Texas Tech’s Cameron Batson looking for victory in final meeting with OSU
Staff Writer swright@oklahoman.com
Speed and reliable hands. Intelligence and good character.
Cameron Batson came out of Millwood High School in 2014 with all the tangible and intangible qualities Oklahoma State looks for in a slot receiver.
He attended an OSU camp the summer before his senior year, and was asked to stay afterward for a meeting with receivers coach Kasey Dunn.
“I was really excited, thinking they were about to offer him,” said Willie Batson, Cameron’s father and an assistant coach at Millwood.
They talked about improving his routerunning, and discussed his interest in playing defense, Willie recalls. But an offer never came.
Cameron Batson ultimately signed with Texas Tech and has played all but two games his entire career there, with 1,176 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 117 receptions. He’s also been a reliable return man, a job he’s held since his freshman season.
Having already graduated with an accounting degree, Batson is ready for his final game against the Cowboys when they visit Texas Tech at 7 p.m. Saturday.
While he’s had some solid individual performances against the Cowboys, Batson has never beaten them.
“OSU would’ve been a place I considered,” Batson said. “I always rooted for the home teams with OU and OSU. But neither of those guys offered, so I always wanted payback.
“We’re looking forward to a great atmosphere. We’re opening conference play with these guys, so we just want to come out with the win at the end of the day.”
Coming from a long line of Millwood receivers that strings back to the Woods brothers, who all became stars at Oklahoma State, Batson was one of the top receivers in the state his senior year, though some questioned his size at 5-foot-9.
Oklahoma State’s needs at receiver at the time likely played a part in the Cowboys holding back on offering Batson. OSU’s 2014 recruiting class included three receivers, but none who would play in the slot.
The class had James Washington, Chris Lacy and Keenen Brown, who is now a Cowboy back.
“We liked him, thought he was a good player,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “I think we filled up early at receiver.”
Batson couldn’t be happier with how it worked out for him.
“I made the best decision of my life coming to Texas Tech,” he said. “I graduated, got my degree. So that’s that.”
Over the summer, Texas Tech’s strength and conditioning staff labeled Batson the “Fastest man in Texas,” after he ran three consecutive 40-yard dash times between 4.31 and 4.35 seconds.
That’s where the future comes into play. At 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds, his size isn’t going to wow NFL teams. But his speed and his hands — he had the lowest droppedpass percentage of any returning Big 12 receiver with at least 40 targets last year at 1.61 percent — could give him a chance to find a role at the next level.
“That’s definitely something I want to pursue,” Batson said. “I like to be physical. I’m always around the ball. I like to block. Back in high school, the coaches always said if you can’t block and be selfless and try to extend plays for others, then no one will do it for you.”
Willie Batson will be on the sidelines with Millwood against Christian Heritage on Friday night, then he’ll head to Lubbock Saturday, with plenty of time to make to his regular seats just a few rows above the visitor’s bench.
He makes it to every game he can, and he’d love the opportunity to see his son play in the NFL.
“He had his goal board up in his room when he was in high school, and that was one of his goals, to play in the NFL,” Willie Batson said. “He’s gonna at least give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, he’s got his accounting degree, and he can get into the business world and get to working.”