Oklahoma State Extends Offers To Trio Of 2023 "New Age" Tight Ends
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the most likely new style of tight ends that Oklahoma State would be recruiting. I wrote “You can essentially refer to the role simply as a ‘playmaking tight end’. It is a tight end who has more skills in the receiving game, especially run after the catch ability. There is a bit less of a focus on the blocking importance with these players.” A “jumbo receiver” in some ways.
I also wrote “Instead of bringing in guys who are 240-250 pounds already and trying to teach them to run routes and catch balls, the Cowboys now seem to be targeting prospects who are 195-215 pounds with already developed skills running routes and ball skills and then bulking them up to 230-250 pounds.”
Well, after yesterday, my prediction has begun to ring true.
Oklahoma State extended three offers to tight end prospects in the 2023 class, all of which fit the mold of what I described they would be looking for.
Lonnie Johnson - Keller Timber Creek (TX)
The first name of the three is Lonnie Johnson, who is a 6’4 200 pound prospect. He is actually listed as a wide receiver in most profiles but his frame is certainly able to bulk up to fit the size of an athletic tight end.
Johnson had a breakout season as a junior in 2021, racking up 831 yards and 11 touchdowns on 61 receptions.
On film, it shows up immediately he has elite skills in ball tracking and getting to the catch point. He also has very good body control and awareness.
He has early offers from Tulsa and Houston to go along with the new Cowboys offers.
Kai Black - Urbandale (IA)
The second name is Kai Black, who is another high school receiver with a big frame at 6’4 205 pounds. He is a multi-sport athlete, competing on the hardwood as well.
Black has a little bit of a busier recruitment, holding nine offers from schools such as Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Miami (OH).
He had almost identical stats as Johnson with 54 receptions for 888 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Jayvontay Conner - Kernersville East Forsyth (NC)
The third of the group is Jayvontay Conner, who has the most offers out of the trio with 15, however Oklahoma State is his first power five offer. Conner is 6’4 230 pounds, so he is a little bigger than the other two.
As a junior, Conner had 24 catches for 405 yards and six touchdowns. Some of his other offers include Coastal Carolina, JMU, Tulane, UAB, UCF, and others.
Conner is previously from Alabama but has moved to North Carolina.
Some more on what I wrote a few weeks ago on the role of this, somewhat, specialty position to give some context on why the Oklahoma State staff is interested in making a shift:
“The role of the ‘playmaking tight end’ is becoming rapidly popular at this level because very few defenses in college football have an adequate defender to stop them. They are too big, too fast, and have too good of athleticism and hands. Kolby Harvell-Peel is an excellent coverage player and was practically defenseless against Michael Mayer in the Fiesta Bowl.
Kyle Pitts, Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Austin Stogner, and Arik Gilbert all fit the mold teams will be trying to copy. And they should. If a team has a player who can fit this style of offense and you have a capable quarterback, you can take an offense to the next level.
All of these players have the size to help in the blocking game and the athleticism to be good route runners. The No. 1 skill they possess though is the run after catch ability. They are also all able to run a route tree, meaning you can utilize them in the short and long game.”