Taylor set to lead, Muhammad headlines young OSU secondary unit – Daily O’Collegian
A quick glance at the depth chart shows a pattern. Youth seeps through the OSU football secondary.
Sophomore. Redshirt sophomore. Redshirt freshman.
But seniors are the key. Big play specialist safety Jason Taylor II is one of few redshirt seniors in the secondary. He spent years learning from the guys who are now collecting million-dollar paychecks on Sundays. He drilled each day with hopes of someday leading his unit.
Now, as the only returner with considerable starting experience, he becomes a leader in a depleted secondary.
“He’s played a lot so now he needs to grab the reins and give himself a chance to really perform at a high level and lead for the other guys in the secondary,” said coach Mike Gundy in the spring.
Taylor inherits a secondary after safeties Tre Sterling and Kolby Harvell-Peel sought the NFL. Additionally, the group must adjust to a new defensive coordinator, Derek Mason.
“Well, Derek has been fantastic,” Gundy said. “It’s been a smooth transition. He’s a first-class person. He understands loyalty and hard work. He has a great relationship with the players.”
Gundy and Taylor II will be looking toward Kendal Daniels, a former four-star recruit from Beggs, and current redshirt freshman safety, to jump levels. An athletic defender with a large frame to cover the Big 12’s best, Daniels developed during his redshirt year despite limited playing time and is expected to heavily contribute.
Beyond those two safeties, veterans such as Thomas Harper, Trey Rucker and Kanion Williams can provide when needed.
“Our team is in great shape now,” Gundy said. “They’re excited about the start, as I said earlier. We’ve got seniors. We have mature players that understand the commitment and what it takes to be successful, and they’re instilling those values in our younger players.”
The cornerbacks face the same situation. They miss Christian Holmes, who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft, and Jarrick Bernard-Converse who transferred to LSU. Now, juniors Korie Black and Jabbar Muhammad will likely replace the pair. After Black and Muhammad, experience among the cornerbacks is thin. Playing time became scarce. Look for guys such as De’Kelvion Beamon and Demarco Jones to see time behind Black and Muhammad.
Muhammad made his first start at the Fiesta Bowl and harassed Notre Dame receivers. Black can also swirl around the field and cause defensive chaos.
“It’s a lot but I’m ready to step up to the challenge and get better every day,” Muhammad said in the spring. “I’m trying to stack good days on top of good days every day.”
Cowboy secondary projected starters:
Cornerback: Jabbar Muhammad, junior, 5-foot-10, 180 pounds
Cornerback: Korie Black, junior, 6-foot, 185 pounds
Safety: Jason Taylor II, redshirt senior, 6-foot, 215 pounds
Safety: Thomas Harper, senior, 5-foot-11, 180 pounds
Safety: Kendal Daniels, redshirt freshman, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds
Key reserves
Safeties: Sean Michael Flanagan, Kanion Williams, Trey Rucker, Lyrik Rawls and Nick Session
Cornerbacks: Demarco Jones, De’Kelvion Beamon, Jordan Reagan and Raymond Gay II