The Oklahoma State Cowboys are gearing up for a big 2024 college football season. The new-look Big 12 provides a big opportunity for the Cowboys to compete for a Big 12 title after having made the championship game twice in the last three years.
Despite the NIL and transfer portal madness, something that impacted Oklahoma State an offseason ago, the Cowboys are returning plenty of key players on both sides of the ball. They'll have a roster that played a season ago, allowing them to maximize their potential within the system.
One of the key returners in Stillwater is Collin Oliver, who happens to be one of the top returning linebackers in college football, according to PFF.
PFF released a list of its top ten returning linebackers across the sport, which included Oliver at No. 6.
"Oklahoma State moved him to an off-ball linebacker role this past year and he remained an elite pass-rusher, leading all FBS linebackers with 37 pressures. The junior also flashed some skills when he wasn’t attacking the quarterback, placing third among Big 12 linebackers with a 75.0 PFF coverage grade," PFF wrote.
With the way the Cowboys run their defense, a 3-3-5 scheme, linebackers have the opportunity to show out and make game-changing plays. Oliver does just that, as he's a key player in Oklahoma State's defense.
As PFF alluded to, Oliver is best when rushing the quarterback, but he's improved heavily in pass coverage over the past year, and he's going to be able to do both for the Cowboys next season.
Oliver will anchor the Cowboys' defense, which will have a big opportunity to back a veteran offense, that will feature Ollie Gordon in the backfield again. With Oliver, the Cowboys have some of the best returners on both sides of the ball.
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