Cowboy to Watch: Victor DeGrate
No. 51 Victor DeGrate, 6-3, 250, defensive end
DeGrate, a senior from DeSoto, Texas, arrived at Oklahoma State as a linebacker known as “Victor the Great.”
Midway through his sophomore season, injuries led to his move to defensive end — a switch that has worked out quite well.
Through seven games, DeGrate leads the team with 7½ sacks and 9½ tackles for loss.
“There is no one in this league that has blocked him one-on-one,” Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Vance Bedford told the Tulsa (Okla.) World this week. “Not Kansas State, not Kansas, and not even the other night (against Texas A&M). He has not been blocked. If I’m one of those teams, I’m voting him for all-conference. If he’s not an all-conference player, I don’t know what is.”
DeGrate has been a bright spot on Oklahoma State’s struggling defense. The Cowboys are ranked no higher than 59th in any of the four major statistical categories.
DeGrate is fourth on the squad with 32 tackles, while redshirt freshman strong safety Andre Sexton leads the way with 48 stops. OSU lists three freshmen and six sophomores on its two-deep defensive chart.
“He is such an energy-booster on the field,” fellow defensive end Darnell Smith told the World.
DeGrate, a senior from DeSoto, Texas, arrived at Oklahoma State as a linebacker known as “Victor the Great.”
Midway through his sophomore season, injuries led to his move to defensive end — a switch that has worked out quite well.
Through seven games, DeGrate leads the team with 7½ sacks and 9½ tackles for loss.
“There is no one in this league that has blocked him one-on-one,” Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Vance Bedford told the Tulsa (Okla.) World this week. “Not Kansas State, not Kansas, and not even the other night (against Texas A&M). He has not been blocked. If I’m one of those teams, I’m voting him for all-conference. If he’s not an all-conference player, I don’t know what is.”
DeGrate has been a bright spot on Oklahoma State’s struggling defense. The Cowboys are ranked no higher than 59th in any of the four major statistical categories.
DeGrate is fourth on the squad with 32 tackles, while redshirt freshman strong safety Andre Sexton leads the way with 48 stops. OSU lists three freshmen and six sophomores on its two-deep defensive chart.
“He is such an energy-booster on the field,” fellow defensive end Darnell Smith told the World.
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