Texas Football: 5 problematic players on Oklahoma State

For a defense that struggled for most of the season under a first-year defensive coordinator for the program in Jim Knowles, there’s one level that actually stood out. The linebacking corps for Oklahoma State, when healthy, is surprisingly stout this year with some senior leadership holding together an unsettling secondary and volatile defensive line.

The pass rush and run defense became much less effective for the Pokes of late. The injury that knocked defensive tackle Darrion Daniels out for the season was detrimental to the front seven. Another injury that hampered Oklahoma State in some games this year came to junior linebacker Calvin Bundage.

The loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders was the prime example of how a hurt Bundage hurts Oklahoma State. An underrated duo at linebacker features Bundage and redshirt senior Justin Phillips. A still developing Texas football ground game and either a recently hurt starting quarterback (or one that’s less mobile) under center could be dangerous if Bundage blows up the backfield.

When Bundage is healthy for the Pokes, he’s a force to be reckoned with that takes this linebacking corps to a whole different level. The speed and pursuit that Bundage brings to the table is an immediate boost for this defense. He’s also coming off a high note in Oklahoma State’s loss to Kansas State, where he racked up 10 total tackles.