Mike Gundy Saw as Many of His Former Players in Frisco as Current Cowboys with Him
Pokes Report’s Big 12 Media Days coverage is brought to you by VisitStillwaterOK.org. Touch down at SWO and experience an Oklahoma State game day the Stillwater way. Visit Stillwater is your go-to for where to eat, stay and celebrate in America’s Friendliest College Town.
FRISCO, Texas – Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy thought he was in a time machine? No, Gundy didn’t but he had flashbacks, for sure, at Big 12 Football Media Days in Frisco, Texas.
“The first guy I bumped into was Stephon Johnson and he came up and hugged me,” Gundy said of bumping into one of three of the former Oklahoma State players there to talk to the media and represent. Only Johnson, wide receiver Jaden Bray, and cornerback D.J. McKinney were not repping Oklahoma State and orange and black. Johnson was there in a Houston Cougars uniform, McKinney is a cornerback at Colorado, and Jaden Bray is in his second season at West Virginia.
“It was crazy to see Cam Smith,” Johnson said. “We went head-to-head, and even D.J. McKinney (Oklahoma State and now Colorado) Then Jaden Bray was the first person I saw when I walked in (to the Ford Center). It was like, of course, the first person I saw was one that I used to play with. It’s good to see them flourishing too.”
Gundy said he saw Bray, and like with Johnson hugged the former Cowboys receiver. He did not see McKinney, but was interested in hearing that I confronted him about the celebration of lifting his leg like a dog after he made an interception in the slaughter Colorado had over Oklahoma State in the “Black Friday” game in Boulder last season.
“You really asked him that,” Gundy asked me.
Yes, I did. I have a ton of respect for McKinney. He was one of my favorite players to cover, to interview. I knew he was going tobe really good. Now, he’s Preseason All-Big 12. Yes, when he picked that pass off against Oklahoma State for a pick-six. He did it, was flagged for it. I hadn’t forgot it.
“You know it wasn’t like any disrespect. I didn’t mean it in a disrestpectful way,” McKinney said, kind of embarrassed. “It was caught up in the moment with all that adrenaline. I just did the first thing that came in my mind, honestly.”
No problem with McKinney leaving Oklahoma State. He’s being coached by one of the greatest players at his position in the history of the game.
“It’s a blessing and I’m not going to lie,” McKinney said of being coached by one of the greatest cornerbacks in football history in Deion Sanders. “Having him as my coach, a Hall of Famer, I take all of my notes and he pours so much into me.”
I do hope he did his best to pour that out of McKinney’s game.
I get it, and the fact there were three former Oklahoma State players in Frisco is a product of the times, a product of the transfer portal era. The day before BYU defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa was there and he is a new transfer to the Cougars from rival down the interstate in Utah. On Wednesday, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham was asked about Tanuvasa and just deflected the question. Gundy commented for me on his trio, but there is no doubt the players are way more forgiving and still friends.
“Outside of us being between the lines on Saturday and on opposite teams, any other time those are my guys and we are brothers,” Cowboys cornerback Cam Smith said when asked about the trio of former Cowboys in other colors. “That doesn’t go away just because they left and made the best decision for them. You don’t want your brothers that are good players to leave, but ultimately they have to make the best decision for them.”
“I check in with those guys and see how they are doing,” Bray said of his former OSU teammates. “We see each other outside the lines, and we see each other way from football. We are still family even if we’re not on the same team anymore.”
Bray has only had two catches for 88-yards as a Mountaineer, but new coach Rich Rodriguez brought him to Media Days, so there is a belief he will be a major contributor for WVU this season. In three seasons at Oklahoma State, Bray had 48 receptions for 686-yards and four touchdowns.
“Sometimes things just don’t go as planned and some things aren’t for you,” Johnson said saying he is excited to play at Boone Pickens Stadium on Oct. 11 with his current team. “Things go a different way. I still love Stillwater so much and I have love for Oklahoma State, but now my story is different. Nothing against those guys but I had to go a different way myself.”
Johnson has found a connection in his current head coach in Willie Fritz. Fritz told me in Frisco that he believes the speedy Johnson has the abilities to play in the NFL and make a career of football. He was glowing in his comments.
“I’m just grateful to have him have that belief in me,” Johnson said of Coach Fritz. “I’m thankful for him everyday to put me in the position to be here at Media Days talking to you right now. Everyday when we have a conversation he is telling me that you can be however good you want to be. You can be the guy. Him saying that to me just means a lot.”
Johnson, Bray, and McKinney left, and this season will be monumental in determing if it was the right move.
Cam Smith and defensive tackle Iman Oates, who knows them all as well, stayed. Even with the rough season in 2024, those two told me they are more than happy with their decision.
“Loyalty is big to me and my family,” Smith said. “In high school there were other schools that wanted me to go to their school but I stuck it out and it helped me get where I’m at. I always keep my head down and keep grinding. I believe in Gundy and his system and he has my best interest at heart.”
There is also no question, which school they will go back and take their families to when it is time to celebrate and remember their college years.
