Get To Know The 2021 Signees Not Only As Athletes But As People

Everytime you read an article or a piece of information on a recruit, whether of Oklahoma State or elsewhere, all you see is stats, offers, accolades and highlights. While yes, I do all of these things, maybe even more than others, I also see that these 17-18 year old kids are not just athletes, but are also normal people who live life just like you and me. So, in the spirit of 2021 and making New Years pacts, I ask that all Oklahoma State fans see this with me!

I decided to help give some insight on the personal lives to most of the 2021 signees who will be true freshman next season. Because they will not be able to speak with the media during their first year, it will quite a while until fans are able to see or hear from them in terms of media. 

I spoke with 15 of the 21 signees and one preferred walk on (Luke McEndoo) and asked them to answer six questions which are related to pop culture, social media, video games, and of course sports. Some of their answers may surprise you. The questions were:

Favorite Movie?

Favorite Music Artist?

PlayStation or Xbox?

Celebrity crush?

Favorite Twitter Follow?

Favorite Athlete?

In this list we’ve got some classic movies as well as newer as some newer favorites. We’ve got some modern rap as well some country sprinkled in. We’ve also got some major debate on which gaming console takes the cake. We’ve got some interesting celebrity crushes and we certainly have some interesting twitter follows. And in the name of stellar athletes on their way to Stillwater, it is no surprise that some of the worlds biggest names are on display. 

First lets break down the movies...

Jaden Nixon (RB): Rush Hour 2

Jaden Bray (WR): Space Jam

Nick Martin (LB): Project X

Donny Stephen (LB): Beauty and the Beast

JP Richardson (WR): Lone Survivor

Cam Smith (DB): Star Wars Revenge of the Sith

Logan Nobles (OL): Big Fish

Collin Oliver (EDGE): Pulp Fiction

Raymond Gay (DB): Friday

Ty Williams (DB): House of Payne/Friday

Blaine Green (WR): Player 1

Bryson Green (WR): Player 1

Caleb Etienne (OL): The Blindside

Silas Barr (OL): Not a movie guy lol

Aden Kelley (DL): Lonesome Dove

Luke McEndoo: Remember The Titans

My Biggest Suprise: Beauty and The Beast from Donovan (Last movie I expected but I love the answer)

My Least Surpised: Lonesome Dove from Aden (Everything about that movie encapsulates Aden)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now we will take a look at the music artists…

Jaden Nixon: Key Glock 

Jaden Bray: Gunna

Nick Martin: Lil Durk

Donny Stephens: Tyler the Creator

JP Richardson: Lil Baby

Cam Smith: J. Cole

Logan Nobles: Chris Stapleton

Collin Oliver: Lil Baby

Raymond Gay: JayDaYoungan

Ty Williams: Rod Wave

Blaine Green: Rod Wave

Bryson Green: Gunna

Caleb Etienne: NBA Youngboy

Silas Barr: Travis Scott

Aden Kelley: “Tons”

Luke McEndoo: Drake

My Biggest Surprise: Travis Scott from Silas (Expected Silas to be more of a Lil Baby guy but Im not hating on the pick)

My Least Surprised: NBA Youngboy from Caleb (Youngboy is a Louisiana rap icon and Etienne is from New Orleans, I expected nothing else. Im a huge Youngboy fan, which should not be surprising since I am also from New Orleans. Lil Baby may have had a better 2020 but its NBA > Baby always)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now comes the debate of this recruiting class... XBox or Playstation?

Jaden Nixon: Playstation

Jaden Bray: Playstation

Nick Martin: Playstation

Donny Stephens: XBox

JP Richardson: XBox

Cam Smith: Playstation “all the way”

Logan Nobles: XBox.. Big Halo Guy

Collin Oliver: XBox

Raymond Gay: Playstation

Ty Williams: Playstation

Blaine Green: XBox

Bryson Green: XBox

Caleb Etienne: Playstation

Silas Barr: PC................................................................

Aden Kelley: Doesn’t play video games

Luke McEndoo: Playstation 

Total: 

Playstation: 7

Xbox: 6

Congratulations Silas you are the lone outsider.

For the record, Im a Playstation guy forever and always.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next question was to get their celebrity crushes…

Jaden Nixon: Doesnt have one... so he says

Jaden Bray: Ash Kash (Social Media Influencer)

Nick Martin: Victoria Justice (Actress)

Donny Stephens: Lauren London (Actress/Model)

JP Richardson: Sommer Ray (Model)

Cam Smith: Zendaya (Actress/Singer)

Logan Nobles: Doesnt have one

Collin Oliver: Em Rata (Model)

Raymond Gay: Megan Thee Stallion (Rapper/Singer)

Ty Williams: Lauren London (Actress/Model)

Blaine Green: Herizen Guardiola (Singer)

Bryson Green: Zendaya (Actress/Singer)

Caleb Etienne: Rihanna (Singer/Actress)

Silas Barr: Zendaya (Actress/Singer)

Aden Kelley: Jana Kramer is “the love of my life” (Singer)

Luke McEndoo: Natalie Portman (Actress)

None of these really surprise me here. All of these names are pretty understandable in my eyes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something interest to look at is their favorite Twitter follows…

Jaden Nixon: Coach Gundy

Jaden Bray: His mom

Nick Martin: Footballism (Great choice btw) 

Donny Stephens: Petergriffinacc

JP Richardson: Barstool Sports

Cam Smith: No preference

Logan Nobles: No preference

Collin Oliver: No preference

Raymond Gay: Rylo Rodriguez

Ty Williams: No preference

Blaine Green: Dez Bryant

Bryson Green: Dez Byrant

Caleb Etienne: OSU Cowboy Football

Silas Barr: Elon Musk

Aden Kelley: No preference

Luke McEndoo: “OSU Great Matt Holliday"

My Biggest Surprise: Petergriffinacc from Donovan (Didnt expect it but 100% love it)

My Least Surprised: Dez Bryant from Blaine and Bryson (Dez has interacted with their tweets before and the twins have gotten comparisons to the former Cowboy so it makes sense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the final question we have a great one with favorite athlete…

Jaden Nixon: Sugar Ray Robinson

Jaden Bray: LeBron James

Nick Martin: Walter Payton

Donny Stephens: Deion Sanders

JP Richardson: Christian Kirk

Cam Smith: Jalen Ramsey

Logan Nobles: JJ Watt (Big Texans fan)

Collin Oliver: LeBron James

Raymond Gay: Odell Beckham Jr. 

Ty Williams: Sean Taylor

Blaine Green: Deandre Hopkins

Bryson Green: Damian Lilliard

Caleb Etienne: Trent Williams

Silas Barr: Kai Barr (His brother)

Aden Kelley: Emmanuel Ogbah

Luke McEndoo: JJ Watt

This one might be my favorite category because as I was reading every single one, there was not a single bad answer or one that did fit that player perfectly. My favorites are: 

Nick selecting Walter Payton because it makes so much sense with Gundy’s quote that hes an old school guy. JP selecting Christian Kirk because it makes so much sense with position and also is a Texas A&M product, where his dad went. And definitely Caleb and Aden picking Trent Williams and Emmanuel Ogbah. Two fantastic models for those guys to follow at their respective positions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope all Oklahoma State fans enjoy this unique perspective into the lives of recruits/players. I think it is important to realize and look at them as more than just athletes or numbers on a roster. I am fortunate to grow and create great relationships with these guys every year and I try to cherish that when I can. These are definitely some great athletes but just as good if not better overall people. Maybe it’s easier for me to relate or communicate with them being that I’m only 19 years olds but I still feel its important. 

I would love to hear if any of the answers from these guys surprised you like they did me as well as some of your opinions/thoughts on their answers (positive ones of course). 

Was there anything that stood out? Weren’t aware of? 

Hey, there may even be some new music or movies you might want to go try out to see who you relate with the most. Let’s hear it!