The Kansas City Chiefs’ current dynasty is sustained largely due to star players, coaches and front office members. With that said, some smart drafting on a yearly basis keeps the back-to-back champs in good shape. Finding good talent and cost-controlled players is paramount, which is exactly what general manager Brett Veach has done in recent cycles.

Kansas City’s 2021 draft class is a perfect example of that, but many players are now due for extensions. One, center Creed Humphrey, has already received his. Linebacker Nick Bolton is up for a new contract, but the former Missouri standout doesn’t want to worry about it before or during the 2024-25 season.

If Bolton wants to bet on himself, it could see him land in the upper echelon of linebacker deals in free agency. Is that a price tag the Chiefs should or will feel comfortable meeting? That remains to be seen. There’s a world where Kansas City needs to add a new linebacker into the fold in the spring, and a recent 2025 NFL Draft mock simulation does just that.

In his mock for CBS Sports, Ryan Wilson sends Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman to Kansas City.

“Stutsman is a really good athlete who plays with little wasted movement,” Wilson wrote. “He flashes a downhill burst, and is a wrap-up tackler. He’s also comfortable in space and can be disruptive in coverage. The Chiefs don’t have a ton of needs but Nick Bolton is in the final year of his contract.”

Stutsman, a senior out of Florida, was tracking to enter the 2024 NFL Draft but ended up returning to school for one last ride with the Sooners. He’s coming off a year that saw him earn All-Big 12 First Team honors, as well as third-team AP All-American marks and a semifinalist placement for the Lombardi Award. Stutsman is the heart and soul of the Oklahoma defense, and his leadership shows off the field too.

In his last two seasons, Stutsman has combined to make 25 starts and log well over 200 tackles (26.5 for loss) with six sacks and three interceptions. Similar to Bolton, he’s a stat-sheet stuffer whose impact looks impressive on the box score. Advanced stats also like his profile, as Stutsman posted Pro Football Focus grades of 70 or higher for run defense, tackling, pass rush and overall defense this past season.

Stutsman differs from Bolton in some ways, though. While he’s a willing tackler, he is inconsistent in run defense and is indecisive at times on the field. On the other hand, he’s a more fluid athlete on tape and seems to thrive when diagnosing things in coverage or using his range to make plays. A 2025 linebacker trio of Stutsman, Drue Tranquill and Leo Chenal would lose some of the tone-setting that Bolton is known for, although it’d gain the upside of being more interchangeable and also empowering the more well-rounded Tranquill to be the group’s leader.

In next year’s class, Stutsman joins players like LSU’s Harold Perkins, Clemson’s Barrett Carter and Utah’s Lander Barton as some premier linebacker talents. Is he worthy of a first-round pick? Not in this writer’s opinion, although pre-draft athletic testing could sway his stock either way. Counting on him to be a direct Bolton replacement could bring about some question marks, but Stutsman’s projected floor and ceiling at the next level are both intriguing.

Read More: A Tyrann Mathieu Text to Brett Veach Adds Fuel to the Jaden Hicks Hype Train

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STILLWATER — There has been an uneasy feeling around Stillwater about the two-time defending FCS champs coming to town, but the Cowboys made a statement on Saturday.

Oklahoma State bested South Dakota State 44-20 to start the 2024 season 1-0. Here are 10 thoughts from the game.

1. A Good Performance

When you think of how rough OSU’s nonconference games were to watch last season, Saturday’s result is well-welcomed. Then when you think of how good South Dakota State is supposed to be, the hype around OSU’s 2024 season should only build.

The Jackrabbits haven’t given up 44 points in a game since the 2018 FCS playoff final against North Dakota State, and the Cowboys just dominated this game from start to finish. Just putting that in a time capsule, Taylor Cornelius was OSU’s quarterback in 2018. So over the span of the entire Spencer Sanders era and then last season, that hasn’t happened against the SDSU defense.

Even when things didn’t necessarily go OSU’s way, the Cowboys would still come out winners.

OSU got stopped on the Jackrabbit 43 in the second quarter, sending Hudson Kaak out for his first punt of the year. He pinned the Jackrabbits on their 2-yard line. The Cowboys got stopped again in the fourth, again in SDSU territory, and new starting kicker Logan Ward went out and drilled a 52-yard field goal. Could be good, early returns on kickers and punters coach Sean Snyder. Whatever it was, it made even OSU’s lows high. And it made it to where the only swearing OSU fans were doing Saturday was because of the humidity, not the game.

2. Alan Bowman Was Dang Good

After leading the Cowboys to a Big 12 title game and a 10-win season last year, Alan Bowman didn’t have an overwhelming approval rating going into the year. It was just one game, but Saturday should go some ways into silencing some of his critics.

Bowman’s naysayers from 2023 will point to his interceptions (14) and his completion percentage (61%). Well, Bowman didn’t throw a pick against South Dakota State and completed 74% of his passes. And he did all that while throwing for 267 yards and three touchdowns. You could argue that line should’ve been better. Rashod Owens dropped a would-be touchdown on OSU’s first drive, and De’Zhaun Stribling dropped what might’ve been a touchdown in the third quarter.

Bowman looked unbothered. He looked like it was his seventh year playing college football. Much of the quarterback talk going into this game revolved around South Dakota State’s Mark Gronowski, the reigning Walter Payton Award (FCS Heisman) winner. Bowman outperformed him in every way.

Again, it’s just one game, but perhaps having a full preseason as the starter (and the experience in the system last season) have made a big difference for Bowman. By the looks of it, this old dog learned some new tricks.

3. Oh, and Ollie Is Still Incredibly Good

Saturday’s game might not go down as a top 10 game of Ollie Gordon’s college career, which is impressive considering he had 146 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns against a team that hasn’t lost in two years and held teams to 89.6 rushing yards a game last season.

It just felt like when OSU needed a play, Gordon made it. He was patient, yet violent, waiting on blocks to develop before cutting through most who got through.

His second-quarter touchdown run was particularly impressive. Out of the diamond formation (it’s back), Gordon coolly slid between blocks from Preston Wilson and Jake Schultz. Shultz almost tossed his man into Gordon’s path, but it was more a curse than a blessing for the defender, as Gordon just continued the would-be tackler’s flight path. Then a safety came up and found out Gordon has legs of concrete and smashed his face into them before the reigning Doak Walker winner skipped freely into the end zone.

Tell us if you’ve heard this before…Ollie in the end zone 😤 pic.twitter.com/u5SvzKKOHb

— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) August 31, 2024

It wasn’t anything new in terms of watching Gordon play football, but rest assured, it doesn’t appear last season was lightning in a bottle.

4. Defense Is Different

I’m not going to pretend to have a PhD in football schematics, but OSU’s defense looks different than it did last season.

I’m not sure that Collin Oliver ever had his hand on the turf, but for all intents and purposes, he was an edge rusher as opposed to a traditional linebacker. Meanwhile, Jeff Roberson got quite a bit of run next to Nick Martin, and — as advertised — Kendal Daniels spent a lot of time close to the line of scrimmage. In fact, on South Dakota State’s first offensive snap, Daniels was lined up between a defensive end and a defensive tackle, standing up on the line of scrimmage.

It feels like this setup should best take advantage of the talent the defense has. Oliver had a big sack (and is now 10.5 away from Leslie O’Neal’s career record). Daniels nearly had a pick-six in the fourth quarter if not for a drop. Martin also dropped a sure-fire INT in the fourth but made up for it a few plays later by annihilating Gronowski as the Jackrabbits went for it on fourth down.

5. Korie Black Might Not Get Thrown at the Rest of the Season

Opposing teams don’t like throwing anywhere near Korie Black, and after Saturday, they might never again.

Black’s would-be receivers were targeted just 35 times last season, according to PFF. That’s despite being on the field for 350 coverage snaps. Well, in the first time he was thrown at in 2024, Black showed why teams are looking anywhere but near No. 2. He intercepted Gronowski in the first quarter. It was SDSU’s second possession.

And it wasn’t one of those picks that just hit the defender in the gut, either. Black undercut an out route and met the ball at full extension.

PICK @Mightyy_K2 pic.twitter.com/9y0YPACPbF

— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) August 31, 2024

Black did get beat while playing as a slot corner, something he said he needs to work on, but if he can regularly shut down an outside receiver, it should bode well for this defense’s improvement as the year goes on.

6. Big Plays a Concern

As seemingly easy as this highly anticipated game was for the Cowboys, the number of big plays the defense gave up was a concern.

It’s too early to overreact too much to this. As we’ve gone over, the defense tinkered with some things this offseason, so it’s probably unfair to assume the Cowboys would hit Game 1 in full stride. But OSU ranked last in the Big 12 in plays given up of more than 20 yards last season. And that seemed to be an issue again Saturday. The Jackrabbits ripped off six plays of more than 20. For further reference, OSU — a team that scored 44 points — had just three of such plays.

On South Dakota State’s first drive of the second half, the Jackrabbits scored in three plays — all of which were more than 20 yards.

South Dakota State had 388 yards of total offense in 65 plays. That’s six yards a play. Cut out those six plays of 20+ yards, and the Jackrabbits put up 184 yards in 59 plays — 3.1 yards per play. It’s probably unrealistic to cut big plays out entirely, but cutting it down to one or two a game would feel a lot more manageable than six.

“Defensively, we played good — and then gave up big plays,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “… As you start to play teams that are talented, that’s gonna create an issue. That’s the first area we gotta improve on.”

7. Trey Rucker Had How Many Tackles?

There has been a lot of talk surrounding the OSU defense this offseason, but little of it has been about Trey Rucker. Many more stat lines like Saturday and the storylines will have no choice but to shift his way.

Talks about the OSU defense have been about Oliver going back on the edge, Daniels playing linebacker and Nick Martin tackling everything with a pulse. Well, Rucker had 100 tackles last season, which isn’t an easy feat. And now he is on pace (if one can be on pace after one game) for 180 tackles this season. Rucker took down 15 Jackrabbits on Saturday. For what it’s worth, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife states people are allowed to kill only three jackrabbits a day, so he’s way over.

Trey Rucker took down 15 Jackrabbits today. No one be a nark and tell the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife. pic.twitter.com/v9xL86gr0N

— Marshall Scott (@MarshallScottOK) August 31, 2024

“I knew I was balling, but I didn’t know the exact number (of tackles),” Rucker said. “That’s all God’s glory, so I’m just thankful for having those tackles.”

With Daniels moving up, Rucker is now by far the most experienced safety in OSU’s defensive backfield. He started Saturday alongside Dylan Smith — a true sophomore. Other safeties with a tackle included Cameron Epps (redshirt sophomore), Parker Robertson (former walk-on/redshirt junior) and a returning-from-injury Lyrik Rawls (redshirt junior). So with all the experience Rucker picked up at Wake Forest and starting last season, he could be huge for the Pokes in 2024 despite not entering the season with a ton of people talking about him.

8. Sesi Vailahi Has the Juice

Watching Sesi Vailahi play football is a good time.

Not to make the comparison because they are both Polynesian, but he has some Jaylen Warren in him in that he is quick enough to leave defenders grasping at air, but if someone manages to get in his way, he’s going to put his shoulder down and make sure the defender feels the upcoming hit as much as he does.

Only a redshirt freshman, Vailahi got RB2 duties Saturday over incoming transfer Trent Howland. Vailahi carried five times for four yards but also had two catches for 14 yards. One of those catches came near the OSU sideline, where Vailahi threw a nasty juke on a defender (see photo below). He basically teleported out of the defender’s path, leaving the Jackrabbit to throw his arms out in a last-ditch effort to grab Vailahi, and he grabbed just about every square inch of Vailahi’s facemask. Give him another 15 yards.

Gordon can come back next season, as he is only a junior, but he seems NFL bound given how good he is. Here’s to hoping Vailahi gets a lot of good experience this season for the nourishment of the position’s future.

9. Is De’Zhaun Stribling the Best Pro Prospect on the Team?*

*who isn’t named Ollie Gordon

De’Zhaun Stribling is back, and he looks every bit the part of a future NFL wide receiver.

At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Stribling has size and speed on his side, and he runs such crisp routes. He dropped what might’ve been a touchdown early in the game, but made up for it when OSU ran a flea flicker in the second half. Bowman’s pass was a little high — one of his few inaccuracies all day — but Stribling batted the ball down over his head and back into his hands before finishing off a 27-yard gain. He also had another shot at a touchdown in the second half that probably would’ve been called pass interference if the game was closer than it was.

Playing in his first game in 344 days after missing all but four games last season with injury, Stribling finished with six catches for 83 yards (team-high).

“I was pretty comfortable early,” Stribling said. “I had to go hit somebody, go pull one of those to get back in the groove and the whole mindset, but I feel like I was rolling from kickoff.”

Stribling’s injury last season wasn’t ideal from the Cowboys, but it feels as if he is entering 2024 under the radar a little bit. And he might be the best pure wide receiver on OSU’s roster (a roster that has a lot of good wide receivers).

10. Gavin Freeman WR4?

Gundy is usually fairly cautious with transfers, letting them feel their way into the season. There are some exceptions to that rule, but it felt like OU transfer Gavin Freeman was out there a lot. And not only is Freeman a transfer — he wasn’t here in the spring, meaning his first official practices on this team came during fall camp.

Outside of the dominant triforce of Stribling, Presley and Owens (who combined for 16 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns), Freeman was the only other receiver with a catch. He had two for 10 yards, and also returned a punt and a kick.

The initial plan for Freeman was to redshirt, according to The Oklahoman. That could still be the case, given guys can play in four games these days and still redshirt, but it doesn’t feel like OSU would redshirt a guy who played as much as Freeman did in Game 1. Maybe that has something to do with Da’Wain Lofton being injured — another slot receiver the Cowboys brought in from the portal — or maybe Freeman is just too good to keep off the field. And let us not forget the plan was to redshirt Leon Johnson III last season, but he spent Saturday’s game in the crowd after exhausting his eligibility because of injuries in front of him in 2023.

If all you know about Freeman is that he transferred from OU, you have to see these high school highlights from his days at Heritage Hall.

He committed to Texas Tech out of high school, as it was his only Power Five offer coming out of high school, only to decommit and bet on himself by staying closer to home in Norman as a walk-on. Then he instantly started making plays — taking a run 46 yards to the house on his first touch of college football as a true freshman.

The kid makes plays, and though he didn’t do anything too jaw-dropping Saturday, it’s exciting to think what OSU can look like with him and Presley flying around.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys are searching for a large victory over South Dakota State. With a bit of fuel from Kirk Herbstreit picking the Jackrabbits, a program that has won two straight FCS National Championships, over the Cowboys.

Trying to start the 2024 season much more efficiently than the 2023 season, the Cowboys had a strong first half, holding a 17-6. They opened the second half with a second Ollie Gordon touchdown, though the Jackrabbits quickly responded.

The Jackrabbits’ first touchdown was on a three-play drive, which came a little easy and made it seem like they might be able to put some pressure on Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys’ veteran offense responded quickly, though, scoring in just six plays. This time, it was an Alan Bowman deep ball to Rashod Owens, who capped off the 58-yard touchdown.

The game has gone just about as Oklahoma State could have hoped. Gordon begins his Heisman-hopeful campaign with a pair of touchdowns. The Cowboys have involved multiple wide receivers and the defense has shown improvement from a season ago.

Now, it’s up to Oklahoma State to keep their foot on the gas on both sides of the ball, finishing off an incredible win and getting off to a good start to their 2024 campaign.

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