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Oklahoma State Football Recruiting

A Few Recruiting Notes with Tucker Barnard Leaving and Dallas Morning News Statistic

July 5, 2023
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STILLWATER – While I was writing this there was breaking news. Stillwater High School is losing Tucker Barnard as head football coach. That is rough, especially in July as that is a bad time to lose a football coach. 

Stillwater is losing their football coach that helped to deliver a Class 6A-II State Championship this past season and so much success overall on the gridiron to the place they got him from. Barnard is returning to Shiloah Christian Academy in Arkansas to serve as head coach and athletics director.  He leaves Stillwater coming off the 14-0 championship season and an overall record of 94-43.

Stillwater Public Schools
Tucker Barnard

Barnard has been successful and done it sometimes in the face of a sloppy and less than athletically supportive administration. He never complained and did a great job of not allowing negative leadership or lack of district support to touch the kids. You should see the weight room and locker room that Stillwater High School football uses. Fortunately, they have a beautiful stadium, but the ammenties are lacking. 

The positive is Stillwater High School has strong assistants because of Barnard. If they stay then you would hope that the school district would have the intelligence and football savvy to promote from within and hope that leader could keep the staff together. 

Either defensive coordinator Clarence Holley or offensive coordinator Chad Cawood would be sure fire candidates. He is not a full-time employee, teacher, or adminstrator, but former Oklahoma State and NFL standout Charlie Johnson, who has been the offensive line coach, would be someone I would look at as well. The hope for any school leader with sense would be to attempt to keep the staff intact.

Heavy DFW Influence in Pokes 2024 Class

I should have seen this because when you look at Oklahoma State’s commitment list overall, it sticks out pretty easily. Oklahoma State has more than half of their current commitments residing in the DFW Metroplex. The Cowboys have 13 total commitments as of July 4 with the pledge of McKinney High School linebacker Jonathan Agumadu. Agumadu, as first reported by The Dallas Morning News, is the seventh DFW-area prospect to commit to Oklahoma State in the class of 2024. 

How about this, and this has no bearing on recruiting grades, stars in the class, or ranking. It is just an observation of geography, which does factor in recruiting. In the current class the Unviersity of Texas has three Metroplex commitments, TCU has three, and Texas A&M has none. Thost three schools UT, TCU, and A&M have less DFW-area commitments combined than Oklahoma State does. 

Robert Allen - Pokes Report
Cleveland (in black) at UA Camp was offered by Texas and TCU.

Of those players: Landyn Cleveland of Mansfield Summit, Temerrick Johnson of Midlothian Heritage, Tre’ Griffiths of Keller, Armstrong Nnodim of Mesquite Horn, David Kabongo of Trophy Club Byron Nelson, Agumadu from McKinney, and Gunnar Wilson of Melissa; Cleveland was offered by both Texas and TCU and Kabongo was offered by Texas. The rest have Baylor and Texas Tech show up multiple times and SMU on almost each one, but no others offered by Texas or TCU. Texas A&M has not offered any players that Oklahoma State has commitments from in the DFW-area. Considering Texas A&M and how they have performed recently, that could be a good thing.

On the other hand Texas A&M only has one commitment that OKlahoma State offered and that is Beaumont Central offensive tackle Weston Davis, who has claimed he will still visit Oklahoma State Sept. 16. Receiver Parker Livingstone of Lovejoy, Texas is the only Longhorn commitment that Oklahoma State offered. TCU has two commitments that Oklahoma State not only offered but had on campus in quarterback Hauss Hejny of Aledo and receiver Gekyle Baker of Brownsboro, Texas.

Not as much overlap as you might think.

What About Oklahoma?

We’re not alone and we’re not being negative on purpose, just our honest observations. This class in 2024 is not a strong one by Oklahoma standards. The state of Oklahoma will average 32.5 Division I football signees each season. I’ve seen years where close to 50 high school players in the state signed an NIL with a Division I school and I’ve seen it dip into the low 20s and high teens. 

Robert Allen - Pokes Report
Fields moved from OKC Southeast to Del City for this season.

This year is not a particularly strong years for the state. The Cowboys have two in-state players committed in running back Rodney Fields of Del City and tight end Josh Ford of Stillwater. Oklahoma has one Oklahoma prep committed in Carl Albert High School running back Xavier Robinson. 

My observations include that Danny Okoye is the best prospect in the state. The nulti-positional defender from Tulsa NOAH (home school) is sensational. Oklahoma State offered but is no longer active on him. 

I have 12 prospects in the state that I would offer if I were a Division I director of recruiting and I’m not including Xadavien Sims of Durant. I watched a lot of video fo Sims and he was too inconsistent to make me interested. Tulsa Union corner Devon Jordan is very legit and Oklahoma State is waiting on him. I think OU leads there. I’m not sure how many in-state players Oklahoma has even offered. 

I’m a huge fan of Wagoner’s Whitt Edwards, but I prefer him on defense as a hybrid safety rather than on offense as a wide receiver. He can do both, but I love his instincts on defense. Sleepers in Oklahoma I like include Del City wide receiver LaDainian Fields, Poteau athlete Dax Collins, and Del City quarterback River Warren. 

Still Waiting on Quarterback 

Appropriate we put River Warren in that list of our Oklahoma sleepers. Oklahoma State is really shooting for one quarterback right now in San Mateo (Junipero Serra) High School’s Maealiuaki Smith.  The 6-4, 205-pound Smith is special and is seemingly in a decision making process between Oklahoma State and BYU. He has visited both and is still trying to make a decision. 

Junipero Serra High School
Smith is Cowboys top QB choice.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma State has their eggs all in that basket. They could go without a quarterback in the class considering their QB room has red-shirt freshman but three-game starter Garret Rangel, sophomore Gunnar Gundy, and standout freshman Zane Flores. That is a better future quarterback room than most. 

If they choose to look for a quarterback should Smith not commit to the Cowboys, then Warren might be an option, He is in-state and has attended multiple Oklahoma State camps, so they know him well.

What’s Left?

Honestly, other than a decision by Maealiuaki Smith, I’m not sure anything else is imminent this summer. Oklahoma State stands at 13 commitments and here is the list of scholarships they are looking to fill before signing day in December. These numbers are our guess on the make up of the class.

Quarterback - 1

Running Back - 0

Wide Receiver - 1

Tight End - 0

Offensive Line - 3-4

Defensive Line - 1

Linebacker - 1

Safety - 1

Cornerback - 1

Of course, anytime a difference maker becomes a potential target they will find a way to make the numbers work out. 

Discussion from...

A Few Recruiting Notes with Tucker Barnard Leaving and Dallas Morning News Statistic

11,104 Views | 19 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by CYalch
rcfb
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Offensive Line - 3-4 , Can you please tell us the targets remaining? Apart from two in Utah, I dont see any of our targets remaining. Possibly we have to go back to drawing board and offer new set of guys.
Joe Khatib
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rcfb said:

Offensive Line - 3-4 , Can you please tell us the targets remaining? Apart from two in Utah, I dont see any of our targets remaining. Possibly we have to go back to drawing board and offer new set of guys.
One kid in Kansas and one more down in Texas plus the two in Utah!
Eddy Hackleman
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Ivy and Williams from Texas and Brooks from CA.
Eddy Hackleman
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rcfb
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Mitch Hodnett from LA,
Eugene Brooks in CA (Not sure we will get him),
Semisi Tonga and Nufi Mafi from Utah,
Ory Williams frm TX.

We can forget about Blake Ivy. Will be bidding war.
Eddy Hackleman
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I missed Hodnett. When I looked at his Twitter it said Houston bound on a post. I overlooked the fine print that said Official Visit. So we have a total of 6. I have not seen Brooks mentioned in any of the recruiting updates. It amazes me how the guys here keep up with all of this. It is appreciated.
Eddy Hackleman
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JakeBilger6
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What about Legend Journey or Kiefer Sibley
Darth Vader
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Anyone remember the situation with the QB recruit from somewhere in East Texas I believe, back around 07 or so? Can't remember his name, but he was a good recruit and committed with the intention of enrolling early. Something happened with our numbers and we didn't have room for him to enroll in December, so we had to ask him to enroll at the normal time like everyone else. His dad went ape and basically tried to blackball us with every high school football coach in Texas, LOL. "Mystery" Texas high school coaches were supposedly saying we'll never get another recruit from the state of Texas again because what we "did" to this kid was the most egregious transgression imaginable. LOL again. People on all OSU message boards melted down, it was quite the scene. That's basically how I remember it anyway. I think of that because of how well we've recruited Texas over the years and the fact almost our entire class this year is from DFW alone.

As I recall, we released him from his letter of intent and he never enrolled. He went to Nebraska and I believe he never played a down. Not due to injury, he just didn't play as I recall.
CYalch
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Hodnett and the two from Utah are the only guys we have a chance at for OL.
Joe Khatib
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Nope! The kid from Olathe, Kansas, the kid from Texas, the two kids from Utah and the two from Utah! COMES FROM THE GUY WHO EVALUATES THEM!!!
PokeSmot75
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Vaguely remember that now that you mention it, but his name was Kody Spano and you are correct not sure he ever played much at Nubs.

Glad to see OSU doing well in DFW, certainly aren't winning battles against the big dogs but seems like more time/energy/money is being focused there which is a good thing.
CYalch
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Carroll from Olathe committed to Minnesota. We're not getting Ory Williams. Hodnett, Mafi, and Tonga are the only offers we have a chance at.
Joe Khatib
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CYalch said:

Carroll from Olathe committed to Minnesota. We're not getting Ory Williams. Hodnett, Mafi, and Tonga are the only offers we have a chance at.
Let's see how firm that commitment is and if it holds (Fleck put the kid on the hot seat, the old Barry Switzer game)! I am not talking about Williams, the other kid from the Houston area! Also Hodnett MAY still be on the radar!!!
CYalch
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Both guys that we offered from the Houston area are no longer considering us. And I wouldn't hope for Carroll to decommit anytime soon, he just committed this week. We're not going to wait on him, we'll just offer new guys.
Robert Allen
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Staff
Just saw this and they feel pretty good on Tonga and Mafi. Weston Davis is a longshot as he committed to Texas A&M but OSU was in on him early and has said he will make his official to Oklahoma State on Sept. 16.
Mitch Hodnett is still a contender. They will stay in touch with some committed players just to be in position if things change. Then they will continue to look and evaluate. This is a really deep year in Texas and they will keep evaluating. That offensive line number will move some as six of the current offensive linement that are seniors have a COVID year to take.

There is also the transfer portal after the season.

I am a huge fan of both Semisi Tonga and Nuku Mafi.
Joe Khatib
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CYalch said:

Both guys that we offered from the Houston area are no longer considering us. And I wouldn't hope for Carroll to decommit anytime soon, he just committed this week. We're not going to wait on him, we'll just offer new guys.
You just heard it from Robert Mr. Know it all, basically saying what I just said! SMH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RodeoPoke
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Joe Khatib said:

CYalch said:

Both guys that we offered from the Houston area are no longer considering us. And I wouldn't hope for Carroll to decommit anytime soon, he just committed this week. We're not going to wait on him, we'll just offer new guys.
You just heard it from Robert Mr. Know it all, basically saying what I just said! SMH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
well... that was rude.

just maybe some of us need to hear it multiple times.
CYalch
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It's good that Davis is visiting us, but like RA said he's a long shot because he's already committed to A&M. And the other guys who have committed elsewhere, I'll believe that we can flip them when they de commit. Any guy who is committed elsewhere as of now is most likely not coming here, but you can believe otherwise if you want. We have a much better chance at the guys I mentioned, my point still stands.
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