Recruiting Class Worthy of Cheers Including DT Kelley and WR Twins in Greens

STILLWATER – Just like everything else in 2020, signing day is going to be different. Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, like many other Power Five head coaches, will have a Zoom conference with the media to discuss his recruiting class. It is a good class in our analysis and there could be a surprise or two on tap for tomorrow. No guarantees, but the Cowboys are still hustling on some other prospects. They also have their eyes on the NCAA Transfer Portal. More on that below, but it is the recruits that are pledged and have stayed solid throughout a strange 2020 recruiting cycle that we look forward to becoming official.

It is really strange to think that so many athletes will be signing their letter of intent tomorrow having not taken an official visit to the school of their choice or any other school for that matter. Oklahoma State soon-to-be-signee John Paul Richardson and his family, including father and former Texas A&M and Houston Oilers quarterback Bucky Richardson, drove to three schools: Oklahoma State, Arkansas and TCU and gave themselves tours of the campuses and they fell in love with Oklahoma State. It was Gundy that first offered Richardson and the young receiver never seemed to forget that. Richardson has had a good season and his team is alive in the playoffs and will host Jersey Village on Saturday night.

Dave Campbell's Texas Football

John Paul Richardson

There have been others that have gone to football games on their own this fall. Oklahoma State could not provide tickets or even visit with the recruits. All Division I coaches could not go on the road to either visit or evaluate this fall. No in-person recruiting has been strange, but the Cowboys staff has made the virtual recruitment work as best as possible to their advantage and they still are.

The Cowboys have some top tier (four-star) talent committed in the likes of Blaine and Bryson Green, the twin wide receivers from Allen, Texas that will sign on Wednesday morning early. Talking to ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lugenbill and he compared the brothers duo pass catchers to Dez Bryant from a body frame scenario. Edmond Santa Fe edge rusher Collin Oliver continues a tradition of players at that position going to Oklahoma State from that school. Then there is another linebacker in Nick Martin from Texarkana Pleasant Grove High School and Muskogee safety Ty Williams.

Marshall Levenson

Bryson and Blaine Green of Allen, Texas

One of my very favorites is Thomas, Okla. two-way tackle Aden Kelley that will play defensive tackle at Oklahoma State.

In all, we are projecting at least 20 signees on Wednesday with three being out of the junior college ranks. That list includes huge offensive tackle Caleb Etienne out of Butler County C.C. and originally out of Warren Easton High School in New Orleans; tight end Austin Jarrard out of American River C.C. in Sacramento, Calf; and the recently committed Nathan Latu, an edge rusher out of Snow C.C. and originally Olympus High School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The high school signees include the Green twins, Nick Martin, Ty Williams, Aden Kelley, and Collin Oliver. Then you have some other in-state pledges in Midwest City defensive back Makale Smith, Del City linebacker Donovan Stephens, Jenks offensive tackle Logan Nobles, and Norman wide receiver Jaden Bray. From Texas, the signees will include Red Oak standout corner Raymond Gay, Denton Braswell safety Cam Smith, Pottsboro offensive lineman Silas Barr, Frisco Lone Star speedster offensive dynamo Jaden Nixon, Marshall safety Lyrik Rawls, and John Paul Richardson from Fort Bend Ridge Point.

It is a solid class that currently is ranked No. 36 in the nation (third in the Big 12) by ESPN, but No. 40 and fourth in the Big 12 by the 247 Composite rankings, and No. 46 and sixth in the Big 12 by Rivals.

I can’t explain it and won’t even try as the 247 Composite and Rivals rankings are not reflective of the talent in this class. Based on other years, I see this as a top 25 class for Oklahoma State. Again, not judging it by the other classes in this recruiting cycle, but past Oklahoma State classes and where they were ranked.  

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Alton McCaskill of Oak Ridge could be a surprise.

Okay, for your surprises, one could be Conroe Oak Ridge running back Alton McCaskill. McCaskill has been one of those recruits that does not wear his journey on his sleeve and has communicated precious little information on how the process had gone for him. A couple of schools may have bugged out lately, but Oklahoma State, Houston, Mississippi, and USC have stayed high on his list and have pushed on among the 32 schools that offered the 6-1, 205-yard speedster that has run a 10.91 in the 100-meters. McCaskill has a playoff game this coming Friday at Tomball Memorial.

Like many schools, Oklahoma State has players they have recruited that have committed to other schools but have still been responsive to the Cowboys. Fans may not realize it, but most of these players have multiple letter of intent paperwork in their possession. Oklahoma State was heavily recruiting several players and maybe one or two of those decides at the last minute to sign the letter from Oklahoma State.

Then there is the NCAA Transfer Portal where a transfer could be included in this class. A couple of names to keep an eye on here might be Utah State running back Jaylen Warren. The past two seasons Warren has rushed for 821-yards and eight touchdowns over the past two seasons after coming to Utah State from Snow C.C. Then just Monday former Lawton MacArthur All-State lineman T.J. Fialoa, who has turned into a 6-4, 300-pound two-time All-Sun Belt offensive guard went on the portal. He could potentially be an attractive target to help strengthen the Cowboys offensive line.

The day on Wednesday will bring plenty of good news and could also bring a surprise or two.