Oklahoma State Has 87 Newcomers, But Its Defense Isn't Inexperienced

Oklahoma State's roster looks almost completely new.

That doesn't necessarily mean it's inexperienced.

Eric Morris revealed at Big 12 Media Days that the Cowboys will begin fall camp with 87 newcomers.

The number is staggering.

It immediately creates questions about chemistry, continuity and whether Oklahoma State can realistically turn that many new pieces into a competitive football team in one offseason.

Morris offered another statistic that changes the way we should look at the Cowboys' defense.

According to Oklahoma State's new head coach, the Cowboys rank third nationally in returning defensive snaps.

There's an obvious catch.

Many of those snaps happened somewhere else, but experience is still experience.

That's what makes Oklahoma State's defensive rebuild so interesting.

The Cowboys aren't simply throwing freshmen and unproven players onto the field and hoping they develop.

Morris and his staff brought in defenders who have already played significant college football.

They've lined up on Saturdays.

They've faced college offenses.

They've experienced hostile road environments.

The challenge isn't teaching everyone how to play at this level.

It's teaching them how to play together.

Linebacker Ethan Wesloski is a perfect example.

Wesloski followed Morris from North Texas after a breakout 2025 season in which he led the Mean Green with 104 tackles. He also recorded nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception while earning Second Team All-American Conference honors. North Texas' official bio also notes Wesloski earned a 91.5 PFF defensive grade during the regular season.

That's not an inexperienced linebacker.

It's an experienced college football player wearing a new uniform.

Oklahoma State's roster contains plenty of similar stories.

Players have arrived from different programs.

Different conferences.

Different systems.

Their previous snaps may not have come inside Boone Pickens Stadium, but they still count.

That distinction matters.

When fans hear "87 newcomers," it's easy to picture a roster starting completely from scratch.

Morris doesn't appear to view it that way.

The Cowboys may lack experience playing together.

They don't lack experience playing football.

Now defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity has to turn those individual snaps into a collective identity.

Can Oklahoma State communicate?

Can the Cowboys avoid the mistakes that often come with a new system?

Can experienced players quickly learn new responsibilities?

Can the defense create enough pressure and turnovers to complement an offense carrying massive expectations?

Those are still legitimate questions, but the returning-snaps statistic gives Oklahoma State reason for optimism.

Jaleel Johnson provides experience from inside the program.

Wesloski brings production and familiarity with Morris' staff from North Texas.

Other newcomers bring their own college experience into Stillwater.

The names may be new to Oklahoma State fans.

The game isn't new to the players.

That could be one of the biggest differences between a traditional rebuild and what Morris is attempting in Stillwater.

He didn't simply recruit for the future.

He built a roster he believes can compete now.

Oklahoma State has 87 newcomers, but inexperienced may be the wrong word.

If the Cowboys truly rank third nationally in returning defensive snaps, the bigger question isn't whether this defense has played enough football.

It's how quickly all that experience can become one defense.