Oklahoma State spring football inside look: Safeties

Continuing our position-by-position look at Oklahoma State as spring practice gets underway. The Cowboys are off this week for spring break.

Safety

Who’s gone

None

Who’s back

Daytawion Lowe, senior
2012 stats: 75 tackles (three for loss), one sack, two interceptions, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery

Shamiel Gary, senior
2012 stats: 72 tackles (one for loss), two interceptions, four pass breakups, one forced fumble

Zack Craig, senior
2012 stats: 14 tackles (two for loss), one sack, one interception, four pass breakups, three quarterback hurries

Larry Stephens, senior
2012 stats: 16 tackles (one for loss)

Deion Imade, senior
2012 stats: Four tackles, one pass breakup

Who arrives in the fall
Tre Flowers, freshman
Deric Robertson, freshman
Jordan Sterns, freshman

The skinny

Every safety that finished 21012 is back for the spring. And oddly, they’re all seniors. Having such a veteran group should help new assistant Tim Duffie. Lowe continues to emerge as one of the Cowboys’ biggest leaders, providing hard hits and playmaking ability in the secondary. Gary struggled early in 2012 — particularly in pass coverage — but showed improvement as the season went along, finishing with a strong performance in the Heart of Dallas Bowl (seven tackles, one pass breakup, one interception). Craig seems to show up and make at least one impact play every game, but needs to work on consistently being in the right spot at the right time. Stephens, who switched from cornerback last season, and Imade, who was coming off a serious knee injury last season, should progress and provide depth.