Bernard-Converse the Biggest Shocker and Loss in the Transfer Portal
STILLWATER – This is really hard to see, players going in the transfer portal like this. Oklahoma State has had 11 players go in the portal, but until this morning there wasn’t one that really felt like a punch in the gut. That changed as I was walking out of the Mitch Park YMCA after a workout. Yes, the fat men work out. I got a call from Zach Lancaster, who told me that Max Olson of The Athletic had just reported that Oklahoma State cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse had gone in the portal. I had spoke with Jarrick in Arizona before and after the 37-35 win over Notre Dame in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl and he was so enthused about having another season to play for the Cowboys. Now, almost two weeks into the spring semester and with the offseason workouts having started on Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Day, Bernard-Converse goes in the portal!
I’m sorry, I refuse to believe the same guy I spoke to in Arizona that was thinking of being the leader of the secondary along with safety Jason Taylor II and loved the idea of the younger players that he could influence waited and wanted to go in the portal. I did not speak to Bernard-Converse and I tried to call him twice and text once. I did hear that he is not set on leaving. One person close to the situation said that Jarrick was told by another player that went into the portal that he should do it just to see what his options are. There is always the speculation out there that some schools are offering lucrative NIL deals.
If that is the case, then Bernard-Converse would be a player that would be worth a big NIL deal. The super senior to be is a lockdown corner that finished the season with 51 tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, 11 passes defended and a quarterback hurry. Schools like Texas, Oklahoma, Baylor, and Notre Dame all tested No. 24, but he passed most of those tests. He was graded high by Pro Football Focus and was named to their All-Big 12 team. He also made the Big 12 Coaches first-team All-Big 12 team.
As an Oklahoma State fan, you have to hope that Bernard-Converse decides that the culture he has told me he believes in and was looking forward to continuing with younger players in the secondary this season is strong enough to keep him a Cowboy for his final collegiate season.
Now here is the list of Cowboys that have gone into the NCAA Transfer Portal and their status:
Tanner McCallister, Saf., Super-Sr. - Now at Ohio State – McCallister is a major loss as he was the strike safety in the defense and has played well in his OSU career.
Matt Polk, WR, RS-So. – Polk had a major injury prior to last spring and is still working to overcome that. He is a talented player, but injuries have put him behind on the depth chart.
Jonathan Shepherd, WR, RS-Sr. – Another player plagued by injuries that has been passed on the depth chart.
Gabe Lemons, Saf., RS-Sr. – He has done well on special teams but never gained any major playing time on defense.
Dezmon Jackson, RB, Super-Sr. – A very talented back that runs physical and has proven himself at this level.
Jayden Jernigan, DT, RS-Jr. – Averaged 25-30 snaps a game and was very effective inside. Athletic for the position, he was taken quickly in the portal by Missouri.
Tyrese Williams, OG, RS-Sr. – If he stayed at Oklahoma State he likely starts at left guard, but he is in the portal and still has to finish this semester to graduate at Oklahoma State.
Cade Bennett, OG, RS-So. – Never was able to get on the field on a regular basis. He could have developed but is now at San Diego State.
Monroe Mills, OT, RS-So. – Great size but came in off an ACL injury, which may have hurt his progress. He is now at Texas Tech.
Hunter Anthony, OT, RS-Sr. – He will have two years left after playing some, even starting at Oklahoma State. He was taken by Nebraska.
So far Oklahoma State has not been able to pull anything out of the portal, but Marshall Levenson will have more on an offensive tackle that the Cowboys have jumped in on in the last 24 hours.