Oklahoma State National Signing Day 2022: Defensive Line
STILLWATER – National Signing Day 2022 is finally here! Oklahoma State is bringing in one of its highest-rated classes under head coach Mike Gundy, which includes 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 defensive line signees below.
Desean Brown
Defensive End
6′3″ / 245 lbs
Choctaw, OK
Choctaw
Class of 2022
Profile: Brown has come a long way and in my opinion is clearly the best defensive player in the state this season. Even in a blowout loss to Bixby, the Spartans had to be careful and even went away from Brown. He is athletic enough to rush the passer and drop back into coverage. This past season he finished with 92 tackles, 31 tackles-for-loss, and 13 sacks. On top of that he had a blocked field goal, blocked a punt, had a pair of forced fumbles and recovered a fumble that he returned for a touchdown. His numbers as a junior in helping the Yellow Jackets get all the way to the Class 6A-II State Championship Game where they challenged Bixby were also outstanding. He had 75 total tackles, 30.5 tackles-for-loss, and 15 sacks. He also defended two passes, had two fumble recoveries, and an interception. He visited Oklahoma State early and had attention from Arizona State and Missouri. Oklahoma looked at him but did not offer until the last week of recruiting. He is a good student and quiet guy that lets his play do his talking.
Robert Allen’s Projection: Brown can be as good as he wants to be. He has the size, strength, and athleticism coming out of high school. He is definitely a player that can play as a freshman. Collin Oliver lit up the Big 12 as a freshman. Brown is of similar abilities except he comes in weighing what Oliver needed to work up to as a freshman. Brown is smart too, football smart, and will learn what he needs to in order to fit in the defense.
Landon Dean
Defensive End
6′5″ / 255 lbs
Frontenac, KS
Frontenac
Class of 2022
Profile: Dean had a sensational senior season that earned him Kansas Class 3A Defensive Player of the Year, but it was his unselfishness that stood out this season. A two-way player that also has played tight end in his career, Dean accepted a number change to 77 so he could help out on the offensive line for Frontenac. Not only did he help out, but he dominated on the offensive line and helped his team to a 10-3 mark and a runner-up finish to Andale in Class 3A. In the state championship game, he had six tackles and a sack on the defensive side. Overall, he had 71 tackles this season at defensive end and 11.5 sacks. He really put on weight and muscle with his work in the weight room. Oklahoma State saw him and offered when he had offers from Eastern Michigan, Kansas State, and Iowa State. This qualifies as another great score for the Cowboys evaluations in recruiting.
Robert Allen’s Projection: I try not to compare players because that can be a dicey proposition, but I see a current Cowboy in Dean’s play in high school. I remember watching Brock Martin in the playoffs against Clinton when he was at Oologah. I think Dean can be that kind of player. My hope for Dean is he can skip some of the injuries that Martin had to fight through to get to his All-Big 12 moment.
Seleti Fevaleaki
Defensive Tackle
6’2” / 280 lbs.
Corona, CA
Centennial HS/BYU/Snow CC-Salt Lake City, UT
Class of 2022
Profile: A lot to work with here as Fevaleaki graduated high school in 2017 and then went on his mission for the Mormon church in St. Louis, Missouri. That makes him older and more mature and likely ready to play. Coming out of junior college he also had offers from Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska and Utah State. Last season at Snow, he helped the Badgers to an 8-1 record with 20 total tackles, 12 unassisted, 2.5 sacks, and two other tackles-for-loss. He had a fumble caused and a pass defended, which earned him First Team NJCAA All-America honors. In the 2020 season he was at BYU, where he had signed out of high school. He played in eight games and finished with six tackles, four unassisted, a tackle-for-loss, a sack, and a pass defended. Prior to his mission he was at Corona Centennial High School and started as a sophomore in 2014 and finished with 20 tackles, three unassisted with a tackle-for-loss, an interception, and a fumble caused. His junior season he had 27 tackles, eight of those unassisted, a tackle-for-loss, and two passes deflected. In his senior season he had 29 tackles, six unassisted and six tackles-for-loss. He also defended three passes. In high school he also went to the Nike Opening in Beaverton, Ore.
Robert Allen’s Projection: This could be a lot of fun as Fevaleaki shows in his play at Snow, a lot of explosion and he plays with either a rage or just that attitude that he is going to destroy whatever is in his way to getting to the ball carrier and then destroy the ball carrier. He plays with his pad level low and uses a bull rush technique more times than not. Coaching him to use his hands more will only help him, but his raw strength and power has been enough to allow him to be successful. He also has excellent vision, which is often hard to have when you play inside. He sees the ball well and gets to it in a hurry. His speed to the target is exceptional for an inside technique. Now, the concern is part of what makes him quick. He may be undersized, but at Snow it was never an issue like it could be in the Big 12. I predict he will only get better with more efficient use of his hands, and I see him being a huge asset in a three-man front where he could have some additional space to work.
Jaleel Johnson
Defensive End
6′4″ / 235 lbs
Oklahoma City, OK
Putnam City North
Class of 2022
Profile: Johnson has been a good player for Putnam City North, but he was a standout at the Oklahoma State lineman camp in the summer and that caused the Cowboys to jump and offer a scholarship. Johnson had a strong senior season helping the Panthers make the playoffs in Class 6A-II. He totaled 64 tackles, 43 of those unassisted with 12 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two fumbles caused, a fumble recovered, and a blocked punt. In his junior season, Johnson had 49 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, and 10 quarterback hurries. Johnson is an enthusiastic player that gives great effort. He is a little raw.
Robert Allen’s Projection: Johnson has a lot of upside and his athletic talent and spirit will carry him. Conservatively, a year or two in the weight room and in on the field development and he will be playing a lot on the Cowboys defense.