Oklahoma State has a team that could make a run at the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024 because the Cowboys return 21 starters from a team that went 10-4 and finished No. 16 in the final AP Top 25 in 2023.
On defense, one of the keys will be linebacker Nick Martin, who Bleacher Report identified as one of the most underrated NFL prospects in college football.
From Bleacher Report: “Martin fits the mold of where the linebacker position is moving at the NFL level. He has the instincts and tackling ability to live at linebacker on run downs, the athleticism to cover running backs and flex weapons in space and the electric trigger and movement skills to live on all three downs at varying depths.Considering Martin's skill set and production in his first year as a starter last fall, he has a ceiling as lofty as any linebacker in the country and is someone who should be prioritized for teams in need of a dynamic athlete in the middle of a defense.”
Martin, 6-foot and 215 pounds, earned All-Big 12 Conference honors in 2023 in his first year as a starter. He led the Big 12 with 140 tackles and his 83 solo tackles were the most by any Big 12 player since 2018.
Oklahoma State opens the season on Aug. 31 at home against two-time defending FCS national champion South Dakota State.
Nick Martin Ranked 80th Overall in College Football 25!🤠
— OKSTProbs (@OKSTProbs) July 10, 2024
- 90 Overall
- 82 Speed
- 87 Acceleration
- 82 Strength
- 93 Awareness
- 79 Jumping
pic.twitter.com/g1M5CpXCfg
