Make It Three-for-Three for Offensive Line Recruiting This Past Weekend

STILLWATER – Make it three-for-three for the Cowboys in picking up offensive linemen out of the NCAA Transfer Portal over the past weekend. Sam Houston State FCS All-American and All-WAC honoree Prince Pines notified Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy on Monday morning to tell him he was committing to joining the Oklahoma State program this May and for the summer leading to next season.

The 6-5, 340-pound Pines joins Southern Cal offensive tackle Casey Collier and Vanderbilt offensive guard Jason Brooks in pledging to the Pokes after a strong official visit weekend that included meeting with coaches, academics, tours, and a big night at Cowboy baseball on Saturday.

“It was a great weekend and I’ve become a college baseball fan,” Brooks said of the Saturday night. “It was a great family night the coaches, their families, players, and everybody having a good time.”

More on Pines… He came out of Tara High School in Baton Rouge, La. in 2018 after being a top offensive lineman in the high school ranks in Louisiana. He was selected to play in the Offense-Defense All-American Game and made All-State. He red-shirted in his freshman 2018 season at Baylor.

SHSU Athletics

Pines at Sam Houston State University.

As a redshirt freshman in 2019, Pines played in all 14 games for the Bears and helped them to go 11-3 and to the Sugar Bowl. He transferred to Sam Houston State and started all 10 games in the 2020 season was named a HERO Sports Sophomore All-American. He also played in the spring season and helped SHSU to an FCS National Championship.

From a style standpoint Pines is a very strong and overpowering blocker. He has good feet for as big as he is, but it is his upper body strength and the damage he can do with that power that puts defenders down, often on the ground. His kryptonite is athletic, strong angular defensive linemen. There aren’t many that can match him.

He projects as a guard but could play tackle at Oklahoma State. He will join the program for the summer program after completing the semester at Sam Houston State University.

This represents as a major infusion of talent, veteran talent for Gundy and offensive line coach Charlie Dickey. It is also a big win for Director of Recruiting Todd Bradford and his recruiting staff.