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Former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left Stillwater to take the same position at Ohio State just days after OSU played in the Big 12 Championship Game in early December.
The Cowboys went nearly two months without a defensive coordinator before announcing the hire of former Auburn defensive coordinator and Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason on Wednesday. The hiring was significant for a number of reasons and social media had thoughts on all of those reasons and more. Here is some of the best reactions from Twitter after OSU made Mason’s hire official.
— Collin Oliver (@cloliver25) January 26, 2022
Fired up. Its go time https://t.co/IFDdQ90p9A
— Kanion Williams (@KanionW) January 26, 2022
let’s work https://t.co/ByV5MuaxZI
— Collin Clay (@collinclay_) January 26, 2022
@CoachDerekMason Let’s Work pic.twitter.com/jORGQ6Ctkd
— JB (@JordanBurtonOSU) January 26, 2022
Let’s work? Looks like we have a couple of Mike Boynton fans in the house! In all seriousness, it looks like Mason has plenty of support from the defenders. That is important because Knowles had those defenders' full support and it paid dividends for the Cowboys last season.
Let’s go! Hate to keep seeing these small schools getting their coordinators poached by top 25 teams but that’s just the nature of the game right now. Great hire. https://t.co/ofmwtmMuq5
— Clint Chelf (@Cchelf10) January 26, 2022
If the reported hire of Derek Mason goes through, Oklahoma State will become the only staff in the Big 12 with minority primary coordinators on both sides of the ball.
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) January 26, 2022
Is there another Power Five school in the country that has two minority primary coordinators?
With the hire of Derek Mason, #OkState becomes the only division one program to have both offensive and defensive coordinators that are African American*
— Marshall Levenson (@MarshallLevy14) January 26, 2022
pic.twitter.com/5Y3LZWYDnD
Welcome to #okstate @CoachDerekMason! The fans are passionate. Facilities great. Alumni loyal. And the defense is STACKED.
— Yves Batoba (@YBatoba) January 26, 2022
Here’s to continued dominance and great expectations. Go Pokes! https://t.co/A6FjDU66Fy
Derek Mason when he walks into first EDGE meeting room and sees Collin Oliver, Brock Martin and Trace Ford. pic.twitter.com/nKXJgVdb6B
— Adam Lunt (@AdamLunt817) January 26, 2022
Under Knowles Oklahoma State ran primarily 4-2-5 with a 24% Blitz Rate. Mason will bring in the same formation but pivot to 2 and 3 down lineman pending down and distance. Auburn Defense blitzed at a 25% clip in 2021, finished 39th in the all important Finishing Drives https://t.co/4njomh24aO
— Collin Wilson (@_Collin1) January 26, 2022