Once rivals, Daytawion Lowe and Shamiel Gary could start together at safety in 2012

Defensive players Nigel Nicholas (89), Shamiel Gary (7), and Daytawion Lowe (8) walk onto the field before OSU's first practice of the season on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. on Friday, August 5, 2011. Photo by Zach Gray

Daytawion Lowe and Shamiel Gary used to be fierce rivals in high school, with Lowe playing for Carl Albert and Gary playing for Tulsa Washington.

“When we were both sophomores, I hit him when he came down to play at Carl Albert,” Lowe said with a smile. “And our senior year, I caught a little jail-break screen, and he hit me. So we got a little history. We talk a little noise. That’s fun. It’s all in friendly competition.”

In 2012, Lowe and Gary could be starting alongside each other at safety for Oklahoma State.

Gary is one of three Cowboys vying for the starting spot at strong safety this spring after transferring to OSU from Wyoming in 2011. He sat out and redshirted last fall to satisfy those NCAA transfer rules and will have two more years of eligibility.

Lavocheya Cooper and Zack Craig are the others in contention to start at strong safety, the position vacated by Markelle Martin. Lowe is the projected starter at free safety after leading the Cowboys with 97 tackles last season.

Oklahoma State's Lavocheya Cooper (2) celebrates a fumble recovery on a kickoff in front of Baylor's Clay Fuller during a college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the Baylor University Bears (BU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Gary was a Freshman All-American at Wyoming after tallying 98 tackles (2.5 for loss), three interceptions (all in one game against Weber State) and six pass break-ups. His sophomore season, he totaled 94 tackles (one for loss), one interception and five pass break-ups.