Nardo Notebook: OSU’s Defensive Coordinator Talks Kirkland, Simplicity and More

STILLWATER — Bryan Nardo navigated a media scrum for just the second time as Oklahoma State’s defensive coordinator Thursday.

It was my first time speaking to Nardo (I was getting married during his first availability), so here are three things that stood out about the former Gannon, Youngstown State, Emporia State and Missouri S&T coach.

Kirkland a “Large,” “Coachable” Human

Justin Kirkland has become somewhat of a mythical figure in OSU circles this offseason.

Coming from a small school like Utah Tech, Kirkland has a mystique to him that most 6-foot-4, 346-pound nose tackles might not have. Kirkland seems like the perfect piece to put in the middle of Nardo’s 3-3-5 defense, but why stop there?

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