Justin Blackmon, Rickie Fowler headline Oklahoma State Hall of Honor inductees

STILLWATER — Reflecting on his Oklahoma State career, which included twice winning the Biletnikoff Award as college football’s best receiver, Justin Blackmon spoke about the year he didn’t play.

One of the headliners of OSU’s Hall of Honor induction on Friday night, Blackmon answered questions from Larry Reece, looking back on one of the greatest careers by a receiver in Cowboy history on a night when he and several others were celebrated for their OSU accomplishments.

Golfer Rickie Fowler, wrestler David “Buddy” Arndt, soccer player Yoland Odenyo, golf coach Ann Pitts and wrestling’s Shelby Wilson were also inducted into the Hall of Honor on Friday.

But Blackmon, who has been a mysterious figure since his NFL career flamed out a decade ago, appeared for the event and answered questions from Reece, the Pokes’ famous public address announcer who also serves as a senior associate athletic director.

Blackmon compiled 3,564 yards and 40 touchdowns on 253 catches over three seasons, but it was his redshirt year in 2008 that he says prepared him for it all.

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“I think it was just being around everybody and going through practices,” Blackmon said. “I redshirted my freshman year and was going up against our No. 1 defense. It’ll make you tough.”

Blackmon’s emergence in 2010, when he won his first Biletnikoff Award, was far from expected. A mid-level recruit from Plainview High School in Ardmore, Blackmon wasn’t widely known. After redshirting in 2008, he caught just 20 passes in 2009 before exploding for two incredible seasons.

Blackmon was part of the first OSU team to win 11 games in a season, then followed it up with the program’s first 12-win season and only Big 12 Championship.

“It meant everything,” Blackmon said of the team accomplishments. “It was all our hard work every day that we put in, especially doing it with your class, the ‘08 class, which is the greatest class to come through Oklahoma State.

“We worked hard. We set the goals, and that’s what we were striving to do.”

Fowler, who was a two-time first-team All-American and winner of the Ben Hogan and Phil Mickleson awards in 2008, was less of a surprise at OSU. A highly coveted prospect from Murrieta, California, he had been competing at a high level nationally before coming to Stillwater, where he quickly added his name to the list of elite players to come through the Cowboy golf program.

Speaking on Friday night, Fowler shared the story of how he ended up at OSU, despite he and a close friend initially committing to the UCLA golf program.

“I quickly found out that was the wrong decision,” he said of the UCLA commitment. “Decided to take an official visit to Oklahoma State. It was only between the two. Actually didn’t need to get to the official visit. I knew this was the place for me.”

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Fowler, now 34, has won six times on the PGA Tour, including the Rocket Mortgage Classic earlier this year. He has come to be known for wearing orange clothing on Sundays of his professional tournaments.

“Around campus and playing golf here for two years, you wear plenty of orange,” Fowler said. “I always loved orange growing up, so that wasn’t a very hard adjustment. And I feel like there’s not many guys that necessarily wear orange out on Tour. I thought that was something I could go do and have fun with and continue on.”

Arndt, a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, was a three-time individual national champion and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA Championships in 1942.

Wilson is also a National Wrestling Hall of Fame member after a career that saw him win an Olympic gold medal and finish as a two-time All-American at OSU.

Pitts, who coached Cowgirl golf from 1973-2000, led her squad to 15 conference titles. She is a two-time recipient of the NGCA Rolex/Gladys Palmer Meritorious Service Award for outstanding service and contributions to women’s college golf.

Odenyo was a three-time All-American, twice on the first team, and was twice named Big 12 Player of the Year.

With Friday’s six additions, OSU now has 77 inductees in its Hall of Honor.

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Justin Blackmon, Rickie Fowler headline OSU Hall of Honor inductees