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Oklahoma State Football

South Oak Cliff's Billy Walton Flips to Texas After Longhorn Visit

June 27, 2022
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Oklahoma State lost a defensive commitment in the 2023 class on Monday evening.

Following a visit to Texas this past weekend, South Oak Cliff defensive end, Billy Walton III, took to Twitter to announce he’s decommitting from the Cowboys and then roughly 24 hours later flipped his commitment to Texas

Walton initially told Pokes Report this doesn’t mean Mike Gundy and Co. are out of the running and that OSU, SMU and Texas were all in the mix.

However, following his visit to Texas, which coincided with the Longhorns landing seven commitments in the past four days, Texas was riding the wave of the commitment of celebrated quarterback Arch Manning and seven other recruits that pledged over the weekend. On June 28 they officially Walton.

Walton, who committed to Oklahoma State on April 26, was a key piece on the SOC defense as the Golden Bears went 15-1 to win the Texas Class 5A-Division II state title. He finished his junior season recorded 55 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

With the decommitment, the Cowboys now hold nine commitments in the 2023 class, including five on the defensive side of the ball.

Discussion from...

South Oak Cliff's Billy Walton Flips to Texas After Longhorn Visit

8,443 Views | 51 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by Cdub234
Polston31
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Man that momentum from the biggest win in school history is really rolling this off-season. We might crack a top 40 class this year
rcfb
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12-2 season with Fiesta bowl win. 8th in recruiting in Big 12. What a waste.
OT
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Walton can sack #1 recruits at OkState, or end his football career in Austin.
He will see thru the troll post and figure it out.
Guitar54
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Can't blame the kid for going for a pile of cash but this is obviously the end of college football. It'll always come down to the same 10 teams or so with an occasional outlier sneaking in. The only possible saving graces might be:
1) The Portal as these High School phenoms get recruited over and
2) Dissension in the locker rooms of these teams as the NIL money destroys the chemistry.

Young pampered 18 year old kids with a pocketful of some serious walking around money is a dangerous combination. It's hard enough for mature adults to suddenly come into large amounts of money. 18 year old kids? Good luck with that.
Cdub234
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What UT and some other schools are handing out in NIL promises and $ are ridiculous and will be reigned in in time. It's hard for us to compete with it at the moment.
Polston31
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At the moment? We barely have been competing on the recruiting trail before this happened. Our best two classes in the last 15-20 years were high 20s low 30s. We average like mid 30s and still sometimes don't crack that. At the moment seems generous
CaliforniaCowboy
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Polston31 said:

At the moment? We barely have been competing on the recruiting trail before this happened. Our best two classes in the last 15-20 years were high 20s low 30s. We average like mid 30s and still sometimes don't crack that. At the moment seems generous
dang, at that rate, we'll never play for a conference championship....
Polston31
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I know you are just being a ***** but you are actually correct. If we fall even further behind in recruiting it will get even harder to reach that championship game. Especially since we average 1 championship game every 10 years. So year get worse at recruiting and we can go back to the days of being happy with 10 wins
TUSKAPOKE
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Goodbye....good luck except for when TX plays the Pokes....enjoy sitting on the bench and playing special teams...Get that education so you can get a job.....Next recruit up that wants to be here.....GO POKES!!!
CaliforniaCowboy
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Polston31 said:

I know you are just being a ***** but you are actually correct. If we fall even further behind in recruiting it will get even harder to reach that championship game. Especially since we average 1 championship game every 10 years. So year get worse at recruiting and we can go back to the days of being happy with 10 wins
why do you always have to call people names?

I was only being factual (and implying that reliance on rating services rankings had flaws).

you just gave us the rankings for the past 15 years, and we won 1 and played the CCG, and were one loss in a season from gaining several others.... yet somehow that now translates into repeating those rankings will spell future disaster.

The numbers that you posted, do not back up your allegation. I'm not being anything but objective.
Polston31
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Show me the numbers then. I'm sure I'm close
CaliforniaCowboy
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Polston31 said:

Show me the numbers then. I'm sure I'm close
???? I just gave you the numbers and you are way, way off.

do you want me to go season by season and show you exactly what happened.... I'm not doing that, you can look it up as easily as I.
Polston31
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I'll give you the numbers give me a few
Polston31
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Also I said fall further behind in recruiting not repeat those recruiting numbers
Joe Khatib
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A 5 Star QB committed to Miami (Fla) and supposedly got a 9 million dollar deal from this billionaire donor named Ruiz who is throwing money around like George Soros in the middle of the DNC Convention for EVERY SPORT DOWN THERE!!!!!!! Welcome to the brave new world!
Polston31
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Ok cali get ready to eat your words. Although you won't you will just find a way to switch the point or argue nonsense but here goes. I said we our average recruiting classes in the last 15-20 years was mid 30s. I did the 18 years of Gundy not counting class of 23 cuz it's not finished. It's 33.38 which is very close to mid 30s. So not way way way off. We won the big 12 outright in 2011 so technically no big 12 championship game. We played in it last season 2021. So if we count 2011 it 2 times in 18 years which is very very close to 1 time every 10 years that I stated. I said sometimes we don't even crack the mid 30s. 7 times we finished 35 or much worse. 6 times we were 37 or worse with 3 of those being 40 45 46. So twice we didn't even top 45. I was wrong about our best classes being high 20s we did have 4 times we were 26 or better. If we looked at the last 8 years our average is much much worse with an average of 38. This is directly from 247 sports overall rankings. So my hypothesis of getting worse in recruiting and how it would affect us is correct.
principalg
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All I can say is our recruiting is terrible. Teams, other than Texas, are kicking our butts. It is an embarrassment that we are recruiting so poorly!
rcfb
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You know its bad when Baylor, ISU, Tech, TCU, WVU all out recruit you in Big 12. You cant have that. Especially after going 12-2

I don't care about OU and Texas since there is a difference in resources.
Dantana
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Robert Allen
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Staff
I love this because it is good for business. However, there are some mitigating factors. This will be a small class. I had Kasey Dunn on my radio show today and he said that Braydon Johnson is the only receiver that leaves after this season. Others on offense that could go after this season are guard Hunter Woodard and quarterback Spencer Sanders. They each have the COVID year if they want it. I know Spencer is strongly considering it, but this season will be a determining factor. If all you lose on offense is one scholarship player that makes it hard to bring a lot in. They recruit knowing some will transfer but this is a young team and the guts will be there.

On defense you will lose Brendon Evers, Brock Martin, Sione Asi, for sure. Specialists kicker Tanner Brown, punter Tom Hutton, and snapper Matt Hembrough are all gone for sure as they too will have used up eligilbity. Unless there is a mass exodus in the portal then the recruiting class will be about 15-16 players. You are at nine and that include a quarterback (Zane Flores) that is at Elite 11, A pair of good defensive linemen (Jaedon Foreman and Ricky Lolohea) and an excellent safety (Kam Franklin) and corner (Dylan Smith).

Losing Walton is unfortunate and mind you, I don't believe he will re-commit. I commend him for going home from his Texas vist and de-committing before he commits to Texas. Yes, he likely will get some NIL deal and he was visiting on a huge momentum weekend keyed by the commitment of Arch Manning.

Two things to think about for the future. Recruiting class rankings will not be as important. I already had an assistant coach at one Big 12 school tell me that his school would rather recruit the portal than high schools. One, there is going to be more and more good talent in the portal as players that got money to sign find they aren't playing and will want to play. Second, from high school you have the freedon to leave with the portal. After you make that first move then it cost you sitting a year. More stability with portal recruits.

Focus on the next season and not any firther because things can now change very fast with the portal. Just the way it is.

If you are a bridge jumper or somebody that just likes to live the life or *****ing, moaning, and always being po'd about everything then keep on doing what you do.
rcfb
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Thanks RA, there was lot of info on this comment which makes sense. Can you please write an article on who is remaining on OSU big board and high likely that we get them? Because that will help fans know that we are not missing out as much as we thought.
Polston31
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So are you saying because it's a small class it's ok to be mediocre at recruiting? Robert you gave us some info there but you really just *****ed and moaned too lol you are a homer Robert which we all know and understand but you didn't justify anything. Osu has been average at recruiting for a long time and we did come off what you all said was our best win ever and top 2 season ever. Comment on that. Small class or no when we reach these heights you all talk about then we fall this short fans notice and have opinions whether Robert Allen likes it or not.
Robert Allen
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Staff
We'll do another one soon, Not much has changed since this one except that Billy Walton de-committed.
https://pokesreport.com/s/2848/oklahoma-state-football-recruiting-update---2023-class
Polston31
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I heard Tom rip you today on your show saying the way you constantly bash Texas is embarrassing well it's also embarrassing how far you will go to defend osu. We love this team too but you act like we shouldn't have conversations about not reaching expectations and new heights. I don't see telling fans and subscribers what to think as good for your business cuz apparently that's what you are looking at. You need to learn how to approach
Robert Allen
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Staff
Oklahoma State is going to recruit in the present and in the future pretty much the way they have. They will get several high profile recruits, usually at quarterback when they can and maybe a few other positions. Where they will win in recruiting is by out evaluating other schools and getting the three-star and lower prospects that are misrated by recruiting media and undervalued as a result. Oklahoma State and the staff see them as much better. Collin Oliver, Trace Ford, Jabbar Muhammad, Tyler Lacy, etc. Then Oklahoma State will use Rob Glass and his staff and the coaching staff to develop them into the best players they can be.

Oklahoma State is not going to be Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma, etc. They have to do it a different way and have become better than most at doing it that way. Also, a new concern in the NIL world unless it is reigned in and there is enforcement of the current rules then that is going to be antoher negative factor to navigate.

I'm not in denial, I just have had a close up and inside view of the process and can see it for what it is, know it works, and accept the recruiting results on the surface knowing that in many cases Oklahoma State will do more with a class ranked anywhere from the 20s to the 40s than many teams do in the top 20.

That is a documented fact over the past 15-years. No homer magic, no making up stuff, just the way it has been done.
Robert Allen
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Staff
Not telling anybody how to think, just informing the best I can. It is up to you what you want to think.
Robert Allen
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Staff
Honestly, I would like to have seen Billy Walton go to Oklahoma State. I don't think he would have put the class on a pedestal. He is an undersized three-star defensive end with lots of potential. Hopefully, that will be realized (potential) where ever he goes, likely Texas. Oklahoma State will find players like Poasa Utu to develop.

One thing I have developed in a "homer" way is I've covered recruiting long enough to know this. You know the old Stephen Stills song, If You Can't Be with the One You Love, Love the One Your With. It really applies to recruiting. Then you see what happens and hope it plays out your way.
Polston31
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We know what osu does in recruiting. You are just saying things we have known forever. We don't expect to be Bama etc but when Rutgers or cincy or Baylor beats you that's different. Avoiding the hard takes as usual and that is homer magic. You also did tell us what to think. You said to focus on the future instead of looking at the recruiting. You deflected like you are now. Robert I lost a ton of respect for you and this site just now. Not that you care I hear what you say on the radio and you don't give two ****s about anyones opinion but your own. Even bigger fan of Tom dorado I wish he had a site he actually tells it like it is. Peace out pokes report I. CD any support a narrow minded money monger hope this extra comment gets you a few more dollars
rcfb
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That make sense too. Losing recruit battles to Texas, Bama, Ohio State etc is a given for OSU. But losing them to Baylor, TCU, Techs of the world is what hurting OSU fans. We are sure recruits have a lot of personal things which goes into the decision. Being 2nd in Big 12 for wins in last decade and not being able to beat out small programs like TCU in recruiting is annoying.

Also I think it is ok for fans to expect a uptick in recruiting momentum after a great season. We dont have the answers to how to improve recruiting at OSU. We got Rob Glass he is the best, but that should not make us slackers. We are fortunate to have coaches and Rob Glass, we should make hay when we have all of them and recruit well and put in championship teams after championship teams in Big 12. (At least reach the CCGs consistently and win couple of them)
Robert Allen
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Staff
Polston, I haven't lost respect for you. Never did. If I did I would have ignored your post. I actually value your opinion. I may not agree with it. I would like to see Oklahoma State recruit at a higher level. I know the people involved want that too and are working toward it within the means they have, which I will add are better than they've been, There are many factors in recruiting, but in the end the old saying of control what you can control and work with what you have available are true. Maximize what you've got, work to get the best you can, and forget the players that want something besides Oklahoma State. It is simple for these coaches and staffers. Work with the players you have to be the best you can be and win as many games as you can.

If I'm a "homer" for believing in that, so be it. Tom Dirato has been offered the opportunity to work with us on this site. He is retired and I respect Tom for doing the things he wants to do. Looking forward to when I can pick and choose more like Tom.
Polston31
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That's sounds a lot like settling to me. Sounds like a quitter/settling mentality. We do the best you can with what you have but don't try to do more. Makes zero sense. Especially since other schools do improve and have started to pass us every recruiting cycle but Oklahoma state isn't capable of upping the ante? After one of the best seasons in school history? Complete joke Robert. I wonder if you even listen to yourself. What's the number to your radio show I want to call tomorrow and ask you some questions and let your listeners listen to you deflect.
Guitar54
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Give it a rest, Polston. You've made your point and so has Robert. I share your frustration but Robert is spot on with his take on how we recruit. We have to find players that are undervalued and then develop them in the weight room. That's the simple reality of the situation and has been for a very long time. Eddie Sutton said he had the exact same problem getting players to commit to living in Stillwater. It's not like it's the most alluring town in the country. It's an acquired taste to say the least.
Joe Khatib
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I wish you would call into his show, because he would chew you up and spit you out, just give it up!
Polston31
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No he would just throw a temper tantrum and raise his voice all while saying nothing. Like he always does to fans that call in and go against his opinion. Go take a nap joe
Polston31
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Y'all two sound like broken records
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