The heart of the OSU program – the offensive line
Published: 11/16/2009 10:28 PM
Last Modified: 11/16/2009 10:28 PM
Last week, the Tulsa World's John E. Hoover explained in detail one of the reasons why Oklahoma's offense has struggled this season. Because of injuries, transfers or dismissals, 10 of the 25 offensive linemen left the Sooner program before their eligibility was spent.
Conversely, Oklahoma State is ranked 12th in the country and about to make an unprecedented fourth consecutive bowl appearance, and a significant reason is its success on the offensive line.
Since 2005, OSU has signed 22 offensive linemen. Only four of the 22 left the program prematurely. Line coach Joe Wickline has done a masterful job of identifying prospects who aren't pursued by college football's super heavyweights, but who turn out to be very good Big 12 blockers. Wickline does a brilliant job of coaching. The Cowboys have allowed only seven sacks in 10 games, and they are on course for a fourth consecutive Big 12 rushing title.
When Cowboy left tackle Russell Okung was signed in 2006, he weighed 245 pounds. He now weighs 305 and is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft. Center Andrew Lewis was a lightly regarded two-star prospect from Joplin, Mo. Right tackle Brady Bond played eight-man football at Garber.
Okung, Lewis and Bond have made a combined total of 119 career starts.
A review of OSU's 2005-09 offensive line recruits:
2005
* Brady Bond (3): now in fourth season as starter at right tackle
* Noah Franklin (3): currently a starter at left guard
* Andrew Lewis (2): a three-year starter at center or left guard
* Andrew Lawrence (2): career backup
2006
* Russell Okung (3): four-year starter and likely first-round draft pick
* Michael Booker (2): transferred to Northwestern State
* Myron McKinney (3): transferred to Southern Nazarene
* Trent Perkins (3): transferred to Texas A&M-Kingsville
* Jacob Secrest (3): after two years, career ended because of injuries
2007
* Grant Garner (3): sophomore is a second-teamer at center
* Nick Martinez (3): third-year sophomore a backup at guard
* Jonathan Rush (3): was expected to start at guard; sustained shoulder injury in August
* Marc Yerry (2): handles snapping duties on placement kicks and punts
2008
* Lane Taylor (2): as redshirt freshman, starts at right guard
* Andrew Mitchell (3): juco, currently starting for injured Bond at right tackle
* Dejuan Davis (2): redshirt freshman is a backup at guard
* Patrick Hoog (3): redshirt freshman is a backup at guard
2009
* Anthony Morgan (4): juco All-American a backup at guard
* Levy Adcock (no rating): Claremore native-NEO transfer has seen playing time this season
* Michael Bowie (3): Sand Springs freshman redshirting this season
* Brandon Webb (4): Owasso freshman redshirting this season
* Parker Graham (2): 6-7, 292-pound freshman redshirting this season
Four of 22 left the team (three transfers and one because of injury issues)
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
