Top 10 Oklahoma State Cowboys Football Players of All Time

The history of Oklahoma State football is often overshadowed by the giants surrounding it, but make no mistake—the Cowboys have produced some of the toughest, most explosive, and most underrated players in college football history.

This isn’t a program built on hype.

It’s built on hard-nosed football, elite running backs, dominant defensive linemen, and players who carried Oklahoma State into national relevance through sheer force of will. From Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders rewriting offensive history to defenders like Leslie O’Neal and Kevin Williams terrorizing quarterbacks, the Cowboys have produced NFL legends across multiple eras.

This list isn’t about popularity.

It’s about impact, greatness, longevity, and how much these players meant to Oklahoma State football history.

10) Dale Meinert – LB/G

Dale Meinert represents an era of football toughness that barely exists anymore. Coming out of Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, Meinert became one of the earliest Oklahoma State players to establish a major professional football legacy, and he did it through versatility, intelligence, and relentless physicality.

Playing both linebacker and guard during his career, Meinert was the definition of old-school football. After being drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in 1955, he initially starred in Canada with the Edmonton Eskimos, helping lead them to two Grey Cup championships before returning to the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Once back in the NFL, Meinert became one of the league’s most respected defensive players, earning three Pro Bowl selections over a 10-year career. His numbers—nine interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries, and 12 sacks—only tell part of the story. Meinert was a tone-setter, a player who brought toughness and leadership every single week.

What makes his legacy even more impressive is the era he played in. Players weren’t protected, travel was harder, and careers were shorter. Yet Meinert carved out a career through durability and grit.

He wasn’t flashy.

He was dependable—and that matters.

9) Walt Garrison – RB

Walt Garrison embodied everything people loved about the Dallas Cowboys during the late 1960s and early 1970s—hard-nosed football, versatility, and toughness that bordered on legendary.

Drafted in the fifth round by Dallas in 1966, Garrison spent his entire nine-year NFL career with the Cowboys, becoming one of the franchise’s most reliable offensive weapons. While he never put up the flashy numbers of some of the all-time great backs, his value went far beyond statistics.

At the time of his retirement, Garrison ranked among Dallas’ all-time leaders in rushing and receiving, finishing with nearly 4,000 rushing yards and close to 1,800 receiving yards. He was the ultimate utility back before the term even existed.

But what made Garrison beloved was his mentality. He played hurt, blocked relentlessly, and delivered in big moments. He fit perfectly into Tom Landry’s disciplined system while still bringing a rugged cowboy personality that fans gravitated toward.

A Super Bowl champion and member of the Cowboys’ 25th Anniversary Team, Garrison represented consistency and toughness.

And in that era of football, toughness carried weight.

OSU Hall of Honor – Walt Garrison

8) Dexter Manley – DE

Dexter Manley was one of the most feared pass rushers of the 1980s, and when he was at his best, very few offensive linemen could handle him.

Drafted by Washington in the fifth round of the 1981 NFL Draft, Manley quickly became the centerpiece of a dominant Redskins defense that helped define one of the NFL’s great teams of the decade. His combination of size, explosiveness, and raw power made him a nightmare matchup off the edge.

Manley recorded 97 sacks in just 125 games with Washington, an incredible number considering how offenses operated during that era. Quarterbacks weren’t protected the way they are today, but offensive schemes were also far less pass-heavy, making sack totals harder to accumulate.

A two-time Super Bowl champion and first-team All-Pro, Manley thrived in big moments. His relentless pursuit and physicality perfectly fit the hard-hitting identity of those Redskins defenses.

Off the field, his career and personal struggles have been well documented, but on the field, there’s no debating his impact.

Manley wasn’t just productive.

He was destructive.

A Football Life – Dexter Manley

7) Jason Gildon – LB

Jason Gildon may be one of the most underrated pass rushers in NFL history.

Coming out of Altus, Oklahoma, Gildon was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft and became a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s defense for a decade. In classic Steelers fashion, Gildon played with aggression, intelligence, and relentless effort.

Recording 77 career sacks, over 500 tackles, and multiple defensive touchdowns, Gildon consistently disrupted offenses while playing in one of football’s toughest defensive systems. He wasn’t just a pass rusher—he was a complete linebacker who could stop the run, pressure quarterbacks, and make big plays in coverage.

His 2001 first-team All-Pro season highlighted just how dominant he could be when fully healthy. And unlike many edge rushers who thrive in one system, Gildon produced consistently year after year.

What separates him is reliability.

For ten seasons, Pittsburgh knew exactly what they were getting every Sunday—production, toughness, and leadership.

That’s why he remains one of the most respected defensive players in Steelers history.

Jason Gildon Oklahoma State

6) Justin Blackmon-WR

Justin Blackmon belongs on any list of the greatest Oklahoma State football players of all time because few receivers in college football history ever dominated the sport the way he did from 2010-2011. Blackmon was not just productive—he was unstoppable. During his two legendary seasons as the Cowboys’ featured weapon, he piled up 232 receptions, 3,304 receiving yards, and an astonishing 38 touchdown catches while terrorizing defenses across the Big 12. He won the Biletnikoff Award twice, becoming the first player ever to accomplish that feat, and helped elevate Oklahoma State from a respected program into a national championship contender under Mike Gundy. His 2011 season was historic, leading the Cowboys to a 12-1 record and a Fiesta Bowl victory while finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Blackmon combined elite size, physicality, hands, route running, and toughness into one complete package. At his peak, he was arguably the most dominant offensive player in college football.

Justin Blackmon | Oklahoma State Highlights

5) Jon Kolb – OT/C

Jon Kolb represents championship football.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969, Kolb became a critical piece of one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. While skill players often get the headlines, teams don’t win four Super Bowls without dominant offensive line play—and Kolb delivered exactly that.

Playing both tackle and center during his career, Kolb brought versatility, intelligence, and toughness to the famed Steelers offensive line. He helped pave the way for Franco Harris and protect Terry Bradshaw during Pittsburgh’s dynasty years.

Winning four Super Bowls automatically places him in rare company, but Kolb’s importance went beyond championships. He was dependable. Coaches trusted him. Teammates respected him.

Named first-team All-Pro in 1979 and later inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor, Kolb’s career reflects the type of player championship teams are built around.

He didn’t seek attention.

He just did his job better than almost anyone else.

OSU Hall of Honor – Jon Kolb

4) Kevin Williams – DT/DE

Kevin Williams was one of the most complete defensive linemen of his generation.

Drafted ninth overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2003, Williams immediately became a force in the NFL. His combination of power, quickness, and technique made him nearly impossible to block one-on-one.

Recording 60 career sacks from the defensive tackle position is extraordinary by itself, but Williams brought far more than pass-rushing ability. He dominated against the run, disrupted plays constantly, and made offenses alter their game plans.

A five-time first-team All-Pro and member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, Williams anchored some of the league’s best defenses during his prime years with Minnesota.

What made him special was consistency.

Season after season, he produced elite-level football.

He wasn’t flashy, but he was devastatingly effective.

And in Minnesota, he became one of the greatest defensive players in franchise history.

Kevin Williams highlights

3) Leslie O’Neal – DE/LB

Leslie O’Neal was one of the most dominant defensive players Oklahoma State has ever produced—and somehow, he still feels underrated nationally.

Drafted eighth overall by the Chargers in 1986, O’Neal immediately exploded onto the NFL scene, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 12.5 sacks in his first season.

That was just the beginning.

Over his career, O’Neal piled up 105.5 sacks, becoming one of the premier edge defenders of the late 1980s and early 1990s. His ability to rush the passer with both speed and power made him nearly impossible to consistently contain.

A six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro selection, O’Neal helped define Chargers football during his era.

What separated him from other pass rushers was versatility. He could stand up, play with his hand in the dirt, stop the run, and dominate passing situations.

O’Neal wasn’t just great for Oklahoma State.

He was one of the greatest defenders of his era.

Leslie O’Neal Oklahoma State Highlights

2) Thurman Thomas – RB

Thurman Thomas would be the greatest player in the history of many college football programs.

At Oklahoma State, he’s second.

That tells you everything you need to know about Cowboy football history.

Thomas was an elite running back who combined vision, balance, and receiving ability into one complete offensive weapon. Drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1988, he became the centerpiece of the Bills dynasty that reached four straight Super Bowls.

Winning NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1991, Thomas was one of the most versatile backs the league had ever seen. He rushed for over 12,000 yards and added more than 4,400 receiving yards during his career.

What made Thomas special was his intelligence. He understood blocking schemes, angles, and defensive tendencies at a level few running backs ever have.

And perhaps most impressively?

He spent much of his college career sharing the spotlight with Barry Sanders.

Most backs would’ve transferred.

Thomas stayed—and still became a legend.

Thurman Thomas College Highlights | Cowboy Football Throwback Highlights

1) Barry Sanders – RB

Barry Sanders is not just the greatest Oklahoma State football player ever.

He may be the greatest running back in football history.

What Sanders accomplished in 1988 remains one of the most untouchable seasons in college football history. Over 2,600 rushing yards. 37 touchdowns. Video-game numbers against real defenses.

And he did it with a style nobody has ever replicated.

Sanders didn’t just run past defenders—he embarrassed them. His vision, balance, acceleration, and ability to change direction remain unmatched. Defensive players knew exactly who was getting the ball and still couldn’t stop him.

In the NFL, Sanders carried bad Detroit Lions teams while becoming one of the most beloved players the sport has ever seen. He finished with over 15,000 rushing yards despite retiring early and never playing behind dominant offensive lines.

What separates Sanders isn’t just production.

It’s artistry.

Every carry felt like something impossible might happen.

And usually, it did.

Barry Sanders Wins the Heisman at Oklahoma State | A Football Life