Ethan Wesloski gives Oklahoma State a major offseason defensive storyline, PFF ranks him the Big 12’s top returning linebacker

Oklahoma State’s defensive rebuild under new leadership is starting to come into focus through a familiar name in the middle of the linebacking group. Pro Football Focus has ranked Ethan Wesloski as the Big 12’s highest-rated returning linebacker entering the 2026 season, elevating the expectations around a player expected to be a stabilizing presence as the Cowboys overhaul how they defend.

The key number in PFF’s evaluation is Wesloski’s 90.6 grade, which the report ties to his production during his college career at North Texas. While the Cowboys’ offseason story includes schematic and coaching change, PFF’s ranking frames the linebacker spot as a strength that can anchor those adjustments rather than a position needing to be rebuilt from the ground up.

In the Big 12, linebacker play is often a barometer for how well a defense handles motion, run fits, and matchup coverage in space. The conference’s offensive variety forces defenders to communicate quickly and win the small detail battles, so returning production at the linebacker level can matter more than it does in leagues where offenses are more predictable. PFF’s decision to place Wesloski at the top of that returning group suggests they view his baseline reliability as transferable to the Big 12’s demands.

Oklahoma State will try to turn that individual baseline into a group identity while working within its broader defensive direction under Eric Morris. Morris’ assignment heading into 2026 is widely framed as rebuilding the unit, which typically means cleaner assignments, better pre-snap clarity, and sharper execution on third downs and in tackling efficiency. Wesloski being singled out by PFF gives the Cowboys a reason to believe the rebuilding process can start with a trusted centerpiece rather than a blank slate.

For Oklahoma State fans, the practical question is how Wesloski’s impact shows up once the defense is under live fire. A high positional grade from PFF is a useful indicator, but it does not automatically translate to every game situation. The real test will be whether the Cowboys can coordinate the rest of their front and coverage behind him so that his role is not constantly narrowed by miscommunications or schematic mismatches.

What to watch next is how Wesloski is used in the structure Morris wants for the defense, particularly in run-and-pass hybrids and when the Cowboys need quick adjustments. If Oklahoma State leans on him as a communicator and play finisher while maintaining strong gap discipline around the linebacking group, it would give the Cowboys a more credible title-picture pathway in the Big 12 even while the rest of the defense settles into its new rhythm.