PFF Says Oklahoma State Has the Big 12’s Highest-Rated Returning Linebacker

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Most of the attention surrounding Oklahoma State's North Texas invasion has understandably gone to the offense.

Drew Mestemaker. Caleb Hawkins. Wyatt Young. Miles Coleman. But one of the most accomplished players who followed Eric Morris to Stillwater plays on the other side of the football.

According to Pro Football Focus, Ethan Wesloski enters 2026 as the Big 12's highest-rated returning linebacker, narrowly edging Iowa State's Montreze Smith Jr. For an Oklahoma State defense that desperately needs to take a step forward, that's a pretty nice piece to build around.

Wesloski Was Elite Last Season

The numbers explain why PFF is so high on him. Wesloski finished his final season at North Texas with a 90.6 PFF defensive grade, ranking fourth nationally among linebackers.

He also led North Texas with 113 tackles, including 59 solo stops, while adding nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and six quarterback hurries.

PFF recently ranked Wesloski among its top 10 returning linebackers in all of college football, noting that he was fourth nationally at the position in its wins-above-average metric last season and is the most valuable linebacker returning in 2026.

That's considerably more than just a productive transfer. That's someone who has already played at an elite level.

OSU Needs Him

This is where Wesloski becomes particularly important. Oklahoma State's offense has generated most of the preseason hype. We have a pretty good idea what Morris wants that side of the football to look like.

The bigger question might be what Skyler Cassity can build defensively. If OSU is going to make the dramatic year one turnaround some are predicting, the defense doesn't necessarily need to become dominant overnight.

But it needs to become reliable. Wesloski can help provide that foundation. He's experienced. He already understands this coaching staff and he's proven he can produce in multiple areas rather than simply pile up tackles.

Wesloski also describes his game as being built around understanding where he fits within the scheme and trying to anticipate what an opponent will do.  That sounds like exactly the type of veteran presence a completely rebuilt defense needs.

Now Comes the Same Question Facing the Other Transfers

We've asked it about Mestemaker. We've asked it about Hawkins. Now we have to ask it about Wesloski. Can it translate to the Big 12?

PFF itself identified that as the remaining question when ranking Wesloski among the nation's top 10 returning linebackers.

The competition gets better. The athletes get better. The margin for error gets smaller.

But Oklahoma State isn't simply hoping Wesloski might become a quality Power Four linebacker. He's arriving after already producing one of the highest-graded seasons at his position anywhere in college football.

Final Thoughts

Oklahoma State's offensive transfers will continue generating most of the headlines. That's understandable.

But if the Cowboys are going to become a complete football team, some of Morris' most important additions might ultimately be the less-heralded ones.

Wesloski enters 2026 as PFF's highest-rated returning Big 12 linebacker, just ahead of Iowa State's Montreze Smith Jr. Now he gets the same opportunity as the rest of the North Texas crew:

Prove those numbers don't just belong in Denton. Prove they translate to the Big 12.

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