Few teams in college football return as much talent as Oklahoma State, yet somehow the Cowboys remain under the radar in their own conference.
Winning a Big 12 title and a spot in the new, 12-team College Football Playoff would change all of that, and Oklahoma State's defense might be the key.
Pro Football Focus has Oklahoma State's linebacker unit ranked at No. 9 in the country, led by the strength of senior edge rusher Collin Oliver, a three-time All-Big 12 selection.
From PFF: "While Abdul Carter switched from off-ball linebacker to edge defender, Collin Oliver did the opposite. While he wasn’t allowed to pin his ears back as much, Oliver remained an elite pass-rusher. He led all FBS linebackers with 37 pressures last season. The junior also flashed some skills when he wasn’t attacking the quarterback, placing third among Big 12 linebackers with a 75.0 coverage grade. He’s my No. 6 returning linebacker in college football."
Oliver had 11.5 sacks as a freshman in 2021 but had his best all-around season in 2023 with 45 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, 5 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
Oliver is one of two starting linebackers who return for Oklahoma State with Nickolas Martin, who was second behind Oliver for Big 12 linebackers with 19 pressures.
As far as announcements about coming back to school go, Oliver had one of the best in recent memory, doing so with a clip from the 1993 western "Tombstone" starring Kurt Russell.