Told to 'suck it up,' Oklahoma State's Brendon Evers returns to bolster defensive line
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STILLWATER — Oklahoma State defensive tackle Brendon Evers is quick to pull back the right side of his undershirt.
The long scar near his right shoulder is a reminder of pain.
It’s not going away. Evers might not even want it to.
“I’m honestly lucky I still get to play this game right now,” he said. “I didn’t think I was going to a few months ago.”
After two reconstructive surgeries in the offseason, Evers was almost ready to call it quits. He nearly did a year ago. This time, he was physically tired. Mentally, he was overwhelmed.
But a not-so-subtle message from those around him quickly eliminated those thoughts.
“They told me to quit being a baby and suck it up,” Evers said.
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Then he laughed.
“In all seriousness, it has been a long road,” he added. “It’s something that I’m really thankful for. I’m blessed by the grace of God and everybody that’s been in my corner. I’m really happy to still be out here representing the school and hopefully we can hang another banner up.”
With Oklahoma State’s season opener just more than a week away, Evers feels the best he’s felt in years. The 24-year-old super-senior is an inside anchor on one of the best defensive lines in the country.
And he has no regrets about returning for his extra season of eligibility.
“A lot of deciding factors brought me back here but ultimately I made a promise to try to bring a championship back to this school,” Evers said, “and we haven’t done that yet. I’m still working at it.”
The 6-foot-2, 295-pound former Bixby star is coming off his most productive season. He started all 14 games last season, had 21 tackles and finished with three sacks.
He did that playing through pain.
That’s become his trademark. He would not say how many surgeries he’s undergone in his career.
But it’s certainly not just the two from this offseason.
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“Me and Brock (Martin) are in competition now,” Evers said.
Evers' return solidified the middle of the defensive line. The Cowboys lost Israel Antwine to the NFL Draft and Jayden Jernigan to Missouri.
Even with those departures, the Cowboys remain a veteran-heavy defensive line. The starters — Evers, Martin, Sione Asi and Tyler Lacy — are all redshirt seniors. The majority of the reserves are redshirt juniors or seniors.
Young stars such as Collin Oliver and Trace Ford are forced to come off the bench.
That group has raised the expectations that the defense can keep up its elite play under new defensive coordinator Derek Mason.
“I don’t think we’ve taken a step back from last year,” Evers said. “Obviously, we lost the No. 20 guy (Malcolm Rodriguez) that’s kinda good right now, that’s kinda kicking ass or doing something in the league. That’s what I’ve been told. And (Devin Harper) as well.
“But we have great coaches. Coach Mason is top three in the nation along with the guy that just left who’s up north somewhere.”
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And just how good is the defensive line?
Evers wasn’t quick to answer.
“You tell me,” he said before pausing.
“It’s been a blessing to grow up with these guys and be in contention for one of the best position groups in the nation right now,” Evers said. “I come to practice and those guys push me harder.”
Evers said he spoke to the defensive line in a meeting recently. He told everybody to cherish what they have with each other.
It’s rare. It’s why he came back despite his recent round of surgeries.
“Everybody in that room understands what we have at stake,” Evers said. “We understand there’s not a ’21 banner hanging up right now and we have to go finish.”
Here is a look at OSU’s defensive line:
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OSU defensive line depth chart
Name, Class, Ht., Wt., Hometown (Previous school)
The starters
Defensive end/Outside linebacker
Brock Martin, RSr., 6-3, 245, Oologah
Defensive tackles
Brendon Evers, RSr., 6-2, 295, Bixby
Sione Asi, RSr., 6-1, 310, Reno, Nevada (Snow College)
Defensive end
Tyler Lacy, RSr., 6-4, 285, Sachse, Texas (Sachse)
The reserves
Name, Class, Height, Weight, Hometown (Previous school)
Defensive end/Outside linebacker
Trace Ford, RJr., 6-3, 240, Edmond (Edmond Santa Fe)
Collin Oliver, So., 6-2, 235, Oklahoma City (Edmond Santa Fe)
Tyren Irby, RSr., 6-3, 240, Lake Cormorant, Mississippi (Northwest Mississippi CC)
Nathan Latu, RJr., 6-4, 265, Salt Lake City, Utah (Snow College)
Kody Walterscheid, RJr., 6-6, 280, Muenster, Texas (Muenster)
Ben Kopenski, RSr., 6-1, 255, McKinney, Texas (Prosper)
Defensive tackles
Samuela Tuihalamaka, RSr., 6-1, 304, Riverside, California (Mater Dei)
Collin Clay, RJr., 6-3, 310, Oklahoma City (Arkansas)
Xavier Ross, RJr., 6-4, 290, Cedar Hill, Texas (Cedar Hill)
Aden Kelley, RFr., 6-2, 295, Thomas (Thomas-Fay-Custer)
Jacob Unruh covers college sports for The Oklahoman. You can send your story ideas to him at junruh@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @jacobunruh. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU football: Why Brendon Evers returned to Cowboys' defensive line
