Monday, August 29, 2022
Mason confident in secondary, linebackers heading into CMU game Rowdy Baribeau Staff Reporter
departed athletes on the defense are hard-to-replace type of athletes. But, Mason is playing “moneyball” with what he has on defense currently and feels like the defense could very well match the production of last year and he’s not the only one who thinks so. Defensive back Jason Taylor II gets a different feel about this year’s Cowboy squad, especially on defense. “I think that this team is going to be totally different,” Taylor said. “I feel like this year, this team is going to go where we want it to go. If we stay focused and do the things we need to do, we’ll be right in the game like we were last year.” Taylor spoke highly of the cornerbacks, Korie Black and Jabbar Muhammad, who have stepped into the starting spotlight for the first time after being rotational players the year before. “They’re just like some of the best guys we’ve had,” Taylor said. “I don’t feel like we’ve lost a step or anything right there. They’ve had a lot of experience so they’re rolling into this year with confidence and that’s what we need from that position.”
Despite defensive line being the most experienced returning group, OSU defensive coordinator Derek Mason likes what he’s seen from the newer faces at linebacker and in the secondary. “I think everybody has stepped into their roles,” Mason said. “There’s guys that are playing extremely well and there’s guys that are getting better as we go through the process.” Mason likes the identity that the secondary has developed over the course of the offseason. He even used an analogy to describe the group that was once used to describe the Chicago Bears, “Monsters of the Midway” in the 1940s. “We’re competitive and combative,” Mason said with a laugh. “We come out every day to work. These dudes got a hard hat and a lunch pail. I think it’s a talented secondary with veteran leadership, guys who do have bowl experience and game experience. Now, what we got to do is make sure that we continue to trust the process and trust in one another.” sports.ed@ocolly.com Mason acknowledged the
Davis Cordova
Scouting report Talyn Shettron is a highly-touted wide receiver who could see a lot of playing time as a true freshman.
Shettron could be OSU’s next deep-threat Rowdy Baribeau Staff Reporter
fall camp that he is as advertised. The former fourstar recruit has performed at a high enough level he’s OSU’s highest ranked found himself in the rotawide receiver signee since tion at wideout. Recently, Dez Bryant has all the tools OSU released the two-deep to become the next great depth chart and he’s listed OSU wideout. as an “or” option next to Freshman wide Langston Anderson. receiver Talyn Shettron has Here is what Shettron shown through spring and brings to the table as a
wideout: Good ball skills Shettron uses every bit of his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame to his advantage in one-on-one situations. Shettron not only has a long frame, but he has an impressive vertical leap that helps him high-point 50/50 balls. See Scouting on page 3
File Photo OSU defensive coordinator Derek Mason approaches his first fall with his new team.