Oklahoma State Gets Commitment From Missouri Edge Standout Landon Bland

STILLWATER – It was a very busy Saturday of recruiting for Oklahoma State and by the time the clock struck midnight on Sunday, they had another verbal commitment in the 2026 recruiting class in Carthage (MO) HS defensive end and edge rusher, Landon Bland.

Bland, who was in Stillwater on an unofficial visit this weekend, called back after he got home and pledged to Mike Gundy and the Pokes. 

On Friday, March 14 in the gym at Carthage High School, he sat with his family and thanked all of them, his coaches, and his teachers and others. Then he stood up and took off his jacket and revealed a black Oklahoma State t-shirt. His younger sister also got into the act and peeled off a jacket to reveal a white OSU t-shirt.

Bland joins outside linebacker and edge Jaylan Stewart of Pearland, Texas and Berryhill, Okla. offensive tackle Aiden Martin to become the third member of the recruiting class at this stage. Bland was being heavily recruited by the Cowboys and is scheduled for an official visit on April 25-27.

Carthage High School

Bland (20) in action in the playoffs against Webb City.

The 6-4, 230-pound Bland is a definite edge rusher by skill set for the Oklahoma State defense of new coordinator Todd Grantham. Bland can play in a four-point stance or on two feet. He is very good at setting the edge against a running play and defending that edge. He is also a relentless pass rusher that in his Hudl highlight tape from last season had six sacks on my count and a couple of them were second runs at run/pass quarterbacks. He is capable of being a bulldozer with a bull rush. He is also that player that pursues with fury plays run the other way to the other side of the field. He has a high football IQ and never quits on a play that I saw, and I watched just game video as well. 

Last season he was first-team All-Conference, and he was named by the Missouri High School Football Coaches Association as a third-team Class 5 All-State player. His Carthage team finished 9-2, 7-1 and first in the conference. They lost in the playoffs to powerhouse Webb City 42-28.

Bland has good speed and runs a 4.6 in the forty and he is an excellent student carrying a 3.7 GPA. He is also a baseball player, a two-way player that pitches. 

Twitter/X (@LandonBland04)

Bland with Bradford.

You saw the picture of Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy with Bland and his parents back in January. Oklahoma State director of recruiting Todd Bradford also made a stop in Carthage, Mo. Many coaches did as Bland was offered and aggressively recruited by Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. He had made unofficial visits to virtually all of those and also Indiana and Oklahoma.

Bland is an excellent pickup that is considered a top 10 prospect in Missouri and a top 100 edge player in the nation, closer to top 50.