High Noon Highlights (7/12): Cowgirl FC Releases Non-Conference Schedule

It’s high noon...

Cowgirl FC releases non-conference schedule:

This morning Oklahoma State released the women’s soccer non-conference schedule. And it’s got some pretty awesome games included.

Eleven home games highlight Oklahoma State’s 2021 soccer schedule as the Cowgirls look to build on last season’s run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. The ‘21 schedule includes seven non-conference home games at Neal Patterson Stadium, including a showdown against Texas A&M, and the Cowgirls will host four Big 12 Conference opponents. OSU is coming off a 13-3-2 season, and nine starters return from that squad, including two-time All-American Kim Rodriguez and leading scorers Grace Yochum, Olyvia Dowell and Gabriella Coleman, who combined for 33 goals a year ago. The Cowgirls open 2021 with a preseason exhibition match against Missouri in Frisco, Texas, on Aug. 13 before kicking off the regular season with a home matches against UTSA (Aug. 19) and Pitt (Aug. 22) in the OSU Cowgirl Invitational.{okstate.com}

I love that feature of an NCAA Tournament rematch with Texas A&M. New Athletic Director Chad Weiburg didn't miss there.

Oklahoma State can replace Radarius Williams:

Pistols Firing had a great piece on the cornerbacks that came out this morning.

Returning starter: Jarrick Bernard-Converse

Bernard-Converse enters the 2021 season with the longest streak of consecutive starts — 33 — among all active Cowboys. After earning a role at CB2 following a switch from safety to corner, he enters 2021 primed to be CB1. Last season he tied for the team lead in passes broken up and led all cornerbacks with 32 tackles.

Vet in the room: Christian Holmes

Holmes played in all 11 games for OSU last season as a first-year transfer from Missouri, and he made two starts in his last two games to end the season on a high note. He quietly had six pass break ups and led all OSU cornerbacks in tackles for loss with three. His versatility could help him retain the starting role he gained at season’s end or could benefit the defense in special packages in which they use him to apply pressure from the edge. {PFB}

All-Time OSU defense:

This was a fun one. Heartland College Sports came up with a defense made up of Oklahoma State’s best defensive players.

DEFENSIVE LINE: LESLIE O’NEAL, JASON GILDON, EMMANUEL OGBAH, PHILLIP DOKES

Probably the program’s strongest defensive position historically, the D-line boasts some of the most dominant football players in school history. Some more famous names who roamed the trenches include guys like Kevin Williams, James White, Gary Lewis and Jordan Brailford. However, the guys I picked are without a doubt the best the program has ever produced.

Leslie O’Neal was a consensus All-American in 1985 and currently leads OSU in career sacks with 34, as well as sacks in a season with 16. He would go on to be drafted with the eighth overall pick in the 1986 NFL draft, where he would accumulate six Pro Bowl selections and three second-team All-Pro selections, undoubtedly Oklahoma State’s most successful defensive pro.

Jason Gildon sits just behind O’Neal in career sacks with 33 in a tenure in Stillwater spanning from 1990 to 1993. He was a force to be reckoned with in the trenches, and was selected in the third round in 1994 by the Pittsburgh Steelers where he played nine seasons, picking up three Pro Bowl selections from 2000 to 2002.

Emmanuel Ogbah lived in opponents’ backfield from 2013 to 2015, earning All-America honors and leading the Big 12 in sacks in 2015 with 12.5. He ranks fourth in school history for career sacks and third in single season sacks, a resume impressive enough to be drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round in 2016. Ogbah currently plays for the Miami Dolphins where he is a key contributor on defense.

Phillip Dokes earned All-American status in 1976 after securing 320 total tackles in four years, good for eighth in Oklahoma State history. He totaled 320 tackles in four years at OSU, good for eighth all-time, and was taken 12th overall in the 1977 draft by the Buffalo Bills, where he started 10 games in two seasons. {Heartland College Sports}

I love the addition of Emmanuel Ogbah here. That’s really solid pic in my opinion.

Around the Big 12:

Coaches rankings

Matt Campbell faces high expectations

Big picture questions

Song of the Day: