Oklahoma State’s battered tackle situation may finally be turning a corner.
Head coach Eric Morris said Braydon Nelson is expected to play in some capacity Saturday against UCF, giving the Cowboys a potential boost at a spot that has been hit harder than any other on the roster. The depth chart lists Nelson at both left tackle and right tackle, alongside current starters Shaun Torgeson on the left side and Ashton Lepo on the right side. Morris said he expects Torgeson and Lepo to start.
"I think you'll see all three of those tackles during the course of this game," Morris said. "Obviously, you know none of those tackles, Torgeson or Lepo, have done anything for us to take them out of the game right now, right?"
Nelson, an all-conference tackle who transferred from North Texas after last season, has not played yet this year after offseason knee surgery. He was one of nearly 20 former Mean Green players who followed Morris and his staff to Stillwater.
His return has been building for a while. Nelson practiced with Oklahoma State two weeks ago ahead of the West Virginia game and was listed as questionable on the availability report until Friday, when he was ruled out. Morris said on his radio show that week Nelson would test the knee during a Friday walkthrough before the team left for Morgantown.
The Cowboys’ left tackle situation has already taken hits. In the opener against Tulsa, Oklahoma State went with redshirt senior Jacob Sexton, who had transferred in from Oklahoma after four seasons there. Sexton started that game but suffered a lower leg injury six plays in, ending his season.
That pushed Torgeson into the lineup, and he has settled in at the position. He now sits atop the depth chart with Desmond Magiya listed behind him.
Nelson brings a strong resume when he is ready. He was North Texas’ left tackle in 2025 and earned second team all-conference honors while protecting quarterback Drew Mestemaker and helping open holes for running back Caleb Hawkins, both of whom put together huge seasons for the Mean Green.
Morris has repeatedly said he is not concerned about Nelson’s mental reps, noting that the junior understands the offense. He has also said Nelson could slide to left guard if needed, where Johnny Dickson III - another North Texas transfer - currently starts.
For Oklahoma State, the encouraging part is simple: Nelson is close. And in a line room that has already been stretched thin, that matters.
In Other News...
Braylin Presley Is Back But Oklahoma State Still Has One Big UCF Question
Braylin Presley is back on Oklahoma States electronic roster, giving the Cowboys another familiar name to sort through as they turn their attention to UCF. Presley had already spent a season in Stillwater before transferring to Tulsa, where he split time between wide receiver and running back, and his return adds a layer of intrigue to a depth chart that is still taking shape. Head coach Eric Morris is expected to address how Presley fits in, which should help clarify where the Cowboys see him in the offense.
For now, the bigger question is less about the paperwork and more about the role. Presleys next step will be figuring out how quickly he can get up to speed and whether he can carve out a real workload right away, especially in a backfield that could use another versatile option. Oklahoma State knows what he was before, but what he looks like now and how much of him the staff can use against UCF remains the part still waiting to be answered. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma States Secondary Rebuild Suddenly Hinges On A Key Recruiting Push
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The target is committed elsewhere for now, which only raises the stakes for Oklahoma State as it tries to stay in the mix. A campus visit is expected soon, and the Cowboys will be hoping the atmosphere around their upcoming game gives them a chance to make a stronger impression as they work to pull the talented defensive back into their plans. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Momentum Now Has An Off-Field Tension Fans Can't Ignore
As Oklahoma State has started to build some real football momentum, head coach Eric Morris found himself fielding questions about a very different kind of pressure point on campus. During a press conference, Morris addressed reports tied to athletic director Chad Weibergs job status and made clear that his working relationship with Weiberg remains strong, while also crediting Weiberg and OSU president Dr. Jim Hess for bringing him in and helping set the tone around the program.
The timing matters because the Cowboys have been trying to capitalize on that upward swing, and any off-field uncertainty can quickly become part of the conversation around a team trying to keep moving forward. Morris stopped short of letting the issue overshadow whats happening on the field, but the report has lingered because Oklahoma State has not issued an official comment on Weibergs situation, leaving fans with one more storyline to watch beyond the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]