2026 Season Preview
Projected Depth Chart
Head Coach: Eric Morris
Offensive Coordinator: Sean Brophy
Defensive Coordinator: Skyler Cassity
2025 Record: 1-11
2025 Big 12 Finish: 0-9 (16th)
2026 Record Projection:
Ceiling: 8 wins
Floor: 3 wins
Top NFL Prospects: LaDainian Fields, Drew Mestemaker
Biggest Impact Transfers: Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins,
Most Likely Impact Freshmen: KD Jones (RB), Braeden Presley (S)
Biggest Strength: Quarterback and the transfer-built passing game
Biggest Concern: Lack of proven Big 12 pass rush and Offensive line chemistry
Biggest Game: West Virginia
Trap Game: UCF
QB: This room starts with Drew Mestemaker, and there really isn’t much mystery there. Eric Morris brought him from North Texas for a reason. Mestemaker already knows the system, already produced at a high level, and already proved he can carry volume in a wide-open passing game. The question is not whether he can throw it. He threw for over 4,300 yards last year. The question is how much of that production travels from the American to the Big 12 when the windows shrink and the pass rush gets better. Grant Jordan gives them an older backup with real college experience, but this season changes dramatically if Oklahoma State has to go to QB2 for long stretche
RB: Caleb Hawkins should walk in as the lead back after putting up a monster year at North Texas, and his fit in Eric Morris’ offense is obvious. He gives Oklahoma State a real every-down option with burst, production, and enough receiving value to stay on the field when the offense speeds up. Ayo Adeyi makes sense as the No. 2 because he brings older legs, a compact running style, and more FBS experience than most of the room. Dennis Moody is worth mentioning because he followed the North Texas staff to Stillwater and already understands the offense. He may not be the featured guy, but familiarity can earn a back snaps quickly in this system. This room is probably one of the cleaner spots on the roster.
WR/TE: Wyatt Young is the most natural fit after a huge year at North Texas, and his connection with Drew Mestemaker should travel faster than most transfer pieces. Justin Bowick gives them the big outside target at 6’5″, while Chris Barnes brings the smaller slot profile with speed and open-field value. Israel Polk and Rodney Harris II give the room real second-wave options, so this is not a thin group. Donovan Green should start at tight end and gives them a more athletic middle-of-the-field target, even if this offense will still run mostly through the wideouts. The question is simple: can all this G5 and transfer production become Big 12 production right away?
OL: The offensive line is almost a complete rebuild, but there are enough grown bodies here to make it interesting. Braydon Nelson should be one of the safer pieces after coming over from North Texas with real production and familiarity with the system. Joseph Hanson gives them another experienced tackle, while Jacob Sexton moving inside adds size and pass-protection value at guard. Johnny Dickson III should bring some stability next to him after playing a lot of snaps at North Texas. The key spot is center, where Tyler Mercer has to handle the calls and keep the middle from becoming a weekly problem. This is not a proven Big 12 line yet. It is a transfer-built line with decent size, older players, and a coaching staff that clearly wanted to change the room fast
DL: The defensive line is not short on experience, especially at defensive end. Keviyan Huddleston and James Williams give Oklahoma State two older starters on the edge, and the second group of Malik Charles and Jaleel Johnson keeps the room from falling off a cliff when the starters rotate out. There are even more veteran bodies behind them. The issue is top-end disruption. Huddleston has the best production profile after coming over from North Texas, but this group does not have a proven Big 12 game-wrecker. Inside, Saadia Clements and Jerry Lawson give them decent size and experience, while Fatatehi Vailea II and Braylon Rigsby make the tackle rotation playable. This front should be deeper and more stable than last year. The question is whether stability turns into pressure.
LB: Ethan Wesloski is the clear anchor of the linebacker room. He comes over from North Texas with big production, 113 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and strong coverage value, so he should be one of the safer pieces on the entire defense. The other starting spot is where it gets more interesting. Isaiah Chisom has the best recent tackle production after playing a lot at UCLA, but Trip White is a returning Cowboy who already has experience in this program, and Tate Romney gives them another veteran option who has been around major college football. All three should play, and the staff may spend the early part of the season sorting out who fits best next to Wesloski. Carl’veon Young is the name to keep in mind behind the veterans. He has the size to get on the field sooner than expected if the staff wants more length and physical upside.
DB: The secondary has one of the more interesting pieces on the roster in LaDainian Fields. He is already a tremendous cover corner, and if he keeps developing physically, there is a real NFL future there. Mo Horn should start opposite him after coming over from Texas Tech, giving Oklahoma State an older corner who has been in Big 12 football and should not need a long adjustment period. The depth is not bad either with Kale Smith and Kollin Lewis both capable of playing meaningful snaps. At safety, Evan Jackson and Mose Phillips III give the Cowboys two experienced transfers with enough tackling production and range to settle things down on the back end. Christian Bodnar starting at nickel makes sense because he brings size, physicality, and a corner background, while Quinton Hammonds should still play plenty after following the North Texas staff. This group has more answers than some of the other rebuilt rooms. The question is whether all the new pieces communicate well enough to avoid cheap busts.
ST: Special teams should be pretty straightforward, but it is still a transfer reset. Sam Keltner comes in from SMU after going 14-for-20 on field goals with a long of 51, so there is at least some proven leg talent here. The 70 percent number is not perfect, but he has already kicked in real games and has enough range to be trusted outside chip-shot territory. Lachie Pozzobon takes over at punter after averaging 41.8 yards per punt at Stephen F. Austin. That is workable, though Oklahoma State will want more consistency in field position than just a decent average. This unit probably will not be a major strength, but it also does not look like a disaster.
Coach: Eric Morris gives Oklahoma State a coach with a real offensive résumé, not just a theory. He built one of the most productive passing attacks in the country at North Texas, developed Drew Mestemaker into a high-volume quarterback, and now brings much of that offensive infrastructure with him to Stillwater. Sean Brophy knows the system. A large chunk of the roster already knows the system. That gives Oklahoma State a better chance to look organized early than most first-year rebuilds. Defensively, Skyler Cassity has a tougher job because the Cowboys are trying to blend transfers, returning veterans, and new roles all at once. Still, this staff has had success building fast through fit and familiarity. The question is whether that success scales up quickly enough in the Big 12.
Outlook: Oklahoma State is the mystery team of the league. Oregon and Texas Tech look like the only clear losses on the schedule, so the path to a bowl game is absolutely there. The problem is that almost nothing about this roster is settled enough to call safe. The offense should have a pulse right away with Morris, Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins, and a transfer-heavy receiver group that fits the system. The defense has experienced bodies at linebacker, defensive end, and in the secondary. Still, this is a team built almost overnight. If the transfers hit, the Cowboys can get back to six or seven wins and look like a real Big 12 team again. If the offensive line struggles or the defense cannot communicate, they could still slide toward the bottom of the conference. A bowl game is probably the fair expectation, and after last year, most Oklahoma State fans would take that in year one.
QB
1. Drew Mestemaker —So. — 6'3"/215 — N Tex
2. Grant Jordan — Sr. — 6'2"/215 — UMass
RB
1. Caleb Hawkins — So. — 6'0"/215 — N Tex
2. Ayo Adeyi — Sr. — 5'7"/190 — Ja Mad
WR
1. Justin Bowick — Sr. —6'5"/205 — Illinois
1. Wyatt Young — Jr. — 6'0"/195 — N Tex
1. Chris Barnes — So. — 5'7"/165 — Wake
2. Miles Coleman — Jr. — 5'6"/155 — N Tex
2. Rodney Harris II —Sr. — 6'1"/205— Ohio
2. Israel Polk — Jr. — 6'2"/175 — Akron
TE
1. Donovon Green — Sr. — 6'3"/235 — LSU
2. Morgan McPhaul — Sr. — 6'2"/265 — VMI
T
1. Braydon Nelson — Jr. — 6'4"/325 — NN Tex
1. Joseph Hanson — Sr. — 6'4"/300 — Coastal
2. Ashton Lepo — Sr. — 6'7"/320 — Mich St
2. Shaun Torgeson —So. —6'4"/300 —Port St
G
1. Jacob Sexton — Sr. — 6'6"/325 — Oklahoma
1. Johnny Dickson III —Sr. —6'2"/315 —N Tex
2. Louie Canepa — Sr. — 6'3"/295 — Ok St
2. Desmond Magiya — Jr. — 6'4"/330 —N Tex
C
1. Tyler Mercer — So. — 6'4"/300 — Kansas
2. Jakobe Sanders — Jr. — 6'2"/325— Ok St
DE
1. Keviyan Huddleston—Jr. —6'4"/265 — N Tex
1. James Williams — Sr. — 6'5"/255— Flor St
2. Jaleel Johnson — Sr. —6'4"/270 — Ok St
2. Malik Charles — Sr. — 6'3"/280 — Ok St
DT
1. Saadia Clements — Jr. — 6'4"/310 —N Tex
1. Jerry Lawson — Sr. — 6'1"/310 — Louis
2. Braylon Rigsby — Jr. —6'3"/280— T Tech
2. Fatatehi Vailea — Sr.—6'1"/305 — N Tex
LB
1. Ethan Wesloski — Sr. — 6'1"/230 —N Tex
1. Isaiah Chisom — Jr. — 6'0"/230 — UCLA
2. Tate Romney — Sr. — 6'1"/220 — ASU
2. Trip White — Sr. — 6'3"/230 — Ok St
CB
1. LaDainian Fields —So. — 6'1"/175 — Ok St
1. Mo Horn — Sr. — 5'11"/180 — Texas Tech
2. Kale Smith — Sr. — 5'11"/175 — Ok St
2. Kollin Lewis — Jr. — 5'10"/185 — N Tex
S
1. Evan Jackson — Sr. — 5'11"/185 — N Tex
1. Mose Phillips — Sr.—6'2"/195 — Missouri
2.Vincent Holmes — Jr. — 6'0"/190 —U Wash
2.Cameron Epps — Sr. — 6'2"/205 — Ok St
NB
1. Christian Bodnar — Jr.—6'0"/185 —Liberty
2. Quinton Hammonds — Jr— 6'1"/205 — N Tex
K
1. Sam Keltner — So. — 5'10"/185 — SMU
P
1. Lachie Pozzobon—So.—6'4"/180 — St F. Aus
Swing Players
Drew Mestemaker, Tyler Mercer, and James Williams may end up deciding what kind of season Oklahoma State has. Mestemaker is the obvious headliner because the offense is being built around him and the system he already knows. If his North Texas production carries into the Big 12, the Cowboys should score enough to get back to a bowl. Mercer is just as important in a quieter way. A rebuilt offensive line needs a center who can make the calls, settle protections, and keep the passing game from getting knocked off schedule. Williams is the defensive swing piece. Oklahoma State has plenty of experienced defensive ends, but it needs one of them to become more than just a veteran body. If Williams turns into a real pass-rush problem, the defense looks a lot different. If all three hit, Oklahoma State is not just trying to survive year one. The Cowboys become a dangerous week-to-week team in the middle of the Big 12.