Caleb Etienne, Taylor Miterko ready to be left-side anchors on Oklahoma State's O-line
STILLWATER — A year ago at this time, Caleb Etienne and Taylor Miterko were locked in a battle to be Oklahoma State’s left tackle — a job that ultimately went to Cole Birmingham.
This preseason, Etienne and Miterko are in position battles again, but might end up starting next to each other.
Etienne, the 6-foot-7, 325-pound junior-college transfer who has been on campus for roughly 15 months, is the frontrunner for the starting left tackle job, while Miterko, a 6-foot-6, 295-pound redshirt junior, has established himself as a leading candidate at left guard.
Joe Michalski and Tyrone Webber are battling with Miterko, who is still getting comfortable in a new position.
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“I started spring at right guard and that was my first time ever playing guard in my career,” Miterko said. “Playing tackle for so long, I understood what the guard was gonna do. So once I got to be a left guard, it felt natural and felt good. Being able to understand what everybody was doing while I played tackle helped me morph into a guard.”
As one of the few healthy linemen during spring practice, Miterko got a lot of extra work.
“We lacked so much depth that we all got so many reps,” he said. “All those extra reps helped us get so much better to get ready for fall camp.”
Likewise, Etienne flourished in spring with the extra work. Having struggled to get acclimated last fall after transferring from Butler (Kansas) Community College, Etienne found his rhythm in spring and has excelled in preseason camp.
“I think Caleb is probably one of the most improved players in the whole entire team over the last year,” redshirt senior right guard Hunter Woodard said. “I’m extremely proud of him and his development.”
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Etienne’s weight loss from 370 to 325 has been well documented, but the mental gains he made while dropping all that weight have put him in position to anchor the left side of the line.
“It was gradual,” Etienne said. “I had to come in here and get in the program. Had to get in the playbook, grind, show that I wanted to be on the O-line and be a part of it.
“It was a process. It wasn’t easy. It was hard. I’m just keeping my head straight and grinding ever since. With every level, you keep getting better. You ain’t gonna never stay the same, so I got a lot better with my technique here.”
Assuming they secure the starting jobs on the left side of the line, Etienne and Miterko will be the least experienced players on the Cowboys’ offensive front, joining center Preston Wilson, Woodard at right guard and right tackle Jake Springfield — all of whom have more than a full season worth of starts behind them.
Here’s a look at how the Cowboys’ offensive line could shake out:
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OSU offensive line depth chart
Name, Class, Ht., Wt., Hometown (Previous school)
The starters
Caleb Etienne, RJr., 6-7, 325, New Orleans (Butler CC)
Taylor Miterko, RJr., 6-6, 295, Carlsbad, New Mexico
Preston Wilson, RJr., 6-5, 295, Argyle, Texas
Hunter Woodard, RSr., 6-5, 300, Tuscola, Illinois
Jake Springfield, RJr., 6-5, 310, Flower Mound, Texas
The reserves
Jason Brooks, RSo., 6-4, 295, Houston (Vanderbilt)
Tyrone Webber, Jr., 6-3, 285, St. Catharine’s, Ontario, Canada (NM Military Institute)
Joe Michalski, RJr., 6-4, 300, Kansas City, Kansas (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Eli Russ, RSo., 6-4, 290, Ardmore (Plainview)
Cole Birmingham, RJr., 6-5, 315, Katy, Texas
Jake Henry, RSo., 6-4, 290, Tulsa (Union)
Logan Nobles, RFr., 6-6, 280, Jenks
Austin Kaweki, Fr., 6-5, 265, Frisco, Texas (Lebanon Trail)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football: 2022 Cowboys offensive line depth chart
