Dangerous Oklahoma State football weapon identified as 2024 star

Every Big 12 Conference fan knows that Oklahoma State football is always a tough team to beat. Head coach Mike Gundy puts the team at the top of the league year after year. 2024 should be no different. The Cowboys return edge rusher Ollie Gordon II, who won the Doak Walker Award last season. The team, however, has another dangerous weapon, which should also be one of the best weapons in the league.

Oklahoma State Dangerous Weapon for 2024 Season

The Cowboys have a defensive player who should be a star this upcoming campaign. That player is defensive graduate transfer Obi Ezeigbo, an edge rusher who previously played Division II football for Gannon University of Pennsylvania. Although many will scoff at a player who only has Division II football experience, that would be a mistake. Ezeigbo is a workhorse who will be one of the best passers in the Big 12 Conference this season.

During his time at Gannon, the upside improved year over year. He finished the 2023 season with 7.5 sacks, leading the team in that category. He also had 10.5 tackles for loss, which ranks third on the team. He lives in opposing backfields. He also had the most tackles of any defensive lineman for Gannon, with 54 total stops, according to OSU athletic communications.

Ezeigbo will also be one of the most experienced defensive linemen in the Big 12 Conference this season. He played four years of Division II football and appeared in games every season in college. Oklahoma State football lost two of its edge players after last season, so the veteran should be able to step in immediately and get snaps for the Cowboys. He also already knows Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo. Nardo coached at Gannon during the 2022 season, so the two already have a short hand with each other.

During this 2022 season, Ezeigbo recorded 25 tackles. He made 12 solo saves. He had Nardo's confidence; the defensive lineman played in all of Gannon's games that year. He was tied for third on the team in tackles for loss that season, even though he was used as a reserve. It's certainly impressive. The opportunity is certainly there for Ezeigbo to get solid playing time in Stillwater.

Oklahoma State's 2024 Season Outlook

Oklahoma State football is hoping Ezeigbo can help its defense stay ahead of the league. Oklahoma and Texas left the Big 12 for the SEC, and four new schools are joining the Big 12. They are Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah. Oklahoma State fans expect the team to remain competitive in the new version of the conference. There's no reason to believe the Cowboys can't continue to win games. Gordon will likely be the conference's preseason player of the year, and Gundy is as good as any coach in this league.

Oklahoma State football opens its 2024 season with a non-conference game against South Dakota State. The Cowboys also face Arkansas and Tulsa in the non-conference portion of their schedule. Ezeigbo will have plenty of opportunities to show Cowboys fans what he can do. He will compete for the starting position on the upside, and will surely be used a lot in third-down situations for the defense.

The Cowboys open their Big 12 Conference schedule against newcomer Utah in a September 21 game.