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Oklahoma State Football Recruiting

Oklahoma State HC Mike Gundy: "Saturdays Will Be For Recruiting"

March 23, 2023
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STILLWATER – Multiple media sources and several fans on social media have come out with criticism of Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy and his program as to why they won’t take a practice off of the campus and have a spring game for the fans. There is a good reason for Gundy’s stance, and it has to do with making the team the best it can be for future years and seasons. It is all about recruiting. The picture we used for the cover of this story is of quarterback Zane Flores and his family on their official visit last spring. Flores committed right after the visit and stayed committed until signing with OSU in December and now he is practicing this spring.

That is a critical spring recruiting success.

Robert Allen - Pokes Report
The crane on the field at Boone Pickens Stadium.

It is no secret that Boone Pickens Stadium is missing a big chunk of the north side of the stadium, but the problem isn’t that as much as the construction in fortifying the north side means a crane is on the field, which has been boarded up to protect the playing surface. It will be that way until midway through the summer or maybe later as the crews work diligently to finish the project. 

“I was somewhat surprised there was media reporting it before they knew why,” Gundy said on OSU Max. “There was information that got out that was inaccurate. We can’t recruit off of our campus and it wouldn’t do us any good to recruit off of our campus if we could because we couldn’t show off what we have. We have a lot to show here. We have to recruit all the time everyday. I can’t take this show on the road and lose a recruiting opportunity. When (the stadium) is done one year and four months from now it will look like a million dollars, and we will all be happy. I just know we can’t have a spring game this year or next.”

As Gundy mentioned, the stadium construction flips to the south side after the 2023 season, so this will be an issue again next spring. The stadium project will keep a spring game from happening on campus again in 2024. Taking a practice (or spring game) off campus would limit what the staff can do in recruiting and that is why Gundy went back to Saturday practices throughout the spring. It is too important with the sped-up process of recruiting to miss even one Saturday. 

For instance, there have been a handful of recruits at both practices so far and there are 24 scheduled to be at the practice this Saturday.

That is Landyn Cleveland, a corner/safety out of Mansfield Legacy High School that we were very impressed with at the recent Under Armour All-American Camp in Arlington, Texas.  

Robert Allen - Pokes Report
Cleveland (in black) at UA All-American Camp.

Cleveland is not alone as some of the other 24 prospects expected on Saturday, March 25 include in-state prospects like committed tight end Josh Ford, Carl Albert running back Xavier Robinson, Some of the out-of-state prospects that have been offered include Aledo, Texas quarterback Hauss Hejny; Anna, Texas wide receiver Jacob Emmers; Texarkana (Pleasant Grove), Texas offensive lineman Caleb Hackleman; Fort Smith (Southside), Ark. offensive lineman Kobe Branham; Mansfield (Summit), Texas linebacker Kyland Reed; and Mansfield (Summit), Texas defensive end Legend Journey.

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Oklahoma State HC Mike Gundy: "Saturdays Will Be For Recruiting"

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