STILLWATER – Eric Morris has comprised his staff at Oklahoma State will multiple coaches he had on his staff at North Texas, both current and former. Now, his former players are starting to make their way up to Stillwater, at least for visits.
Fatafehi Vailea II was one of the first to announce a visit.
Checking in at 6-1, 292 pounds, Vailea is originally out of Desert Pines HS and Oakland, CA. He’s spent his entire career with the Mean Green, redshirting in 2021. He missed most of this past season with a season-ending injury against Army, a game in which he recorded a career-high 10 tackles, as well as a forced fumble. He finished the season with 15 tackles in four games.
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He appeared in all 13 games in 2024, recording 34 total tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
He played in 11 games in 2023, starting in eight, with 25 total tackles on the season, half a sack and one pass break up.
His 2022 season as a redshirt freshman was by far his best season as he played in 14 games, starting in 11 and recorded 44 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. He also had a forced fumble. After the season, he was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.
Vailea will be in Stillwater this weekend.
The second player to announce a visit this weekend is starting offensive lineman, Johnny Dickson.
Dickson played and started in all 13 games this past season for the Mean Green, playing over 750 snaps at right guard. He was a part of an offensive line unit which helped the Mean Green lead the nation in scoring offense and most rushing touchdowns on the season.
Dickson was ranked has the sixth-highest run blocking guard of the season in the American Conference.
He played in 10 games in 2024, starting in six of them. Prior to his time in Denton, Dickson played two seasons at Virginia Tech.
The new Cowboy coaching staff also offered UNT transfer running back, Ashton Gray.
Gray, who checks in at 6-0, 208 pounds, is out of Marion (AR) HS and is set to enter his redshirt sophomore season. Appearing in 11 games, Gray recorded 42 carries for 225 yards and three touchdowns.
Gray played behind Freshman All-American running back, Caleb Hawkins, who finished the year with 231 carries for 1,434 yards and 25 rushing touchdowns and 32 receptions for 370 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
