Five pressing questions surrounding recruiting
STILLWATER — This is just the second year of existence for the early signing period for high school football players, but already, it has become the primary signing date in the eyes of most colleges and prospects.
Oklahoma State will be looking to sign likely 20-22 players in its 2019 recruiting class on Wednesday, with all but a couple of those spots already spoken for. Let’s address the questions that loom around signing day for coach Mike Gundy and the Cowboys:
What kind of drama will signing day hold for OSU?
There will be some drama, and it will be of significance, with receiver Langston Anderson of Midlothian, Texas, set to make his announcement at 4 p.m. Wednesday. He’s choosing between OSU, Baylor and Ole Miss. The Cowboys don’t currently have a receiver in the class, and Anderson would likely be the only one added if he signs.
Anderson spent the final recruiting weekend on a visit to Ole Miss, but OSU has been working hard as well. Gundy, offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and receivers coach Kasey Dunn made a joint visit to Anderson’s home last week.
Beyond that, there’s no drama that is expected to play out on Wednesday, though surprises are always possible.
Will OSU fill its class in the early signing period?
No, Gundy says he and his staff will likely have one or two spots left to fill in the February signing period. The exact number will be known after Wednesday, but the Cowboys remain in the mix for Katy, Texas, running back Deondrick Glass. OSU, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Michigan and Miami are the finalists for Glass, who will announce his commitment Jan. 14 on ESPN during the Blue-Gray All-American Game.
How have the Cowboys addressed areas of need?
It would seem they’ve done a more than adequate job to this point. Both the offensive and defensive lines were areas of focus in the 2018 class, and again this year.
The Cowboys hit the defensive line hard early, gathering multiple tackles and ends from the high school level during the summer. They continued to add to it with Edmond Santa Fe defensive end Trace Ford and a dip into the junior-college pool late in the process for some more immediate assistance.
After a strong haul a year ago on the offensive line, the Cowboys gathered up four more in this class to help rebuild the depth that had disappeared a couple years ago.
The class includes junior-college running back Dezmon Jackson, a pair of linebackers and a punter to fill some holes left by graduating or departing players from this past season.
Are there any pressing additions that need to be made to the class?
A receiver like Anderson certainly couldn’t hurt. The Cowboys aren’t desperate for one. After Jalen McCleskey decided to transfer, the Cowboys were left without a senior in a group that is talented at the top and strong in numbers.
Last year’s class went after size, and succeeded. The depth chart is a little thinner at inside receiver now, so some help there would be valuable.
Which of the currently committed players could make an immediate impact?
There are a couple of easy answers, one being
the junior-college players. For one, they’re primarily in positions of need. Secondly, they all appear to be enrolling in January, and thus, on campus for spring practice to get an early start.
Among them, defensive tackle Sione Asi might have the most direct path to early playing time.
OSU is losing three of its top five defensive tackles, and will need immediate help to fill out the depth chart.
From the high school ranks, the only player who
is known to be enrolling early is quarterback Brendan Costello, but he faces quite a challenge to get onto the two-deep behind Dru Brown and Spencer Sanders.
Of course, the most obvious answer to the question of immediate impact is 27-year-old Australian punter Tom Hutton, who will be on campus next month. OSU graduates the only two players who have punted in either of the last two seasons, so the door is wide open.