Black, Pullen to continue journey at OSU

As Korie Black walked away from the car, he heard his friend shouting familiar words.

Trent Pullen dropped off Black at his home, but Pullen wouldn't leave before blurting out another reminder about where he wanted Black to play college football.

“Come to Oklahoma State with me, bro,” Pullen said.

Black, a senior defensive back from Waco, Texas, learned to expect this from his Connally High School teammate and childhood buddy.

“It was just always in my ear,” Black said.

Now, Pullen's wish is closer to becoming reality. He and Black each had multiple offers, but they committed to OSU as 2020 recruits. Pullen, a guard, announced his decision April 23 and predicted Black would eventually follow.

Despite persistence, Pullen couldn't get a clear answer from him.

It became a running joke between them. In the middle of their workouts, Pullen urged Black to become a Cowboy. At random moments, Black's cellphone lit up with messages from Pullen about OSU. Sometimes, to draw a reaction from Pullen, Black said he had committed to a different school.

“I was just messing with him like that,” Black said. “But in my head, I knew where I was going.”

He didn't tell Pullen directly. Instead, Pullen saw the video on his Twitter and Instagram feeds June 22, a day Black had anticipated.

“I decided to keep it a secret until my birthday and then let it out,” Black said.

After a series of Black's highlight clips, the video showed an image of him in an orange Cowboys jersey, along with the word Pullen had waited to see and hear: “COMMITTED.” Pullen excitedly shared the video, sent messages to Black and included him in a group chat of OSU commits.

“The whole time, I had an idea in my head that he was gonna commit,” Pullen said. “So I was already prepared for it.”

Although Black hadn't revealed his choice to his teammate until then, Pullen could read him thanks to their years of friendship. They played youth football together, and their families have traveled with each other to games and college visits. Their connection extends to their fathers, who were friends as Connally students.

Shane Anderson, Connally's football coach, has worked with Black and Pullen since they played on the varsity squad as freshmen. Anderson complimented Black's versatility and Pullen's athleticism, as well as their camaraderie.

“They have a great relationship,” Anderson said. “They've grown up together.”

Despite their close bond, different factors led them to choosing OSU. If coach Mike Gundy hadn't hired Charlie Dickey as the new offensive line coach, Pullen likely would have chosen a different school.

About a year ago, Pullen met Dickey during a visit to Kansas State, where Dickey previously coached. Dickey said he envisioned Pullen as a center or a guard but imagined him practicing each O-line position so he could fill in for someone if needed. Pullen said he appreciated this blueprint for his future, which he also expects to follow as a Cowboy.

“He and Coach Dickey hit it off in the recruiting process very early on,” Anderson said. “And I think if Coach Dickey would have went to anywhere else in the country, Trent would have been right there. Their relationship's second to none.”

Black, who received an offer from OSU the summer before his sophomore year, connected with corners coach Tim Duffie and safeties coach Dan Hammerschmidt. As Duffie told him about OSU's tendency to use press man coverage, the style of defense Black likes, Black realized he would fit into the system.

“When I went down there for multiple visits, it just felt like home,” Black said.

Pullen's presence will add to the comfortable vibe. Their families can drive from Waco to Stillwater together, and the longtime teammates also plan to be roommates.

Black and Pullen said they see benefits of playing in separate position groups, each striving to make a unique impact at OSU, but they look forward to continuing a journey that started when they were elementary-aged kids.

“We've been playing forever, since Little League and then now in high school,” Pullen said. “Why stop now in college while we have a chance to play in a big program together that's close to home?”