Oklahoma State December Signing Period 2023: HS/JUCO Class

(This article will be updated as each player signs his letter of intent)

STILLWATER – National Signing Day 2023 is finally upon us! Oklahoma State football is set to sign 17 high school and junior college prospects, a number which we’ll be keeping an eye on and adjusting accordingly throughout the day should the need arise.

The commitment of NEO defensive tackle Iman Oates moved the number of commits up one to 17.

The class is headlined by four-star quarterback, Zane Flores, and features several really good prospects at multiple positions, as well as NJCAA First Team All-American, Lardarius Webb Jr. and Louisiana Division Four State Championship game MVP Kam Franklin among others.

The class includes one quarterback, one wide receiver, four offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, two linebackers, two cornerbacks, three safeties and one punter.

Below us a running list of every signee in the 2023 class, which is broken down into the individual positions. This list will be updated as soon as a member of the class signs.

–Oklahoma State 2023 Signing Class–

–Quarterback–

Pokes Report

Zane Flores, QB, 6-3, 195, Gretna, Neb.

Pokes Report Ranking: 4-Star

Date Committed: 4/17/2022

Accomplishments: 2022: Elite 11 Camp Invitation, Elite 11 Award for Accuracy, MaxPreps Nebraska Player of the Year; 2021 All-State (1st-Team), All-Metro (1st-Team and honorary captain), Super-State (1st-Team); 2020: All-State (HM), All-Metro (2nd-Team); 2019: All-State (HM)

Key Statistics: 2022: 235-of-359, 7 interceptions, 3,117-yards, 65 percent, 31 touchdowns, 79 carries-for-262-yards, 10 touchdowns rushing; 2021: 232-of-331, 7 interceptions, 2,885-yards, 70 percent, 26 touchdowns; 2020 145-of-209, 3 interceptions, 1,926-yards, 69 percent, 18 touchdowns; 2019: 112-of-186, 7 interceptions, 1,235-yards, 60 percent, 7 touchdowns

Career Statistics: 30-4 in three seasons as a starting quarterback, 724-of-1,085, 24 interceptions, 9,163-yards, 67 percent, 82 touchdowns, 226-carries-for-393-yards, 1.7-ypc, 29 touchdowns. The 724 completions and 9,163-yards and all-time Nebraska High School records

Scouting Report: He has all the tools with the size, an excellent arm, athleticism, and a high football IQ. In the classroom he is a 3.96 GPA. Flores has made the most of it and shown especially over the last two seasons that he is a winner. He has a maturity and poise that comes from having played so much at the high school level. He is equally as adept at throwing short, medium, and long. His quick release combined with a strong arm and accuracy gives defenders little chance to do their job. His throws look so much pitch and catch because his abilities make then that way. The most impressive quality is his ability to throw deep. He has a strong arm that allows him to do what most quarterbacks his age and even older cannot. I haven’t said this often, Brandon Weeden and Mason Rudolph, but I believe he will play in the NFL.

Other Schools Considered: *Bowling Green, *Indiana, *Kansas, *Kansas State, *Memphis, *Missouri, *Nebraska, *Notre Dame, *Oregon, *Pittsburgh, *Washington, Iowa State, Northwestern, Ohio State

–Wide Receiver–

Pokes Report

Camron Heard, Ath/WR, 6-0, 170, Houston (Furr), Texas

Pokes Report Ranking: 3-Star

Date Committed: 6/9/2022

Accomplishments: 2022: District 11-4A Most Valuable Player, All-District 11-4A (1st-Team/Coaches), Nominated for Mr. Texas Football Player of the Week-Week 11 (with 128-yards, TD passing; 12-carries, 193-yards, 6 TDs rushing), Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Texas Top 300 (WR); 2021: District 11-4A Most Valuable Player, All-District 11-4A (1st-Team/Coaches)

Key Statistics: 2022: 56-of-108 passing, 3 interceptions, 52 percent, 760-yards, 13.6-ypc, 11 touchdowns, 106-carries for 1,219-yards, 11.5-ypc, 26 touchdowns; 2021: 48-of-90 passing, 714-yards, 53 percent, 14.9-ypc, 4 touchdowns, 94-carries for 1,068-yards, 11.4-ypc, 11 touchdowns; 2020: 32-of-75 passing, 5 interceptions, 43 percent, 351-yards, 11.0-ypc, 2 touchdowns, 89-carries for 859-yards, 9.7-ypc, 8 touchdowns; Also caught two passes in his career for 32-yards and on defense made 24-tackles with eight interceptions. He had five interceptions this past season

Scouting Report: It’s hard to evaluate in that his position in college will be receiver. That is where he made the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Texas Top 300. Heard is so athletic and his numbers at Furr High School prove it. He is the kind of athlete that can make the defense look foolish in space but is also equipped to make defenders miss in close range “phone booth”. His football IQ is way advanced because of how he was used by Furr head coach Cornell Gray. He played quarterback and defense, so now he will take all of that experience and knowledge and put it to work at receiver. I believe the transition will be immediate.  Speed, explosion, vertical, strength it is all there. He will be a favorite in the weight room too. High work ethic by all accounts.

Other Schools Considered: *Arkansas, *Arkansas-Pine Bluff, *Houston, *Houston Christian, *Louisiana, *Louisiana Tech, *Sam Houston, *South Alabama, *Texas State, *Texas Tech

–Offensive Line–

Pokes Report

Isaiah Kema, OL, 6-4, 298, Wolfforth (Frenship), Texas

Pokes Report Ranking: 4-Star

Date Committed: 12/18/2022

Accomplishments: 2022: U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection and participant, Under Armour All-American, ESPN Top 300, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Super-Team (3rd-Team), Texas Football Texas Top 300; 2021: Texas All-State (1st-Team/Sportswriters), All-District 6A-2 (1st-Team/Coaches)

Key Statistics: NA

Scouting Report: He is 6-4, 298-pounds and has played primarily center and guard for the powerful Frenship program. Watching him play he is a leader on the offensive line and is capable of doing about anything. He is bull run blocker but also has the quickness and punch to pass protect. He is a wrestler in high school, which has served him well in leverage and being quick and balanced on his feet. That may be the most fun thing to watch with Kema is his ability to block on the run and pull down the line of scrimmage even from the center position. 

Other Schools Considered: *Kansas, *Texas A&M, *Nebraska, *Air Force, *Army, *Arizona, *Arizona State, *BYU, *California, *UConn, *Hawaii, *Houston, *Illinois, *La.Tech, *Navy, *New Mexico, *SMU, *Texas State, *Texas Tech, *Troy, *Utah State, Virginia, Wisconsin

Pokes Report

Jakobe Sanders, OC, 6-3, 295, Stillwater, Okla.

Pokes Report Ranking: 3-Star

Date Committed: 1/25/2022

Accomplishments: 2022: All-Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year, Vype All-District 6AII-1 91st-Team), All-District 6AII-1 (1st-Team/Coaches); 2021: All-District 6AII-1 (1st-team/Coaches)

Key Statistics: He blocked for three state finalist teams and a 2,000-yard rusher and two other 1,000-yard rushers.

Scouting Report: He is known as “Mr. Pancake” and for good reason as Sanders puts most of his targets on the ground and buries them. He is as physical a blocker as you will find, and his power is evident as he bench presses close to 450-pounds and can squat over 600-pounds. Huge numbers for a high school senior or college freshman. He is a weightroom-aholic and it shows in all he does on the football field. He gets great punch, and his hands are so strong that once he has you then you don’t get away. His footwork is solid but could improve. It will need to in college where it didn’t in high school because of his upper body and arm strength. He is a center or guard in college. I prefer center because I don’t know if he will be as effective pulling in college as he was in high school. Mobility will be a key component for him to work on. As a center, I have never seen a bad snap in four-years of varsity at Stillwater. His teach, Charlie Johnson, is one of the best. He comes in at mid-year, so the head start will help him.

Other Schools Considered: Early commitment accepted first offer

Pokes Report

Gage Stanaland, OL, 6-4, 275, Tuscola (Jim Ned), Texas

Pokes Report Ranking: 3-Star

Date Committed: 11/16/2022

Accomplishments: 2022: All-District 3-3A (1st-Team/Coaches), Blue-Gray All-American, Lineman Challenge Record Setter (28 reps of 225-pounds); 2021: All-State (3rd-Team/Texas Sportswriters), All-District 3-3A (1st-Team/Coaches), All-Big Country (1st-Team); 2020: All-District 1-3A (2nd-Team/Coaches); Non-Football: Texas Golden Gloves Boxing Division State Champion

Key Statistics: 34-6 as a starting offensive lineman at Jim Ned with a Class 3A Division I State Championship, 2022: 3,927-yards of total offense (3,029-rushing/898-passing), 33-tackles (11-ut/22-at), 3.0-tackles-for-loss, 1.0-sack; 2021: 5,850-yards of total offense (3,846-rushing/1,704-passing); 2020: 5,150-yards of total offense (3,175-rushing/1975-passing)

Scouting Report: Think of an offensive lineman that treats the field and the line of scrimmage like a bar room brawl only with more discipline and that is Stanaland. He is as physical a blocker as you will find at the high school level. I love that he is under control and uses leverage and his punch is what you would expect from a boxing champion. He is athletic and moves fluidly. He is also a multi-target blocker as once he puts a defender down, he moves on and gets someone at the next level. You can see on multiple plays where that helped to create an explosive chunk play. He will need to get a little bigger and may be best at center or guard where he has been primarily a tackle in high school.  

Other Schools Considered: *Abilene Christian, *Louisiana Tech, *Navy, *New Mexico State

Pokes Report

Caption

Jack Endean, OL, 6-6, 295, Tucson (Tanque Verde), Ariz.

Pokes Report Ranking: 3-Star

Date Committed: 12/12/2021

Accomplishments: 2022: All-Conference (1st-Team/Coaches), All-Region (1st-Team)

Key Statistics: 2022: Helped his team to first winning record (7-3) in school history, Defense: 47 tackles (28-ut/19-ast.), 1.0-tackle-for-loss, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery; 2021: three tackles, (2-ut/1at)

Scouting Report: For fans that have seen Stillwater play and are familiar with Jakobe Sanders, it’s appropriate that these two were the first two offensive linemen in the class. You can see in their play they share the same attitude. They are physical and relentless and disappointed if they don’t put their target on the ground. With Endean he is much taller at close to 6-6 and 295-pounds. I love the fact he played some defense and did so well. That will help him in the future. His run blocking is awesome, quick off the ball and gets good leverage and tears the defender down. He often gets one down and then moves on to a secondary block. I would say he is better at run blocking, but his pass pro is solid. The footwork is good, he can improve on the upper body technique.

Other Schools Considered: *Arizona, *California, Michigan State, UCLA, Washington

–Defensive Line–

Pokes Report

Jaedon Foreman, DE, 6-3, 250, Del City, Okla.

Pokes Report Ranking: 4-Star

Date Committed: 11/19/2021

Accomplishments: 2022: All-Suburban Conference (1st-Team Coaches), VYPE Mr. Football Oklahoma Top 100, All-VYPE Class 5A, Basketball All-Suburban Conference (HM-Coaches)

Key Statistics: 2022: 45-tackles (26ut-19at), 5.0-tfl, 6.5-sacks, 6 receptions-92-yards, touchdown, 15.3-ypr

Scouting Report: Foreman is an athletic defensive lineman that has the versatility to move around and be effective. You can see he loves to line up on edge and come downhill, but he will need to learn to play more as a five and do a better job of getting off blocks in a confined space. He is physical and tackles well. He is also capable of short drops and cover in zone concepts. He looks like he gets bored sometimes, but I think some of that was his ability to be better than his opponent.

Other Schools Considered: Early commitment, *Memphis, Arkansas

Oklahoma State Athletics

Iman Oates, DT, 6-3, 305, Tulsa (Edison), Okla./NEO A&M Junior College

Date Committed: 12/19/2022

Accomplishments: Junior College/2022: All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference (2nd-Team/Coaches); High School: All-State (HM/Tulsa World), District 5A-4 Defensive Player of the Year (Coaches)

Key Statistics: Junior College/2022: 44-tackles, 9.0-tackles-for-loss, 5.0-sacks; 2021: 2-tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0-sacks; High School/2020: 55-tackles, 20.0-tackles-for-loss, 5.0-sacks

Scouting Report: To start with he works hard and has a good motor. It is impressive to watch him dunk a basketball with very little lead-up. I like his initial punch on offensive linemen, and he shows a decent ability to get off blocks. I especially like his movement as he slides down the line to make plays, reads well, and even retraces when needed to get to the play. Pass rush is okay. At this stage he appears to be a better run defender. His football IQ is good as he diagnoses screens and pin and pull schemes and plays them appropriately.

Other Schools Considered: *SMU, *La.Tech, *Hawaii, *Western Kentucky, *UAB, *UTEP, *Coastal Carolina, *Charlotte

Pokes Report

Ricky Lolohea, DT, 6-4, 275, Euless (Trinity), Texas

Pokes Report Ranking: 3-Star

Date Committed: 5/5/2022

Accomplishments: 2022: All-District 3-6A (1st-Team/Coaches), Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Texas Top 300; 2021: All-District 3-6A (1st-Team/Coaches)

Key Statistics: 2022: ; 2021: 20-tackles (13-ut/7-at), 5.0-tackles-for-loss, 1.0-sack

Scouting Report: Played defensive end primarily as a junior and was recruited as a defensive end with the idea he might develop in the weight room and move inside some. He didn’t wait as Lolohea went from 245-pounds when he committed to close to 280-pounds by the time he started his senior season. The beauty of it is he still has maintained a lot of his athletic ability and mobility from his defense end days as a junior. It is fun watching him burst by a guard on the offensive line with his quickness off the snap. He is a physical player that likes for the back to feel his presence on the tackle. He is good against the run, but when he gets a chance at a quarterback, look out. It is going to be fun to see him continue to grow into and develop his frame.

Other Schools Considered: *Louisiana-Monroe, *North Texas, *San Diego State, *SMU, *Texas Tech

–Linebacker–

Pokes Report

Poasa Utu, LB/Edge, 6-1, 210, Kennedale, Texas

Pokes Report Ranking: 3-Star

Date Committed: 6/20/2022

Accomplishments: 2022: All-District 6-4A-I (1st-Team/Coaches), Dallas Morning News Area and State Top 100, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Texas Top 300; 2021: All-District 6-4A-I (1st-Team/Coaches), Fort Worth Star-Telegram All-Area (2nd Team)

Key Statistics: 2022: 98-tackles, 33.0-tackles-for-loss, 6.0-sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, one blocked punt; 2021: 97-tackles, 41.0-tackles-for-loss, 19.0-sacks, one interception, four passes defended, two fumble recoveries, one blocked punt

Scouting Report: Utu showed up at the lineman camp on the Oklahoma State campus and dominated from the edge. Linebackers coach Joe Bob Clements saw his athletic ability and size and could see him becoming a linebacker, which he did to a degree in his senior season at Kennedale where he led them into the playoffs. I think he is the biggest potential signee on the defensive side of the ball. He could be a future star. The numbers are crazy with him having 195 tackles, 74 tackles-for-loss, and 25-sacks in his last two seasons. He is flying off the edge with his speed (23.13 in the 200-meters) and then he won Class 4A in the shot put as a junior with a throw of 47-9.5. Watch the video and he is a freak of an athlete that has a better than average football IQ.

Other Schools Considered: Early Commitment, *Incarnate Word

Pokes Report

Ike Esonwune, LB, 6-2, 215, Manor, Texas

Pokes Report Ranking: 3-Star

Date Committed: 12/16/2022

Accomplishments: 2022: All-District 25-6A (1st-Team/Coaches); 2021: All-District 25-6A (1st-Team/Coaches)

Key Statistics: 2022: 67-tackles (45-ut/22-at), 11-tackles-for-loss, 2.0-sacks, 3 interceptions, 3 passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery; 2021: 46-tackles (30-ut/16-at), 8.0-tackles-for-loss, 1.0-sack, 2 passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Scouting Report: First, he shows a strong football IQ as he repeatedly diagnoses where the offense is going playing all over the field as Manor used him on the edge, as a linebacker, and in the secondary. An excellent example of his IQ is on a trips formation where he reads quick screen and disposes of the blocker in time to get back and pick the pass and take it for a touchdown. There are other examples of him holding his blocker and letting the play develop. He shows patience to wait and make sure he is in the right place to make the right play. I love watching smart football from smart football players and Esonwune has that. His athletic ability makes him that much better, and his frame sure looks like he will end up being 6-2 and somewhere in the 220-225 range.

Other Schools Considered: *Tulsa, *UNLV, *Kansas, *Prairie View A&M

–Cornerback–

Pokes Report

Dylan Smith, CB, 6-0, 170, Denton (Braswell), Texas

Pokes Report Ranking: 3-Star

Date Committed: 6/6/2022

Accomplishments: 2022: All-District 5-6A (1st-Team/Coaches), Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Top 300; 2021: All-District 5-6A (1st-Team/Coaches)

Key Statistics: 2022: 52-tackles (32-ut/20-at), four interceptions, Offense-16-receptions-for-248-yards, 15.5-ypr, four touchdowns; 2021: 24-tackles (14-ut/10at), three interceptions, one fumble recovery.

Scouting Report: Smith is the younger brother of Cowboy corner Cam Smith and the two have excellent ball skills. Dylan displayed those on both sides of the ball this season at Braswell. He is very good in man coverage and also does well with zone concepts. You love him most when the ball is thrown his direction as evidenced by his interception numbers. He can pick off anybody and did this season when he picked the nation’s top quarterback prospect in Jackson Arnold of Denton Guyer. I believe his cover skills translate to being equipped to play some as a freshman, if needed.

Other Schools Considered: *Arkansas, *Colorado, *Grambling, *Indiana, *Houston, *Kansas, *Louisville, *Memphis, *Nebraska, *North Texas, *SMU, *Stanford

Pokes Report

R.J. Lester, Cornerback, 6-2, 185, Fort Smith (Northside), Ark.

Pokes Report Ranking: 3-Star

Date Committed: 12/10/2022

Accomplishments: 2022: All-State Class 7A (1st-Team/Coaches), All-District 7A-Central (1st-Team/Coaches), Top 10 Arkansas Football Recruiting Prospect; 2021: All-District 7A-Central (1st-Team/Coaches)

Key Statistics: 2022: 44-tackles, four interceptions; 2021: 58-tackles, four interceptions

Scouting Report: He is consistent in his performance, and he plays in two levels of the defense for Northside and is also a standout point guard for the basketball team. On the football field he is capable and physical as a linebacker but can also line up at safety and cornerback. His cover skills are very good, and his best attribute is his ability to close on the ball and then take it away. More than half of his interceptions have come that way. He is a physical tackler, and you can tell he loves to attack the backfield. Even though we weren’t able to get sacks numbers, I can tell you he had two sacks in video I watched from his senior season. It will be interesting all the ways in which Oklahoma State will come up with using him on the field. One of the coaches that he played for at Northside was Felix Curry, who had two sons that played in the Cowboys program. He has posted a 4.48 in the forty and has an electronic time of 11.91 in the 100-meters.

Other Schools Considered: *Kansas State, *Tulane, *Tulsa, LSU, Mississippi State

–Safety–

Pokes Report

Lardarius Webb, Jr., CB/Safety, 5-10, 170, Jackson (Jackson Academy), Miss./Jones College, Miss.

Pokes Report Ranking: 4-Star

Date Committed: 12/5/2022

Accomplishments: 2022/Junior College: NJCAA All-Region 23 (1st-Team), All-MACCC (1st-Team/Coaches); 2021: All-MACCC (1st-Team/Coaches); 2020/High School: All-State (2nd-Team/Clarion Ledger), Ranked #2-Player in MidSouth Association of Independent Schools District, MAIS All-Star Game participant (had two interceptions in the game including the game winning 72-yard pick six)

Key Statistics: 2022/Junior College: 28-tackles, 4.0-tackles-for-loss, six passes defended, six interceptions (tied for first in MACCC and nationally in NJCAA); 2021: 29-tackles, 3.0-tackles-for-loss, nine passes defended, three interceptions; 2020/High School: 58-tackles, 5.0-tackles-for-loss, nine passes defended, Other Sports Won MAIS 4x100 meter relay and 200-meter dash; 2019 (Beauregard High School in Opelika, Ala.) 51-tackles, 3-interceptions

Scouting Report: He has all kinds of speed and agility making him an excellent cover corner. The NFL bloodlines with his father having been a standout for the Baltimore Ravens doesn’t hurt. He is also physical and comes up to play the run with enthusiasm. It is being in coverage and denying a receiver or taking the ball away that he is best at. He is fun to watch in that role as he does it so well. Good ball skills and timing along with a great football IQ in recognizing routes.

Other Schools Considered: *Illinois, *Kansas, *Mississippi State, *Akron, *Arkansas State, *Charlotte, Georgia State, Hawaii, *Kent State, *Marshall, *Middle Tennessee State, *South Alabama, *Southern Miss, *Troy, *South Florida, *Virginia Tech, *Washington State, East Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi

Pokes Report

Kam Franklin, Safety, 6-3, 195, Oak Grove, La.

Pokes Report Ranking: 4-Star

Date Committed: 11/21/2021

Accomplishments: 2022: ESPN ranked him as the No. 71 Athlete in the nation in this class, LHSSA All-State (1st-Team/Coaches), All-Regional (1st-Team), All-District (1st-Team), Also plays Basketball and Track-Louisiana 1A state qualifier as a junior in the 200 meters and long jump. Placed fourth in 1A with 23.18 200 and won district with a 23.06. Placed sixth in 1A with a 20-9.25 long jump, one week after placing third at regionals with a 21-4.5.

Key Statistics: 2022: 120-tackles, 45-tackles-for-loss, six safeties, three interceptions, and six fumble recoveries in the season.

Scouting Report: Franklin is a wildly physical player that I would describe as a “heat seeking missile”. Honestly, he might end up playing linebacker instead of safety depending on the progress and development in the weight room. He has a big frame and might end up weighing in the 220-range. As for his play he is direct and plays that way. He is excellent at avoiding blockers and being touched and that allows him to make a huge number of plays. He is good in coverage, but best in pursuit and vs. the run or attacking the quarterback and the backfield.

Other Schools Considered: *Louisiana, *Mississippi, *Arkansas, *LSU, *Mississippi State, *SMU, *TCU, *Tennessee

Pokes Report

Tywon Wray Jr., Safety, 6-3, 185, Smyrna (Campbell), Ga.

Pokes Report Ranking: 3-Star

Date Committed: 12/18/2022

Accomplishments: 2022: All-District (1st-team)

Key Statistics: 2022: 70-tackles, 8 passes defended, 5 interceptions, two forced fumbles, (as WR) 27-receptions, 404-yards, 15.0-ypr, 3 touchdowns; 2021: 18-tackles (12-ut/6-at), 1 interception

Scouting Report: You can see where Wray’s confidence and physicality has taken off as a result of his work and maturation. This guy is now very aggressive, and he has excellent ball skills with his height and bounce. He lists a 4.43 in the forty, a 39-inch vertical, and a 500-pound max on the squat and a 315-pound max on the bench press. Add all that up and you have a safety that will attack. I love the way he does that now on run plays. He loves to press up and he is also effective pursuing from the backside. He shows both on video. He is confident in pass cover, and I also like his few displays of pass rush in a blitz mode. The best part of this is his best football is just now coming out.

Other Schools Considered: *Austin Peay, *East Tennessee State, *Eastern Illinois, *Fla. International, *Mercer

–Punter–

Geelong Advertiser

Hudson Kaak, P, 6-1, 190, Melbourne (ProKick Australia), Victoria, Australia

Pokes Report Ranking: 3-Star

Date Committed: 6/28/2022

Accomplishments: Former Aussie Rules Football Player with Murray Bushrangers of the NAB League in Wangaratta, Australia

Key Statistics: Ranked by ProKick Australia (same group that recommended Tom Hutton) as the No. 3 punter in the class

Scouting Report: NA

Other Schools Considered: Placed by ProKick Australia