Cowboys 2021 Signing Day: Safeties

STILLWATER – The December Signing Period for Oklahoma State is finally upon us and the Cowboys are bringing in some talented athletes. Pokes Report is detailing every signee with in-depth profiles and analysis, as well as premium content on the class. We’ll also have head coach Mike Gundy’s thoughts on the signees and exclusive interviews as well.

We’ve bundled together each signee by position group and we’ll be looking at the safeties below.

• Lyrik Rawls
• Ty Williams

(The profiles were created by Robert Allen)

Lyrik Rawls, Saf., 6-1, 200, Marshall, Texas

Rawls was a top target of the Cowboys defense and recruiting staff throughout the recruiting cycle and made his decision public on Senior Night in his last high school game picking Oklahoma State over Arizona, Arkansas, Houston, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi State, Missouri, Mississippi, SMU, Southern Miss, TCU, Texas Tech, Tulsa, and others. He was a third-team selection on Whataburger’s Texas High School Football Super Team at defensive back in the preseason. Rawls picked off three passes in his senior season. As a junior he was named second-team All-District 9-5A at safety as he played both ways. On offense he had 10 carries for 88-yards rushing and three touchdowns and he caught 13 passes for 367-yards and four touchdowns. His sophomore season at Jefferson he made 94 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in earning District 7-3A Defensive Newcomer of the Year. That season before moving he helped Jefferson to an 11-1 record including an undefeated district slate in 2018. He was a two-sport athlete in high school at both Jefferson and Marshall competing in track. Rawls picked Oklahoma State over Arkansas, Arizona, Missouri, Mississippi State, TCU, Texas Tech, Kansas, Houston and more. Rawls was born April 6, 2003 in Marshall, Texas and is the son of Terra Rawls and Leroy Osborne. Rawls intends to major in kinesiology at Oklahoma State.

Ty Williams, Saf., 6-1, 185, Muskogee, Okla.

Williams is one of the top players in the Oklahoma State recruiting class from a rating prestige. Unfortunately, he missed most of his senior season at Muskogee with an injury. He made it back for the final game of the season and only played receiver on offense. Roughers head coach Rafe Watkins knew what kind of athlete he had when he made Williams the quarterback his sophomore season. Williams had over 5,000-yards of total offense and 41 touchdowns as a quarterback, but his defensive numbers still were more impressive. As a sophomore as he was learning the quarterback position, Watkins limited Williams on defense. However, the very physical defender picked off five passes in just 10 defensive snaps. He picked off more passes than he threw. As a junior he played more defense and proved it was far from a fluke with nine interceptions. Named to the Sports Illustrated All-American watch list prior to his senior. That junior season he earned All-State honorable mention honors at defensive back. He competed in four sports at Muskogee with football, basketball, track and field and wrestling. He also held down a full-time job, sometimes two most of that time and was a member of the National Honor Society, Character Club and Superintendent Honor Roll at Muskogee. Williams picked Oklahoma State over offers from Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, SMU, TCU, Tennessee, Tulsa, and Texas Tech. Williams was born on Jan. 4, 2003, in Walterboro, South Carolina and is the son of Monica Smith and Jason Salley.