Pair of Former Cowboys Coming Back as Recruiting Analysts

STILLWATER – During the COVID-19 pandemic and a self-imposed freeze on hiring in the Oklahoma State University athletic department by then athletic director Mike Holder, Cowboy football lost several positions. The dire need for strength coaches got an early boost when former OSU and NFL defensive end Jamie Blatnick was hired in the spring. Word last week of head coach Mike Gundy hiring former defensive end and teammate of Blaltnick, the popular Richetti Jones as the new Director of Player Development was first reported by Pokes Report this past week. Now, Pokes Report has learned two more former Cowboys players have been hired to fill in vacancies in the staff of recruiting analysts.

Gundy and Director of Recruiting for football Todd Bradford have hired former running back and college assistant coach John Johnson and recent safety/linebacker Jordan Burton to fill in on the recruiting staff.

South Dakota State Athletics

Johnson coaching running backs at SDSU

Johnson is a native of El Dorado, Ark. that played for the Cowboys from 2005-07. Since graduating from Oklahoma State, he has coached running backs at Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas, Oklahoma Baptist University, and after serving a minority fellowship with the Kansas City Chiefs he coached running backs at Tulsa. Since then, he has been on staff at Missouri State and, most recently, with South Dakota State.

Johnson played special teams and was kind of a third down back with 12 receptions and five touchdowns in his career. He only carried from scrimmage twice, but one of those in the 2006 season was a touchdown against Baylor.

Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics

Jordan Burton making a tackle in win over Pitt.

Jordan Burton played for the Pokes in the 2015-16 seasons and the native of Longview, Texas was a physical player that was very productive. Burton finished his career with 159 tackles, 106 of those tackles were unassisted, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, two fumbles forced, and one fumble recovered.

Burton spent a brief period in the CFL with the British Columbia Lions.

It is not unusual for Gundy to stock his staff in his program with former players. It is something he kind of promised several seasons ago.

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

Mike Gundy likes hiring his own.

“We have so many former players and coaches from this program that are coaching around the nation,” Gundy said. “We can’t get enough of those guys back in the program, but I really see for the future that we will fill openings with people that have either played in or coached in our program. They know it and know what we expect, and what our culture is here.”

The expectation is Johnson and Burton will begin work this coming week.

Burton replaces former Oklahoma State linebacker Ryan Simmons. Simmons has served as an analyst the past two seasons before being hired recently in the personnel department with the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL.