Oliver relying on previous title game experience heading into contest against Texas

[ad_1]

Nov. 29—Collin Oliver was a fresh-faced phenom when he showed out in the 2021 Big 12 Conference championship game.

His two sacks and a forced fumble helped Oklahoma State rally from a first-half struggle to come within inches of making the College Football Playoff.

Turn the page ahead two years, and one of the veteran leaders of the Cowboys is still dominant for a new-look defense — to the point the Big 12 coaches voted him a second team member of the All-Big 12 team.

But unlike the last time Oklahoma State was in the championship game inside AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys are looking to be the ones to prevent a conference opponent from making the playoffs — with No. 7 Texas (11-1) still being a longshot to make the final four with four undefeated teams ahead of the Longhorns.

“I’m blessed and fortunate enough to be back here in two out of my three years here,” Oliver said. “It’s real cool. …

“It’s obviously a huge game, but it’s not gonna be that big for me because fortunately I was able to go to it my first year and I know what all that was like. I’m pretty sure now I’m gonna know how to control my emotions and just play ball.”

Oliver has been racking up the sacks since the Big 12 championship game, as well.

The Edmond native recently moved into the top five in the program in sacks (since the stat became official in 1981), jumping past his former position coach, defensive line coach Greg Richmond.

“Honestly, that was the last thing on my mind until somebody said it, but it’s really cool,” Oliver said.

Oliver has 22.5 sacks through three years with the Pokes, and stands just 5.5 sacks behind current NFL veteran Emmanuel Ogbah (28 sacks while at OSU), while he heads into the Big 12 title game 11.5 sacks behind program leader Leslie O’Neal (34), who is in the College Football Hall of Fame and was a six-time Pro Bowler in…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/oliver-relying-previous-title-game-045900240.html

Author : Stillwater NewsPress, Okla.

Publish date : 2023-11-30 04:59:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.