Ben Kopenski

Position:
Defensive Line
Height:
6-1
Weight:
255
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
McKinney, Texas
High School:
Prosper
Prev School:
Oklahoma State

TULSA – Spent one year at Tulsa after transferring in the summer of 2023 after five seasons at Oklahoma State … played in 40 career games between Tulsa and Oklahoma State, including 12 games at Tulsa and 28 at OSU.

2023 – Was named to the second-team Group of Five All-America team by HERO Sports … was a first-team all-AAC selection … started all 12 games … had 52 stops and team-highs of 13.5 TFL for -59 yards, 8.5 sacks for -46 yards, four QB hurries, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries … totaled seven tackles, four TFL for -21 yards, three sacks for -20 yards and two forced fumbles vs. North Texas … had five stops, one TFL and one hurry at #20 Tulane … tallied nine stops, three TFL for -7 yards, one sack for -2 yards and one fumble recovery vs. Charlotte … had four tackles and two sacks for -8 yards at FAU … totaled three stops and 1.5 TFL for -5 yards vs. Temple … shared the team-high of 10 tackles vs. UAPB in his first game at Tulsa … also had 2.5 TFL for -13 yards and a team-high of two sacks for -12 yards in that game.

AT OKLAHOMA STATE – A former walk-on who became a key contributor during his last two seasons at Oklahoma State, recording 17 total tackles, six tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks … played in 28 career games … 2022 (Senior) - Played in all 13 games … was credited with 14 tackles, including four TFL, 3.5 sacks for -19 yards and eight QB hurries … 2021 (Junior): Played in all 14 games, mostly on special teams, but did rotate into the defense ... credited with three tackles, all solo stops … named OSU’s co-special teams player of the week after the win over Kansas State ... served as a game captain for the win over Baylor … a first team Academic All-Big 12 honoree … 2020 (Sophomore): Did not see game action … 2019 (RS Freshman): Appeared in one game, playing vs. McNeese … 2018 (Freshman) – Redshirted

HIGH SCHOOL – Played his prep football at Prosper High School … earned first-team all-district honors as a senior … totaled 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and three forced fumbles his senior season … was also a talented swimmer who earned first team recognition on the all-district and all-region teams and second-team all-state honors … received first team academic all-district honors … also competed in power lifting.

PERSONAL – Began playing football at age 10 … has two siblings … his twin sister Gabby was a swimmer at Texas A&M … son of Martin and Jennifer Kopenski … earned his degree at OSU in construction engineering technology … working on degree in organizational studies. (pronounced kuh-PEN-skee)