The Portal Taketh and the Portal Giveth with LB Justin Wright Headed to OSU

STILLWATER – Former Tulsa linebacker and now graduate transfer just announced that he is going to land at Oklahoma State and be a part of the Cowboys starting in the upcoming spring semester. Wright (6-2, 244) is a four-year starter for Tulsa that has earned all-conference honors at some level the past three seasons from the American Athletic Conference including being a two-time first-team All-AAC linebacker. Wright went into the NCAA Transfer Portal shortly after Tulsa relieved head coach Philip Montgomery of his duties.

University of Tulsa Athletics

Justin Wright

Oklahoma State was one of several schools including Iowa State of the Big 12 that offered a scholarship almost immediately. He was in Stillwater on Saturday, Dec. 3 and made plans then to come back on Friday, Dec. 9 for an official visit along with Tulsa teammate and fellow transfer candidate in defensive end Anthony Goodlow (6-5, 286). 

After thinking about it, Wright said he just felt Oklahoma State was the place for him.

“Oklahoma State is a fit,” Wright told Pokes Report. “All my conversations with the coaches including Coach (Mike) Gundy have been so easy. The coaches are really down to earth. I can tell with Coach Gundy. He has been humble and to the point in our conversations. He told me they want tough guys.

“I’m thinking I will definitely be one of those tough guys that he wants,” Wright punctuated his quote.

Wright said he has just one season, his COVID-19 season from the 2020 pandemic season. 

“I needed to go somewhere that the depth chart is in my favor,” he added. “I need to be smart for me. I’m not asking for a starting spot to be given, but it needs to be advantageous for me and I think that is the case at Oklahoma State. I will work my *** off. The culture there is western and that fits me.”

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Wright makes a play against Houston.

In his redshirt sophomore season Wright had 62 tackles in the shortened pandemic season with 9.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks. He also had an interception and a fumble recovery.

In the 2021 season Wright tied for the team lead in tackles with 82 stops, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, and 3.5 sacks. He is a ball hawker and had an interception with a fumble forced, and a fumble recovered.

This past season concluded with Tulsa scoring a 37-30 upset over Houston last Saturday that Wright was instrumental in helping happen. He had 101 tackles this season with 10.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, two fumbles recovered, and a fumble forced. 

He most recently was honored by the AAC as the Defensive Player of the Week after Tulsa’s game with Memphis. Wright had a game high 13 tackles, a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and a QB hurry in the game.

He originally came to Tulsa our of Abilene (Cooper), Texas and was tied to Montgomery and his former defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie that is now the defensive coordinator at TCU.

“I had several offers and I committed to Texas State,” Wright recalled. “That didn’t work out and the day before signing day they called and the next day I signed with Tulsa.”

Wright also spoke to The Tulsa World after he announced his commitment and he further expressed his comfort with what he has been told his role will be in the Oklahoma State defense.

“I think one of the bigger things that coaches have been telling me they’re looking for is just the culture and the leadership I can bring to the defense and the team in general,” Wright said to the Tulsa World. “I think wholeheartedly that I can bring that.

“As a captain and a leader for TU, I loved my role, that the guys would look up to me and I could coach them and be a role model for them. I’m going to try my hardest to get into that type of leadership role and grind in this offseason and gain the coaches’ and players’ trust.”

Wright has played well in games against Oklahoma State including an interception in the 2021 game. Now, he will have plenty of opportunity to play well in front of the fans at Boone Pickens Stadium.