Oklahoma State Defensive Players to Watch vs. Texas A&M

The Oklahoma State Cowboys' defense might have some issues in the Texas Bowl vs. the Texas A&M Aggies.

Matt Galatzan | Dec 23, 2023

Oklahoma State Defensive Players to Watch vs. Texas A&M /

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Texas Texas A&M Aggies have one game left on the 2023 schedule before officially turning the page to the Mike Elko era when they head to Houston for their Texas Bowl matchup vs. the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

The Cowboys, who are coming off a blowout loss to the Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship, will pose a significant threat to the Aggies as well... at least offensively.

Unlike their offense, which ranks among the nation's best, the Cowboys' defense is towards the bottom of the country in total defense, ranking as the No. 124 unit in the country. However, that doesn't mean they don't have some talented playmakers to look out for.

Here are the players to watch on Oklahoma State's defense on Saturday when Texas faces the Cowboys.

USATSI_21596222 — SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK

LBs Nickolas Martin and Collin Oliver

Texas A&M has struggled up front this season, ranking 88th in the nation in sacks allowed with 28. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have 25 sacks on the year, ranking 75th in the nation.

Oklahoma State's linebacker duo of Nickolas Martin and Collin Oliver have accounted for 12 of the team's 24 sacks with six apiece, while also forcing a combined 17 QB hurries and five fumbles.

If the pocket doesn't hold up long enough for Aggies QB Jaylen Henderson, chances are that either one of these guys or both will be there to greet him in the backfield. Oliver is also dangerous in pass coverage, as he is tied for the team lead in pass deflections with five.

Oh, and Martin also leads the team by a substantial number in tackles with 133 on the year.

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S Cameron Epps

The Aggies might rank 85th in the country in turnover margin, but that does not mean they do not take care of the football. In fact, the Aggies have turned the ball over just 13 times this season, ranking 22nd in the country.

Oklahoma State safety Cameron Epps, who is in charge of securing the back line and leads the team with three picks, will aim to change that in the Texas Bowl.

Epps has also taken one of those picks back for a touchdown and is the Cowboys' biggest playmaker in the secondary. And with the Aggies entering the game without Evan Stewart or Ainias Smith, things will be even tougher vs. Epps.

Published Dec 23, 2023

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI and a long-time member of the Football Writer’s Association of America. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry in 2014 covering the Dallas Mavericks and SMU Mustangs with 247Sports. He then moved to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Longhorns and Aggies sites a year later. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan.