When the Oklahoma State coaching staff moved Malcolm Rodriguez, one of its best tacklers, from safety to linebacker after a breakout season last year, it opened the door for a new hard-hitting safety to emerge for the Cowboy defense.
Tre Sterling, a redshirt sophomore safety, led the Cowboys with seven tackles and a pass breakup in Saturday's 26-13 win against Kansas State.
Sterling redshirted in 2017 and didn't really see the field last season as a redshirt freshman. With most of his action coming on special teams, he compiled his only two tackles of the season on kickoffs in OSU's Liberty Bowl victory against Missouri.