At guard, Preston Wilson has 34 career starts, and Cole Birmingham has 26 career starts.
They also have depth at the position. Jason Brooks Jr. has started 12 career games and Taylor Miterko has 16 career starts. They added Arizona State transfer Isaia Glass, who has played in 21 games and started 15.
Coaching
The Cowboys also return O-Line coach Charlie Dickey, who joined the staff in 2019. Sports Illustrated stated that the Oklahoma State offensive line will be the unsung heroes of the 2024 season.
I'm excited to add Charlie Dickey to our FB FAMILY as offensive line coach. I've tried to hire Coach Dickey before but was unsuccessful because of his loyalty to Coach Snyder at Kansas State. Coach Dickey will be here on Monday meeting with our offensive lineman. #GoPokes
— Mike Gundy (@CoachGundy) February 9, 2019
Pass Protection
Not only did the Cowboys do a great job at run blocking last season, but they were also solid at protecting Alan Bowman in pass protection. In 2023, the Cowboys’ offensive line gave up 13 sacks, ranking No. 7 in the country and No. 2 in the Big 12. Notably, nine of those sacks came in the first three games of the season.
As the season progressed, the unit became stronger and settled in, paving the way to a Big 12 championship game appearance.
The group’s performance toward the end of 2023 has Mike Gundy and the coaching staff enthusiastic about the team’s potential in 2024. With Gordon and Bowman returning, the offensive line will be poised and confident from the start.
Alan Bowman is entering his seventh season in college football and his second season with Oklahoma State, so the offense is expected to be exceptional in the 2024 football season.
However, given the amount of experience they return—not just on offense but throughout the team, with 21 starters returning—and with the Big 12 being wide open this year, it’s hard to imagine that Oklahoma State won’t be in the mix in the Big 12 in 2024.
