Lots of Changes, but Last Minute Flips Make This Feel Like Signing Day of Old

STILLWATER – This signing day had a strong feel of old days on Tuesday night and the eve of the new version of signing day. Oklahoma State signed, or were scheduled to sign, 20 new players. The rush at the end was on junior college defensive talent. That makes all the sense in the world as the Cowboys badly need to raise the level of play, create more explosive plays,and expand the overall depth on defense. Those additions and a healthy cast of high school standout defensive players, many offered by major contenders in the Big 12 and SEC primarily. The negative drama came on Tuesday night with the quarterback commitment Jett Niu of Lehi, Utah. Niu was offered late by Oklahoma and our sources informed that he switched his commitment. Around 10 p.m. the positive news came in with Muskogee offensive lineman, a definite All-State player switching he commitment to Oklahoma State from UNLV. 

Oklahoma State had a late group of junior college players pledge and sign. That included a pair of defensive ends with the same last name but not related. Rashod Bradley was the first to pledge. The true defensive end from East Mississippi C.C. is originally out of Florida.

Twitter/X (@chandavian23 )

Bradley is a potential All-American.

Chandavian Bradley is more of an edge/Leo player and is an explosive pass rusher that was ranked in the top 100 and a four-star recruit coming out of Platte County High School in Missouri. He signed with Tennessee over Texas A&M, South Carolina, and Colorado. He was unhappy at Tennessee and left last summer for Hutchinson C.C. in Kansas. He’s played well and Hutch is in the NJCAA semifinals at Georgia Military this coming weekend. 

The third junior college pledge is expected to be safety Chase Pinkston out of Jones C.C. in Mississippi. He is a versatile player that had three interceptions and a pick six this past season as a freshman. Pinkston most recently visited Oklahoma State and was signing at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. It is expected to be OSU.

Chandavian Bradley and PInkston each have three seasons to play.

Twitter/X (@michaelriles)

Michael Riles

Staying with the defensive theme, another edge player Michael Riles of Port Arthur Memorial High School in Texas is one of the best pass rushers in the prep ranks in Texas. He has 6-4, 245 pound size and sure looks like he could play early. Riles was recently named a U.S. Army All-American.

Draden Fullbright of unbeaten North Crowley is a cornerback that has played high school ball in Georgia and Texas and has big-time offers from schools in both states. Kobi Foreman is an electric corner prospect from Richardson Berkner in the Dallas area. Ayden Webb is from a rival school in the Richardson school district but Lake Highlands is actually located in the Dallas city limits. Ayden Webb is a 6-2, 178 pound safety that is especially talented at defensive ball skills. He and Fullbright both defend passes really well. 

Robert Allen - Pokes Report

Carl’Veon Young at Carl Albert.

Maybe the best defensive story is the lone linebacker commitment in the class. Oklahoma State will have to load up some on linebackers in the portal, but Carl’Veon Young of unbeaten Carl Albert High School is 6-4.5, 215 pounds and especially active as a defender. In the matter of two months he has gone from being unranked and little recruited to being a four-star prospect according to 247Sports. Oklahoma State sent game video of Carl Albert to two former NFL defensive coaches and one collegiate. The question, which of the players on that defense would you most want? It was unanimous with the answer being No. 23 Carl’Veon Young. 

Twitter/X (@LopezMatrail)

Matrsail Lopez

Offensively, the receivers are strong as a group with super-athletic Matrail Lopez of Idabel, Okla. Lopez has played running back, reciever, safety, and returns punts and kicks. He is a baseball centerfielder, plays hoops, and runs track. This summer he lost his father suddenly. You can tell he had dedicated his play to his father. He has made him proud. 

Royal Capell of Cibolo Steele in Texas is another multi-talented receiver that has racked up huge numbers, He also is a track standout. 

Jaden Perez of San Antonio, Texas and Johnson High School and Kameron Powell of McKinney North High School add to what is a quadruple haul of receivers. They all have different skills and match up as playmakers that will challenge each other the way you want your receiver room to do.

Jordan Vyborny is a talented tight end prospect that moved to Utah to catch more passes and unfortunately while getting ready to play for eventual Utah Class 4A State Champion Corner Canyon tore his ACL. He has had surgery and will be ready to contribute in Stillwater. He is 6-5, 230 pounds. 

Scott W. Coleman

Dugar is a tremendous running back.

D.J. Dugar is a running back that has played in Texas since he was a freshman. His career numbers include 3,824-yards and 48 touchdowns. None of those in his senior year. Dugar saw his teammate at Pflugerville Weiss High School go down with a torn ACL in preseason. Dugar made the decision to sit out his senior season and make certain he would be completely healthy going to college. No doubt, he had proven his abilities. 

Then there are the offensive linemen, five of them. We start with a 2023 signee in Isaiah Kema. The All-American from Frenship High School has been on his mission for the Church of Latter Day Saints for the past two years in New Zealand.

He’ll be joined by another All-American in Trinity Christian four-star recruit Jaylan Beckley (6-4, 289). 

Unbeaten Owasso is playing for the Oklahoma Class 6A-I State Championship on Friday evening and a major reason is offensive tackle Ryker Haff. Haff is 6-6, 302.

Unbeaten Muskogee is playing for the Oklahoma Class 6A-II State Championship on Saturday and Miguel Chavez has been a primary blocker and protector of star quarterback Jamarian Ficklin. Chavez was a favorite of head coach Mike Gundy for his toughness and the way he plays.

Another huge offensive lineman is Simona Fuailetolo from St. George’s (Desert Hills), Utah. Fuailetolo is 6-6, 300 pounds. 

The class has a deep snapper as well in Jaxson Duffield of Owasso.

The class no longer has a quarterback. OU head coach Brent Venables and new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle called Niu and extended an offer that included a six-figure NIL offer. Oklahoma State had flipped Niu from a commitment to Appalachian State when the Cowboys first quarterback commit in the class Adam Schobel switched to TCU with a six-figure NIL offer attached. 

Not just saying this, but Oklahoma State has three quarterbacks in their room with Garret Rangel, Zane Flores, and Maealiuaki Smith. They can easily go to the portal and pull out a quarterback because they will need to. 

Below is the expected Oklahoma State class as of early Wednesday mornning.