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Oklahoma State Football

There Goes Another in the Portal in Speedster Stephon Johnson Jr.

January 4, 2023
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STILLWATER – Oklahoma State football continues to see its receiver corps continue to be dismantled as Tuesday Oklahoma State lost John Paul Richardson and early Wednesday outside receiver Bryson Green. Now, the Cowboys have lost speedy freshman Stephon Johnson Jr., who helped provide the biggest play offensively for the Pokes in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl as he took a quick pass and serpentined his way 84-yards for a Guaranteed Rate Bowl record scoring pass of 84-yards. 

The 6-2, 182-pound Johnson out of DeSoto, Texas and also played in high school at Lancaster and Houston Heights. Oklahoma State out-recruited the likes of USC, Penn State, Utah, Oregon, Mississippi, Arkansas, and others for Johnson Jr.

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Johnson makes big-time catch vs. Kansas.

He did not disappoint as he was thrust into playing duty because of injuries and finished with 17 receptions for 293-yards and two touchdowns. He averaged nearly 18-yards a catch. He was not involved in kickoff or punt returns but that was certainly an option in his future. 

There is no clear indication of what has pushed Johnson to the transfer portal, but he becomes the fifth receiver to end up there. Prior to the bowl game when the portal opened freshman Braylin Presley and the often-injured Langston Anderson went in. Since then, Presley has committed to Tulsa. He stated he was upset over playing time and wanting to have a chance to play running back. Anderson with all of his injuries had never really gained a foothold on playing time.

The more concerning departures have been the past two days with captain and the second leading receiver in number of receptions (49) John Paul Richardson and the second leading receiver in yards (584-yards) Bryson Green going into the portal. 

The only clear-cut reason for the exits could be the quarterback situation with Spencer Sanders having gone in the portal and Oklahoma State having three quarterbacks in (next year’s class designation) in true freshman Zane Flores, red-shirt sophomore Gunnar Gundy, and red-shirt freshman Garret Rangel all having limited experience and not a lot of success yet on the Division I college level. 

One thing is certain now, Oklahoma State has to rebuild its’ receiver room with Jaden Bray coming back from injury and elder statesman Brennan Presley and the others. 

Discussion from...

There Goes Another in the Portal in Speedster Stephon Johnson Jr.

8,819 Views | 23 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by CaliforniaCowboy
principalg
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10:10a, 1/4/23
Something is going on within the program, and it is not positive. Gundy owes an explanation to the fan base! Robert, you owe to your subscribers to try and find out what is going on within the program.
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rcfb
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10:14a, 1/4/23
"There is no clear indication of what has pushed Johnson to the transfer portal, but he becomes the fifth receiver to end up there." lol, what a lie. You certainly know, just wont share with us.
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PistolD
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10:24a, 1/4/23
No veteran QB is one issue most likely. Another may be no coaching changes in deficient positions. A third one could be the offense we run. It is very basic, not creative, and may require NFL players better than the opposition to win head to head.

When this many leave you would have to say our culture is broken and it starts with a lack of confidence in our coaches to get it fixed. A decided lack of trust seems to exist of our players in this program.
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JPat
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10:24a, 1/4/23
And oh by the way, another side effect of this will be to discourage seasoned transfer portal QB's from wanting to go to OSU. Who wants to go try to hook up with a massively depleted, dysfunctional receiving corps?
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Inquisitor
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10:35a, 1/4/23
This is out of control! Wake up Gundy! This kid had star power.
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backphil
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10:51a, 1/4/23
The best recruits and players on the team are abandoning ship. Time for a change at the top. I can imagine season tickets holders will also abandon the ship. Robert cannot point to the real problem. His busness requires intimate access with Gundy. He has to remain loyal.
Class 1980
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gary121853
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11:00a, 1/4/23
Obviously, there is much more to all the player turnover than just to dismiss it as a QB or NIL driven issue!

This earlier post by former Gundy coached player reinforced what I have observed about Gundy on the sidelines for years. I sit field level and watch Gundy thoughout the games. I've felt for years he was detached. The Chuba incident and this recent post by player reinforced my belief.

"....I was coached by Gundy and I have to say, I call it like I see it. Gundy is the best thing for OSU right now, but I feel he needs to adapt better and faster. I feel he needs to have a more Personal connection with his team. He needs to adapt his coaching and philosophies. He is too passive and not aggressive enough..."

I am 'all out' on Gundy and ready for a program directional change. His latest PR blunder with the media was the last straw for me.
OSUgary
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CaliforniaCowboy
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In reply to gary121853 • 11:05a, 1/4/23
gary121853 said:
Obviously, there is much more to all the player turnover than just to dismiss it as a QB or NIL driven issue!

This earlier post by former Gundy coached player reinforced what I have observed about Gundy on the sidelines for years. I sit field level and watch Gundy thoughout the games. I've felt for years he was detached. The Chuba incident and this recent post by player reinforced my belief.

"....I was coached by Gundy and I have to say, I call it like I see it. Gundy is the best thing for OSU right now, but I feel he needs to adapt better and faster. I feel he needs to have a more Personal connection with his team. He needs to adapt his coaching and philosophies. He is too passive and not aggressive enough..."

I am 'all out' on Gundy and ready for a program directional change. His latest PR blunder with the media was the last straw for me.
oh stop it, he said he was coached by Gundy in his first few years as a coach, that was almost 2 decades ago.

He should have booted Chuba on the spot.
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eddy.mcdaniels
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11:21a, 1/4/23
hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahah
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CaliforniaCowboy
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In reply to backphil • 11:36a, 1/4/23
backphil said:
The best recruits and players on the team are abandoning ship.
that is not really true, now is it? And why bash Robert about it, that makes no sense either.

Some good players left. Some left last year too. And the year before too. and every year.

What we're likely seeing nationwide is a plethora of kids with the Covid year(s) ending and trying to take advantage of the extra time to get another experience (Sanders), grad transfer DT, etc.

I'm fairly positive that we'll see a lessening of the portal impact due to departures over time, not an acceleration of adverse impact. Somebody said there are fewer kids in the portal this year, than last (but it's still open this year).

I think we need changes too, but with our schemes and coordinators, not a completing gutting starting from the top. I've come to a very different conclusion than you, while looking at the same situation. Your feelings and beliefs are not universal, and IMO are way off base, considering everything.
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aggie1
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In reply to gary121853 • 11:43a, 1/4/23
Some people just have learning deficiencies
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Csquaredosu66
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In reply to CaliforniaCowboy • 11:45a, 1/4/23
CaliforniaCowboy said:
backphil said:
The best recruits and players on the team are abandoning ship.
that is not really true, now is it? And why bash Robert about it, that makes no sense either.

Some good players left. Some left last year too. And the year before too. and every year.

What we're likely seeing nationwide is a plethora of kids with the Covid year(s) ending and trying to take advantage of the extra time to get another experience (Sanders), grad transfer DT, etc.

I'm fairly positive that we'll see a lessening of the portal impact due to departures over time, not an acceleration of adverse impact. Somebody said there are fewer kids in the portal this year, than last (but it's still open this year).

I think we need changes too, but with our schemes and coordinators, not a completing gutting starting from the top. I've come to a very different conclusion than you, while looking at the same situation. Your feelings and beliefs are not universal, and IMO are way off base, considering everything.
ok, you are making too much sense now...these people cant handle it...
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Fire Away
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11:50a, 1/4/23
Does this mean the team knows we are getting a new recievers coach and o-coord or they want one and aren't getting a new one?
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GumbyFromPokeyLand
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11:53a, 1/4/23
Snowball effect.
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GumbyFromPokeyLand
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In reply to gary121853 • 11:59a, 1/4/23
gary121853 said:
Obviously, there is much more to all the player turnover than just to dismiss it as a QB or NIL driven issue!

This earlier post by former Gundy coached player reinforced what I have observed about Gundy on the sidelines for years. I sit field level and watch Gundy thoughout the games. I've felt for years he was detached. The Chuba incident and this recent post by player reinforced my belief.

"....I was coached by Gundy and I have to say, I call it like I see it. Gundy is the best thing for OSU right now, but I feel he needs to adapt better and faster. I feel he needs to have a more Personal connection with his team. He needs to adapt his coaching and philosophies. He is too passive and not aggressive enough..."

I am 'all out' on Gundy and ready for a program directional change. His latest PR blunder with the media was the last straw for me.
Tell me this.

How many more wins or losses do we have because Gundy is calm and focused instead of yelling and screaming like Matt Campbell.


Tell me you KNOW we would have won more games with a screamer.
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Csquaredosu66
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In reply to GumbyFromPokeyLand • 12:01p, 1/4/23
GumbyFromPokeyLand said:
gary121853 said:
Obviously, there is much more to all the player turnover than just to dismiss it as a QB or NIL driven issue!

This earlier post by former Gundy coached player reinforced what I have observed about Gundy on the sidelines for years. I sit field level and watch Gundy thoughout the games. I've felt for years he was detached. The Chuba incident and this recent post by player reinforced my belief.

"....I was coached by Gundy and I have to say, I call it like I see it. Gundy is the best thing for OSU right now, but I feel he needs to adapt better and faster. I feel he needs to have a more Personal connection with his team. He needs to adapt his coaching and philosophies. He is too passive and not aggressive enough..."

I am 'all out' on Gundy and ready for a program directional change. His latest PR blunder with the media was the last straw for me.
Tell me this.

How many more wins or losses do we have because Gundy is calm and focused instead of yelling and screaming like Matt Campbell.


Tell me you KNOW we would have won more games with a screamer.
Very solid question...
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CProc7
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12:55p, 1/4/23
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PaloDuroPoke
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1:11p, 1/4/23
No one said screamer just some enthusiasm. Many kids respond to their head coach, position coaches, and teammates showing some excitement during games. I agree there needs to be more enthusiasm by all. Maybe that's not coach Gundy but he needs to let others get fired up. Not screamers or cussers but enthusiastic folks around him.
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GumbyFromPokeyLand
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In reply to PaloDuroPoke • 1:20p, 1/4/23
PaloDuroPoke said:
No one said screamer just some enthusiasm. Many kids respond to their head coach, position coaches, and teammates showing some excitement during games. I agree there needs to be more enthusiasm by all. Maybe that's not coach Gundy but he needs to let others get fired up. Not screamers or cussers but enthusiastic folks around him.
I don't think Gundy frowns on enthusiasm. In fact, I'm sure he welcomes it. I just think he frowns on exuberance and celebrating that hinders focus.

If there is such a thing as getting more out of a player if you acted excited, I'm sure there's just as much or more to get out of other players by staying focused and on task.

People asking him (Gundy) to be who he isn't is pointless.
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Crazed_Stallion
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In reply to CaliforniaCowboy • 7:16p, 1/4/23
This is so ignorant.

The players just want to be talked too. Gundy won't give them the time of day. They just want to be heard.
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Orangeheart72
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2:48p, 1/15/23
If there's a receiver worth taking back since he was young and confused as to what to do......this might be the guy. He's a stud at WR.
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GumbyFromPokeyLand
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In reply to Orangeheart72 • 6:01p, 1/15/23
Orangeheart72 said:
If there's a receiver worth taking back since he was young and confused as to what to do......this might be the guy. He's a stud at WR.


1. Gundy won't take back anyone that goes in the portal
2. Johnson committed to Houston.
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CaliforniaCowboy
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In reply to Crazed_Stallion • 9:02a, 1/16/23
Crazed_Stallion said:
This is so ignorant.

The players just want to be talked too. Gundy won't give them the time of day. They just want to be heard.
talk about an ignorant statement.... SMH

go back to your SEC board
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