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Oklahoma State has consistently had one of the most potent offenses in the nation the past few seasons, due in large part to the consistency of the offensive line.
Senior left tackle Russell Okung, center Andrew Lewis and guard Noah Franklin will play their final game in Boone Pickens Stadium tonight at 6:30. Because of an injury, tackle Brady Bond will likely watch from the sideline while the Cowboys host the Colorado Buffaloes.
Offensive linemen often don’t receive the deserved attention from fans for their solid performance, but their teammates make up for that.
The players give much of the credit for their offensive success to the seniors on the line.
Running back Keith Toston said he would not be a top-five rusher in the Big 12 without the guys up front.
“I give (the credit) all to them,” Toston said. “I make sure I tell those guys, nothing that I’m doing, nothing that I’ve done this season would’ve happened if it weren’t for those guys.”
The line has done a solid job of protecting quarterback Zac Robinson and has allowed only seven sacks in 10 games, which ranks them first in the Big 12 and tied for third in the country.
“You know they’re gonna do anything they can to not let their guy get to you,” Robinson said. “As a quarterback, that feels great to have an offensive line like that — that really cares about you and you enjoy playing with.”
Co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer said the Cowboy coaching staff has a tough job trying to replace the void left by Franklin, Bond and Lewis after this season.
“It’s going to take two or three great recruiting classes,” Brewer said. “And probably (offensive line coach) Wickline’s best job of coaching because those guys are extremely talented and also a unique group.”
Okung is revered as one of the best offensive linemen in the country — and likely a first-round NFL draft selection — but there are three other starting seniors on the offensive line who helped the Cowboys move the offense down the field the past few years.
Brewer has been with the Cowboys for five years and said he has enjoyed coaching the seniors because they took on so many leadership roles.
“You got some older guys, even as role players, and when it’s time for them to step up, they’ve stepped up,” Brewer said. “We’re excited about all the things they’ve been able to do because of that leadership over that three or four years.”
Franklin, of Vinita, redshirted his freshman year and was a backup until this season. He started all 10 games at right guard.
Although Franklin hasn’t received much playing time in his OSU career, Brewer said he is appreciative of the effort Franklin gives in practice and in the games.
“Noah is a guy with great personality. (He’s) super in the community,” Brewer said. “(He’s) extremely talented. He’s just been a guy that’s grinded it out and now he’s got his opportunity to play and he’s making the most of it.”
Bond played high school football in Garber, but his experiences were unlike those of his OSU teammates.
Because his school was so small, he played eight-man football. He redshirted his freshman year while adjusting to the 11-man game.
“I don’t really know much about eight-man football,” Lewis, Bond’s roommate, said. “I heard it’s a big difference between eight-man and 11-man, so I think it’s a pretty big adjustment and he’s done a great job adjusting to that.”
As a redshirt freshman, Bond started the first five games of the season at left tackle before suffering an injury midseason; however, he remained a part of the offensive line rotation throughout the rest of the season.
He started all 13 games of his sophomore and junior seasons but missed the two previous games in 2009 with an ankle injury.
Although he comes from eight-man football, Brewer said he has been pleased with the production of the offense while operating behind Bond and the other seniors on the line.
“He’s had a stellar career here and started a bunch of football games,” Brewer said. “What he’s been able to do in the locker room and on the field has been tremendous for our program over the years because those big, tall, lean tackles are hard to come by.”
Lewis, who went to high school in Joplin, Mo., redshirted his freshman year like Franklin and Bond. Unlike Bond, Lewis didn’t get significant playing time his freshman year.
His sophomore year, Lewis started the first three games at left guard but finished the season playing center after David Washington was lost for the year with a broken leg.
His junior year, he moved back to left guard and started all 13 games. This season, Lewis moved back to center and on to the cover of Sports Illustrated with Robinson.
“Andrew came out of Missouri and wasn’t heavily recruited as far as the Big 12,” Brewer said. “But (offensive line) coach (Wickline) and the staff saw a lot in him that came to fruition; the fact that he’s a great person, first of all, and a great leader and very smart — able to direct our offense.”
Brewer said he has future expectations for Lewis.
“He’s got a chance to play at the next level because of those qualities.”
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