The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

SCOUT'S TAKE

Pros: Okung is the most experienced and dominant player on the Cowboys’ offensive line. He has 34 consecutive starts and will continue that streak in 2009. At 6’6’’, Okung has good height and long arms to gain leverage versus pass rushers. He has quick feet and fluid movement, and also possesses a mean streak that scouts look for in offensive linemen. He also shines as a run blocker.

Cons: At 305 pounds, Okung will need to add 10-20 pounds to be a dominating NFL left tackle. He has All-Pro potential and skills, but he will not be able to handle the bull rush from the NFL’s best at 305. Coming from the spread offense that Oklahoma State runs, Okung will need to improve as a run blocker. He also needs to get stronger in the weight room.

Skinny: The Texas native enters his senior campaign having started 34 consecutive games. According to Oklahoma State’s athletic department, Okung registered 71 knockdown blocks and 27 “dominating” blocks, participating in 874 snaps. He helped the Cowboys’ offense rank in the top-ten nationally in scoring, total offense, and rushing in 2008. They also gained their third straight Big 12 rushing title. In 2008, Okung should once again be first team All-Big 12, and earn first team All-American honors. He will more than likely land in the first round on draft day.

Stock: Okung is considered by many as the top offensive lineman in the upcoming 2010 NFL draft. He is a good athlete, with good lateral mobility which allows him to be a very good pass protector.

Quote of Note I: "He’s quick. He’s got great hip flexibility,” said OSU coach Mike Gundy. "He’s got a great spin move. But more importantly, he plays hard. He’ll bounce around and come back underneath and end up getting some sacks or tackles for a loss that way.”

-- Oklahoma St. head coach Mike Gundy on Russell Okung

Quote to Note II: "He’s more isolated against some of the premier pass rushers and some of the best players in the country,” OSU offensive line coach Joe Wickline said. "He’s done a nice job handling what he’s been responsible for on matchups.”

-- Oklahoma State offensive line coach Joe Wickline on Russell Okung

NEWS

10.17.09 - Twice in his career, Russell Okung has tossed a shutout against the NCAA’s sack leader. At Texas A&M’s Von Miller entered the game as America’s top pass rusher with nine sacks.  Against Okung, he did not record a sack and had five tackles. In the 2007 Insight Bowl, Okung held Indiana’s Greg Middleton, another NCAA sack leader, without a tackle. Okung is the only offensive player among the 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award. He anchors an offensive line that leads the nation with just two sacks allowed through six games.

10.14.09 – Oklahoma State senior offensive lineman Russell Okung has been named one of 12 semifinalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s lineman of the year by the Rotary Club of Houston. The award will be officially presented on Dec. 9. The winner is selected by a panel of football coaches, sports media and former winners and finalists. Overall, approximately 500 people are involved in the selection process. The list of semifinalists was trimmed from the original watch list of 153 players. Okung is considered one of America’s top offensive linemen. He was a first-team all-Big 12 selection as a junior and is the ringleader of a Cowboy offensive line that ranks fourth nationally in fewest sacks allowed in 2009. OSU has led the Big 12 Conference in rushing all three seasons in which Okung has been a starter. The Houston native and graduate of Bush High School has started 39 straight games heading into this weekend’s matchup with Missouri. He became a starter in the OSU offensive line a true freshman in 2006. Twice in his career, Okung, who is closing in on a degree in marketing, has shut down America’s top pass rusher. In the 2007 Insight Bowl, Indiana’s Greg Middleton entered the game leading the nation in quarterback sacks. He did not record a tackle in OSU’s win over the Hoosiers. Texas A&M’s Von Miller led the nation in quarterback sacks entering last weekend. Against Okung and the Cowboys, he did not record a sack in OSU’s 36-31 win in College Station.

01.15.09 - Oklahoma State left tackle Russell Okung announced Thursday he will return for his senior season with the Cowboys. "I'm excited to be part of what is going on at Oklahoma State right now," Okung said. "We' - re going to have an exciting team next year and I look forward to being someone who can help contribute to what we are trying to accomplish. This offseason is important for us and I'm going to do everything I can to help this team get better so we can reach a new level next year." Okung has started 34 consecutive games for the Cowboys dating back to his freshman year in 2006. The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder was honored with first-team All-Big 12 and second-team All-America honors this past season after helping OSU to a 9-3 regular-season mark.

12.31.08 - Okung started eight games at right tackle as a true freshman in 2006. He started every game for the Cowboys in 2007 and earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors. This season Okung was named First Team All-Big 12. Okung has filed his paperwork with the NFL but will not make a definite decision on his future until after the Holiday Bowl. If he did decide to leave early, Okung would project as an early round pick.

12.13.08 - Russell Okung isn’t thinking about the NFL right now, but that doesn’t mean he won’t think about it at all. OSU coach Mike Gundy said Friday that the school will file paperwork for Okung to receive this NFL Draft grade, indicating scouts’ opinions on when he would be selected in the April 26 draft. "There’s not a lot to discuss right now,” Gundy said. "You put in your paperwork and you make a decision from that point on.”

VITALS

Honor Roll: Okung was selected first team All-Conference by the coaches in 2008. He was named All-Conference honorable mention and was a Rivals.com All-Bowl team selection at the conclusion of the 2007 season. As a freshman in 2006, he was voted as a member of The Sporting News’ All-Big 12 Freshman team, as well as being named the Dick Bogert Award winner as OSU’s top freshman.

High School: Okung attended Bush High School in Texas. He was a first team All-Greater Houston and first-team All-District selection. He was also sought after by Oklahoma, LSU, and Nebraska. Was rated No. 50 on Scout.com’s southwest top 100 list and was first-team all-Greater Houston and first-team all-district. A member of the Dallas Morning News’ top 100.

Personal: Okung is majoring in marketing.

Factoid: Okung held Indiana’s Greg Middleton, who was the nation’s sack leader, without a tackle in the 2007 Insight Bowl.