Oklahoma State football: New faces, healthy bodies key to Cowboys' offensive line success next season

STILLWATER — No position on the Oklahoma State football team went through more tribulations in the 2020 season than the offensive line.

Two would-be starters left the team before the start of the season. Two more starters went down with injuries in the first half of the season opener. And the roller-coaster ride continued from there, with more injuries and shuffling throughout the lineup.

Here’s a look at where the Cowboy offensive line stands heading into 2021:

Season rewind: Mike Gundy’s oft-used phrase “musical chairs” was the one that best fit the situation the offensive line battled through last season. Players moving between positions. Young players entering the lineup to replace injured starters.

The movement seemed constant. And it led to struggles at times.

By the end of the regular season, two freshmen and a sophomore were starting on the line and graduate transfer Josh Sills had started games at three different positions.

The constant changes limited the offense in terms of what they could execute and what plays offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn could call.

Amid all the chaos, the line still had its moments of reliability, and was able to help the Cowboys win a few games down the stretch.

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Who’s out: Teven Jenkins, Ry Schneider, Trent Pullen

Who’s in: Danny Godlevske, Sr., Caleb Etienne, So., Logan Nobles, Fr., Silas Barr, Fr.

The take: The door is wide open for Godlevske, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound center, to fill the void left by Schneider’s departure. A graduate transfer from Miami of Ohio, Godlevske has been a starter since his true freshman year, missing one season because of injury.

Etienne, the 6-foot-9, 320-pound junior-college transfer, will have his own opportunities to win a starting job at one of the tackle positions. But less is known about his talent level than the more proven Godlevske, so Etienne will have to win a job from either Jake Springfield at left tackle or Hunter Anthony at right tackle.

With healthy bodies and new faces around him, Sills can return to the left guard position where he’s most comfortable and most dangerous.

Projected depth chart

Left tackle

Caleb Etienne, So., 6-9, 320

Jake Springfield, RFr., 6-5, 310

Left guard

Josh Sills, RJr., 6-6, 326

Preston Wilson, RFr., 6-5, 295

Center

Danny Godlevske, RSr., 6-3, 300

Tyrese Williams, RSo., 6-2, 300

Right guard

Cole Birmingham, RFr., 6-8, 308

Hunter Woodard, RSo., 6-5, 295

Right tackle

Hunter Anthony, RSo., 6-6, 318

Taylor Miterko, RFr., 6-6, 290

Scott Wright covers OSU athletics, especially football. You can send your story ideas to him at swright@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @ScottWrightOK. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.