When Brandon Rawls walked onto the Oklahoma State practice field this spring, he carried more than just the hopes of a newcomer, he carried a chip. After starring at Saginaw Valley State in Division II, Rawls transferred to Stillwater with something to prove: that the jump in competition would only sharpen him, not slow him down.
A Crucible in Spring
"“The first day … with pads … was definitely a little nervous,” But he also remembers something every Cowboys coach told him: “From the film we’ve seen, you can play here.” "Brandon Rawls
Rawls admitted the early days of spring ball brought nerves. That vote of confidence from the coaches, he says, made all the difference. Spring wasn’t just about adjusting physically — shifting from a D‑II environment to one of the Big 12’s most demanding defenses required mental adaptation, too. Rawls says moving from outside roles and making downhill, edge‑style plays to being inside the box — dealing with wash plays, more interior blocks, and tighter spaces — demanded focus.
Seizing the Starting Role
By the time preseason wrapped up, Rawls had done more than just show promise — he had earned the starting linebacker job. And his statistics back up what coaches saw in practice: after just two games, he was second on the team in tackles (19), with an 11‑tackle cushion over the next player.
Moreover, Pro Football Focus ranks him as the third best defensive player on the Cowboys’ roster among those who’ve played at least five snaps. That’s not bad for someone who just arrived. This could be a sign for even more good things to come.
A Confidence Built on Coaching
Rawls is quick to praise the OSU coaching staff. From the defensive coordinator to his position coach, he says they’ve given him both the freedom to play aggressively and the space to make mistakes and learn. He admits he was hard on himself when things didn’t go right early — Kap Dede, his linebacker coach, encouraged him to “take a breath.” That balance, Rawls says, has helped him settle in.
His standard comes from his parents and what they instuilled in him at a young age. He lives by his favorite scripture, Ecclesiastes 9:10, which urges giving one’s full effort to everything done with the hands. It’s a mentality that helped him in high school and one that’s paying off so far in Stillwater.
Still Adjusting, Still Growing
Coach Mike Gundy is impressed, but sees room for Rawls to grow. The leap from Division II isn’t just about speed or size — it’s about consistency, play recognition, how one handles mistakes, and how one reacts when the game moves faster than expected. Gundy has said there’s “an adjustment you go through … it’s a process.”
In particular, Rawls is still ironing out the subtleties of scheme, recognizing passing game concepts, and refining how he battles through blocks when plays converge in tight spaces. But even in those areas, he is improving fast. The concepts are different but one thing that has been a pleasant surprise for him, has been that the speed adjustment was easier than he thought it would be coming from the competition at Saginaw.
What It Means — To Him, To Oklahoma State
For Rawls, it’s more than stats or praise — it’s opportunity. He wanted to play at a higher level, to test himself, and to “prove to the world that he deserved to be there.” His performance so far shows he’s not just rising to the expectation of others, but increasingly exceeding his own. He not only just belongs, he's a key part to this team.
For OSU, he represents something many teams covet: a high‑upside risk that turns into a foundational piece. A player who shows up early, works hard, maintains humility, learns fast, and produces even while still ironing out his craft. Great locker room guy for the culture that won't get complacent, focuses on improving every day.
Looking Ahead
He’s still early in his Cowboy career. There will be tougher offenses to face, more film to study, more game speed to adjust to. But if his first two games are any indication, Brandon Rawls won’t just withstand the challenges, he’ll feed off them. And for fans in Stillwater, and back home in Saginaw, that’s a feel‑good story unfolding in real time.