A Correction and an Addition in the Transfer Portal Worth Noting for OSU Football

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State football and their coaching staff and staff of analysts continue to scour the NCAA Transfer Portal and Wednesday afternoon an interesting addition came from close by and at a position where the Cowboys definitely have needs. First, when we completed our Oklahoma State Football Series with Part 7 last weekend, we said that special teams analyst M.K. Taylor would have to be looking for a new deep snapper. We were wrong but we are glad to be wrong in this case. All-American deep snapper Matt Hembrough, who we listed as gone and pursuing a career in the NFL is actually coming back.

With the invitation to the NFL Combine coming out this morning, I made a phone call to Taylor and asked if he had heard if Hembrough, who was named second-team All-American by the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association), had received an invite to the combine in Indianapolis. The NFL usually has two or three snappers come in for the event.

Taylor said, “Hembrough?” I said, yes. “He’s coming back,” replied Taylor. That is good news as Hembrough is as good a snapper as I have ever seen at Oklahoma State or in college period.

Pokes Report

Hembrough (left) and punter Tom Hutton both volunteer for Special Spectators.

A senior from Lisle, Illinois, Hembrough has been OSU's starting long snapper each of the past three seasons and has a 100% success rate on more than 370 career snaps, including more than 185 snaps each on both punts and place kicks.

The analytics back my statement up as in 2021 he was perfect on 135 snaps (punts and placements) and that ranked fourth in total number among all college deep snappers according to Pro Football Focus. They ranked him as the fourth-highest graded overall in college and tops among snappers with more than 120 attempts in the season. His accuracy and velocity is outstanding. He is also a three-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 and has been on the President’s Honor Roll twice and the Dean’s Honor Roll four times.

University of Tulsa Athletics

Gadlin in action this season vs. Temple.

The new transfer portal addition is X’Zavea Gadlin from the University of Tulsa. The Mansfield (Summit), Texas product is 6-4, 314-pounds and is a veteran of 29 games and has started 22 games for the Golden Hurricane. He sat out the 2020 COVID-19 season, but did play against Oklahoma State in the second game of the 2021 season. That was actually his first action ever playing center. He graded over 80 percent in eight of his nine starts this past season. He played in all 13 games this past season as Tulsa went 7-6 with a win in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. He played most of the season at both right and left guard.

Oklahoma State might be most interested in his 2019 season as a red-shirt freshman starting 12 games at right tackle. His first career start in college was that season in the opener at Michigan State.

There is no word on why he went into the transfer portal or if, Oklahoma State for sure, is interested. I can guarantee they are evaluating Gadlin. I like his favorite meal, bacon double cheeseb