Oklahoma State’s lineup this year resembles something like a set of 20-sided dice. It can go any number of directions, with basically only 197 and 285 appearing to have strong starting options heading into the beginning of the school year.

There’s more than a good chance two All-Americans are sitting on the bench for them once again. The return of Joseph Smith and the question of his weight, as well as the injection of Daton Fix, make the Cowboys this season’s most intriguing team, especially coming off the worst season of the John Smith era.

Before we start, let’s take a look at OSU’s roster broken down by weight and grade.

Look, to be clear, no one knows how this is going to shake out. Fix could go 125 or 133, with Piccininni going the other. Kaid Brock could be either 33 or 141, while Gfeller might be a a 41 or 149. This article is going to try to present the most reasonable option for each weight.

To see my personal opinion of who should start at each weight, look at the depth chart below each weight. Otherwise, the "this season" portions will list the potential options. The coaching staff still has to decide who each weight will be determined.

125 Pounds

This Season: There’s no question Oklahoma State has a good problem at 125. Both Daton Fix and Nick Piccininni should score big team points at the national tournament this year in Pittsburgh. Picc was fourth as a freshman, and lost to two All-Americans last year to end his season in the Round of 12. On paper, Fix’s only potential losses are to the NCAA finalists Spencer Lee and Nick Suriano.

Long-Term Outlook: It all hinges on Fix. If he can’t make 125 consistently, they only have two more years left of Picc, which means the weight needs to be immediately addressed in recruiting. Jet Taylor was a very solid in high school, but probably won’t be the kind of college wrestler the Cowboys will be looking to as they try to win their 35th national title.

133 Pounds

This Season: Again, the Cowboys might have a luxury of riches at 133. Fix is only slightly less likely to win a national title here than at 125, and Kaid Brock has already finish fifth twice. Another option is Picc going up to 133, which he did go 61kg/134lbs for U23 Trials so that may be in the cards. From the outside, Brock making the cut to 133 again could start negatively impacting his performance, and Fix likewise won’t want to make 125 about 17 times over the course of four months. But this is Oklahoma State, where cutting weight has been a constant.

Long Term: It’s the same boat as 125: if Fix is a 133, then 125 needs to be addressed right away. If he’s a 125, then 133 needs to be addressed right away, as both Picc and Brock are juniors.

141 Pounds

This Season: A weight where the Cowboys will 100% have a new starter. Replacing two-time national champ Dean Heil will either be Brock or redshirt freshmen Kaden Gfeller. I for one don’t think Brock loses any of what makes him great if he bumps up, but Gfeller may also just be the better option. He went 20-4 during his redshirt season, with a Southern Scuffle title and his only losses coming to All-Americans. Among Gfeller’s wins were Nick Lee, Luke Karam, and Kanen Storr. At the U.S. Open, Gfeller went 5-2 to finish fourth at 65kg, but had a little tougher time at the Trials, losing to Yahya Thoms and Jarod Verkleeren.

Long Term: Even if Gfeller stays down for now, going up to 149 seems like a good plan. So with Brock being a junior, going after all these weights in recruiting this year and next sounds like the safe bet. But the likelihood for those first three weights, for the next two years at least, is that no team outscores them from 125-141 in a dual or at tournaments.

149 Pounds

This Season: The spring and summer narrowed down the options a little bit, as Tristan Moran is transferring and Geo Martinez’s D1 career is likely over. Mike Magaldo could compete for the starting spot, but the probable guy is Boo Lewallen. That is unless Gfeller makes a push here instead of down at 141. Lewallen placed eighth at NCAAs in Cleveland, so the Cowboys placing at each of the first four weights is well within reach for Pittsburgh.

Long Term: Magaldo is a senior, and Lewallen is a junior. I seriously doubt Gfeller stays at 141 for all four years, so this may be less of a priority than any of the first three weights.

157 Pounds

This Season: No weight frustrated John Smith last season than 157, and indeed it was the only weight the Orange and Black did not qualify for Cleveland. Moran is leaving, but coming in is Edinboro transfer Andrew Shomers. Senior Jonce Blaylock has recovered from the injury that ended his season early and will battle Shomers for the spot. Shomers is just a junior and beat Blaylock 3-0 in the dual last season so he could be the guy.

Long Term: In the Iowa depth chart article, they had weights where guys were already on the team, but may not necessarily be the guy to help the team to contend for a team trophy or national title. Similarly, Wyatt Sheets and Tyler Dieringer are good insurance policies, but the same refrain is ringing true: the next 14 months of recruiting are absolutely crucial for the future success in Stillwater.

165 Pounds

This Season: Ok, now things get REALLY interesting. You’ll notice I never mentioned Joseph Smith at 157, the weight where he was a two-time AA prior to redshirting last season. The specifics of Smith’s redshirt were unclear, but weight seemed to play at least a small role. If he goes 165, then either he or Chandler Rogers will be left out; both of them are 2x AAs. Neither went 74kg for U23s, so it might not be a fun cut for either at this point.

Long Term: They had three incoming freshmen wrestle 160 at Fargo, but none placed. Rogers is a senior and Smith is a junior, so guess where we are once again: with the Cowboy in need of a 2019 recruit who can redshirt or a 2020 recruit ready to go right away!

174 Pounds

This Season: Jacobe Smith came right from junior college and finished eighth at 174, despite being hampered by injuries later in the season. Two AAs graduated, and one may be moving up, but a fully healthy Jacobe may still max out in the 4th to 6th range. He could move up to 184, clearing room for Joseph Smith or Rogers to bump to 174. I think it makes more sense to run Joseph out, but if Jacobe goes 174 again, then there is a 100% chance the Cowboys have a podium guy on the bench.

Long Term: The one weight where OSU has an option going forward. Expectations for Travis Wittlake might have dipped slightly after this freestyle season, but he’ll be a four year starter and most fans would be surprised if he didn’t place at least a couple time in his career.

184 Pounds

This Season: Dakota Geer transferred in from Edinboro and is only a sophomore, so if no one from the Smith/Smith/Rogers group wants to go 184, the Cowboys still have at least an NCAA qualifier level option. Geer had a very solid high school career, made it to the national tournament as a true freshman, and went 15-4 on his redshirt year. But for the current construction of this team, Jacobe Smith makes the most sense to me.

Long Term: The Cowbos are set up quite well for the next few years. Geer's three years left are a strong sign, and Anthony Montalvo will redshirt this year and then have four years of eligibility after that. Bear Hughes will be a fine spot starter, as well. If the coaching staff has designs on Geer moving up to replace Preston Weigel after 2019, Montalvo will be the guy going forward.

197 Pounds

This Season: It's never easy to see a high level guy hobble around at the end of the year. Weigel only wrestled 14 matches last season, starting the season late and then clearly at less than 100% due to injuries at NCAAs. He beat national champ Mike Macchiavello 5-4 in a dual meet, and teched eventual third Kyle Conel in the first period of a dual, so he very obviously can be in the title contender conversation.

Long Term: Andrew Marsden is a junior, and Austin Harris is a freshman, so they have bodies at the weight. Also don't rule out Geer bumping up for 2020 and 2021. With all the question marks and recruiting needs up to 165, the Cowboys are pretty set from 174-197 for now.

285 Pounds

This Season: The "Cowboy Bulk Job" Derek White enters his final year looking to be a strong bookend and place at NCAAs. He entered the national tournament as the 9th seed, losing in the Round of 12, which was about equal with where he looked all year. A strong push by White would be a little extra insurance for Oklahoma State to get another team trophy.

Long Term: Much has been made of the Daniel Gregory Kerkvliet recruiting situation. It's a situation that is no fun for any coaching staff, but they likely have to keep talking to as many heavyweights as possible to keep their options open while they continue feeling out Kerkvliet.