Impact And Replacements After Xavier Benson Declares For Draft
It's a new year, and Oklahoma State linebacker Xavier Benson provided some news on Monday.
Benson announced on social media that he was declaring for the NFL Draft, ending his time in Stillwater after two seasons with the Cowboys.
Players leaving for the draft could have an impact on the team. With Benson leaving, how much does this hurt the Cowboys?
Impact: Very Little
Every time someone leaves, it does leave a mark. With Benson being a linebacker, it doesn't hurt Oklahoma State that much.
OSU has a guy named Nick Martin, who is coming off one of the best seasons a linebacker has had at Oklahoma State.
Martin racked up 140 total tackles and six sacks this season for OSU, including seven tackles against Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl.
The Cowboys are still waiting on Collin Oliver's decision as well. If he were to come back, OSU would be set at the linebacker position next season.
Benson leaving still leaves a spot in the Cowboys' defense, so who could replace him?
Jeff Roberson
Roberson was behind Benson in the depth chart but saw action in all 14 games this season for the Cowboys.
He recorded 10 tackles this season, including three tackles against Iowa State.
Roberson has now been with the Cowboys for four seasons, With Benson gone, he will be the guy they will call upon first for OSU.
Justin Wright
Wright could be used at any of the linebackers spots next season. If Oliver comes back, he could be a potential replacement for Benson's spot.
Wright medical redshirted the 2023 season after suffering an injury earlier in the season.
Before that, he was at Tulsa, where he collected 254 total tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in five seasons with the Golden Hurricanes.
Replacing a player does hurt, but with Martin, Wright, Roberson returning and Oliver potentially coming back, Oklahoma State is secure at linebacker for the 2024 season.
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Nick is a sports media student at Oklahoma State University, where he also minors Sports Managment. He has covered OSU softball for 107.7 The Franchise and also covers Oklahoma high school football for Enid News & Eagle.