Oklahoma State Goes 2X Fields in 2024 Recruiting Class, The Flip Wasn't Easy

STILLWATER – So which Fields is best in Oklahoma high school football this season? It’s hard to tell but Oklahoma State now has both of them pledged to join the Cowboys program and set to sign on Wednesday. LaDainian Fields has become the best two-way player in the state with regard to major college football recruiting prospects. His abilities at wide receiver and as a shut down cornerback make him a candidate for the Player of the Year in Oklahoma high school football. Fields, along with his cousin and early spring OSU commitment in running back Rodney Fields, helped the Eagles to a 13-1 season and runner-up in Class 5A in Oklahoma. LaDainian had committed late summer to TCU, but after the Oklahoma State offer made an official visit to OSU (Dec. 14-16). He also had offers from Kansas State, Washington, Washington State, UTSA, and Wyoming among others.

“Yes sir, I did,” LaDainian said when asked if he felt he was the middle of a tug-of-war. “It was a lot of thinking, talking to my parents about what the pros and cons was. As soon as I made my decision I knew I had to stick with it.”

“They (TCU) pushed hard on him, which they should have,” Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy said. “They worked to keep him and they wanted him, but we were closer and had more connections there. His home base is surrounded by Oklahoma State people so we were able to get communication to him.”

Rodney and LaDainian had played together on the same teams since they were four-years-old.

“That was an advantage for us, it played a huge role.” Gundy said. “They shouldn’t take it personal. We don’t when it happens to us. We had a trump card there and they (TCU) didn’t.”

Fields is 6-2, 180-pounds and could eventually become the first Oklahoma State player since R.W. McQuarters to play regularly on both sides of the football. I saw Del City play four times this season and I believe that. 

LaDainian Fields finished his senior year with the Eagle having 68 receptions for 1,433-yards, 21.1-ypr, 23 touchdown catches. On defense he had 47 tackles, five interceptions, 13 passes defended, a fumble caused, and a fumble recovery.

Like his cousin LaDainian came from Oklahoma City Southeast High School and his career numbers reflect him being a dominant athlete in the OKC school district. He is a strong track athlete as a sprinter and had a long jump last spring of 20-feet and 9-inches. 

His career high school football numbers are 78 carries, 510-yards, 6.5-ypc, and a rushing touchdown. He has 144 receptions for 2,947-yards, 20.5-ypr, and 44 receiving touchdowns. On special teams he has 694-yards in kickoff returns and 288-yards punt return. 

X

Fields as a corner.

I am told he will start out at Oklahoma State on defense and the belief is he will play like a four-to-five star recruit and I would concur with that. On defense in his prep career he had 94 tackles, four interceptions, 20 passes defended, three fumbles caused, and that one fumble recovered. 

Fields has the length and the physicality to be very good at the corner position. Yes, Oklahoma State missed out on Kobe Black last week, but if you study tape and add up the numbers on both sides of the ball you will see in Fields and Black two almost identical athletes. Fields is one of those prospects that defies the ranking system in recruiting. If you put him in Texas on a medium to high profile high school program then he has at least four stars and likely 30 scholarship offers. 

Finally, it is good that recruiting is over, especially for LaDainian.

“Yes, glad it is over and now we can just have fun on our Christmas break,” said Fields secure that he felt he made the best decision for him by signing with Oklahoma State.