How different will Oklahoma State football's secondary look in Bryan Nardo's defense?
STILLWATER — To the average fan, the Oklahoma State secondary will look mostly the same in 2023.
Still two cornerbacks and three safeties on the field at a time and mostly familiar names manning those roles.
But operationally, the position group is going through a makeover as defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo installs his 3-3-5 scheme.
The biggest change is what typically gets referred to as the rover position.
It’s a safety who plays in the middle of the field, and from one snap to the next, might have the responsibility of a linebacker, a deep safety, or anything in between. It’s the most versatile position in the defense and can turn the right player into a star.
The Cowboys have spent the last several weeks studying the new scheme and will finally get on the field for more than a walk-through early next week.
As spring practice nears, here’s a look at the Oklahoma State defensive backfield.
Season rewind for OSU football secondary
The OSU secondary was a confusing unit at times last season.
Jason Taylor II, who is bound for the NFL Draft, had six interceptions and a team-high 99 tackles while earning a spot on the semifinalist list for the Jim Thorpe Award.
Kendal Daniels emerged as a promising playmaker with big-impact potential in his redshirt freshman season.
Cornerbacks Jabbar Muhammad (now at Washington) and Korie Black each took significant steps forward in their first year as starters, and Cam Smith got valuable experience as a backup in injury situations.
Yet as a unit, the Cowboys finished 106th nationally, allowing 257.7 pass yards per game.
So 2023 brings a new scheme, some new faces, and the need for an uptick in performance.
More:Is Oklahoma State football transitioning back to more traditional tight end usage?
Who’s out for Oklahoma State secondary
Jason Taylor II, Jabbar Muhammad, Sean Michael Flanagan, Thomas Harper, Demarco Jones, Kanion Williams
Who’s in for Oklahoma State secondary
Kenneth Harris, Lardarius Webb Jr., Dylan Smith*, R.J. Lester*, Kam Franklin*, Tywon Wray*
*-Will enroll in June
The take for Oklahoma State secondary
The aforementioned rover spot seems like an ideal fit for Daniels, the 6-foot-4, 213-pound redshirt sophomore who showed his capacity for making plays in all facets. He had 71 tackles with 6 ½ for loss, three interceptions, five pass breakups, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Spring will offer the chance for experimentation, but going in, Daniels looks like he could be a star in that role.
In the other safety spots, the Cowboys have players with less experience but promising showings when they got on the field.
Trey Rucker, a walk-on who only played in the bowl game while redshirting last year and was put on scholarship afterward, had a big day against Wisconsin. Lyric Rawls stepped up on multiple occasions and left coaches excited at the end of the year.
And newcomer Lardarius Webb Jr., a junior-college All-American at Jones College in Mississippi last season, had nine picks the last two years, with the skill to play either cornerback or nickel safety.
Black returns as the most experienced cornerback of the group, but Smith is building on his solid redshirt freshman performance, and Kenneth Harris has been added after three strong seasons at Arkansas State.
And the youth at cornerback is full of promise, with players like Jordan Reagan, De’kelvion Beamon, Kale Smith, D.J. McKinney and Cameron Epps.
Now, it’s a matter of finding the players who fit best with what Nardo, safeties coach Dan Hammerschmidt and cornerbacks coach/defensive passing game coordinator Tim Duffie want to do.
More:Oklahoma State defensive back commit Lardarius Webb Jr. ready to 'show the world I can play'
Oklahoma State football depth chart
The starters
Cornerback
Korie Black, Sr., 6-0, 185
Kenneth Harris, Sr., 6-0, 193
Safety
Kendal Daniels, RSo., 6-4, 213
Trey Rucker, RSr., 6-0, 207
Lyric Rawls, RSo., 6-1, 212
The reserves
Cornerback
Cam Smith, RSo., 6-2, 191
Jordan Reagan, RJr., 6-1, 184
De’kelvion Beamon, RSo., 6-0, 203
Cameron Epps, RFr., 6-3, 208
D.J. McKinney, RFr., 6-0, 174
Kale Smith, RSo., 5-11, 170
Safety
Lardarius Webb Jr., Jr., 5-10, 175
Nick Session, RJr., 6-0, 193
Ty Williams, RSo., 6-0, 200
Raymond Gay II, RSo., 5-10, 180
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How will Oklahoma State secondary look in Bryan Nardo's defense?
