How has Oklahoma State football fared with four-star recruits the past decade?
STILLWATER — Recruiting rankings have long been a contentious topic among Oklahoma State football fans.
While some fight the battle that coach Mike Gundy’s recruiting of top-line stars must improve, others back the coach’s philosophy of identifying players that fit at OSU and can be developed well above the ranking handed down by national recruiting services.
In the recruiting classes of 2013-22, Gundy signed 32 players rated as four-star prospects by 247 Sports — or 3.2 per year. The 2014 and 2022 classes had six each, while the 2020 class had just one.
While there are stars like Mason Rudolph, Spencer Sanders and Tylan Wallace in the four-star group, there are even more who flopped, hardly saw the field or had to be dismissed from the team.
While Gundy acknowledges the need to bring great players to Stillwater, he’s also steadfast in his determination that he won’t simply chase players based on the opinion of the national ranking systems.
The on-field success during Gundy’s tenure has outpaced his program’s year-to-year recruiting rankings, which gives his theory some vigor.
Gundy’s 2023 class was without a four-star recruit, and so far — though only 10 players deep — the 2024 class is made up of only three-star prospects.
Whether a player is five-star, a three-star or a walk-on, recruiting is much more a gamble than a science, and that tale is told in OSU’s success with its top recruits in recent years.
Here’s a look at 10 years of OSU’s four-star recruits, as rated by 247 Sports, from 2013-22:
2013 Oklahoma State football four-star signees
Marcell Ateman, WR: Overcame injury issues to have a productive career, with 2,466 yards and 13 touchdowns. His professional career in the NFL and XFL has continued, having recently signed with the Buffalo Bills.
Naim Mustafaa, DE, 2013: Went through 2013 spring workouts but left, ultimately playing one season at Southern Miss in 2015.
Ra’Shaad Samples, WR: An up-and-coming coach in the college game, Samples’ playing career was limited. He played one year at OSU, catching three passes in 2014, then transferring to Houston before concussions forced him to retire in 2015.
Overview: The 2013 class included a couple of three-star prospects, defensive lineman Vincent Taylor and defensive back Tre Flowers, who are still in the NFL, along with some key contributors like safety Jordan Sterns and offensive tackle Zach Crabtree.
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2014 Oklahoma State football four-star signees
Gyasi Akem, LB: Became a valuable role player, finishing his career with 61 tackles.
Keenan Brown, WR: Outgrew the receiver position, moved to tight end, catching six passes over three seasons. Then transferred to Texas State where he had 577 receiving yards as a senior.
Chris Hardeman, CB: Appeared in eight games over two years at OSU, then finished his career at Houston Christian.
Tyreek Hill, RB/WR: A well-known tale, Hill came in as a junior-college transfer and had 814 yards from scrimmage in his junior season, but was dismissed after being arrested and charged with domestic abuse. He played his final college season at West Alabama before becoming an NFL star for the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins.
Mason Rudolph, QB: The posterboy for OSU’s quarterback recruiting, Rudolph climbed to the top of the OSU charts in virtually every major quarterback category before heading to the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Devon Thomas, RB: Never saw the field in a college football game after being arrested on charges stemming from an armed robbery attempt.
Overview: This remains one of the best-ranked recruiting classes in Gundy’s tenure. Of course, the most famous recruit in the class was receiver James Washington, who went from virtual anonymity to winning the Biletnikoff Award. But the class also included important contributors like defensive end Jordan Brailford, receiver Chris Lacy, linebacker Justin Phillips, cornerback Ramon Richards and defensive end Cole Walterscheid.
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2015 Oklahoma State football four-star signees
Chris Carson, RB: A junior-college transfer, Carson rushed for 1,076 yards and 13 touchdowns in his two OSU seasons before finding success in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks.
Darrion Daniels, DT: Had 41 tackles over three-plus seasons at OSU, then transferred to Nebraska to play his final season with his brother.
John Kolar, QB: Saw action in two career games, one at OSU in 2016 and one at Iowa State in 2019.
Overview: One of the lowest-rated recruits in the class was Marcus Keyes, who became a four-year starter on the offensive line. Also in the class were linebacker Jordan Burton, offensive lineman Johnny Wilson, safety Kenneth Edison-McGruder and slot receiver Jalen McCleskey.
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2016 Oklahoma State football four-star signees
Tyrell Alexander, WR: Had four receptions in a career split between OSU and Vanderbilt.
Calvin Bundage, LB: Key player throughout his career, finishing with 149 tackles and 12 sacks.
Tramonda Moore, OT: Never made it to campus because of academic issues, spent time at the junior-college level, signed with OU but was later dismissed.
Overview: Despite a No. 45 national ranking, this class epitomizes Gundy’s philosophy of developing three-star talent. Guys in this class who played in the NFL (most still active) include offensive tackle Teven Jenkins, cornerbacks Rodarius Williams and A.J. Green, running back Justice Hill, receiver Dillon Stoner and linebackers Devin Harper and Amen Ogbongbemiga.
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2017 Oklahoma State football four-star signees
L.C. Greenwood, WR: Limited by injuries, he had three catches in 2019 then transferred to Northwestern State in Louisiana.
Tylan Wallace, WR: Among the elite receivers in OSU history, he was a Biletnikoff Award finalist as a sophomore in 2018, ultimately finishing his career with 3,434 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Overview: You have to go all the way to the bottom of the ratings to find the hidden gem of this class, a safety named Malcolm Rodriguez, now a starting linebacker for the Detroit Lions. But the class also included running back Chuba Hubbard, Jelani Woods — the quarterback recruit who became a tight end, transferred to Virginia and now plays for the Indianapolis Colts — and long-time contributors like defensive linemen Brendon Evers and Brock Martin, receiver Braydon Johnson and safety Tre Sterling.
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2018 Oklahoma State football four-star signees
C.J. Moore, WR: Caught four passes in 2019 then transferred to junior college before landing at Washington State, where he did not record any statistics the past two seasons, missing one because of injury.
Spencer Sanders, QB: Polarizing among fans, Sanders won 30 games in his tenure and was in the top three of many major quarterback stat categories, but will finish his career at Ole Miss in the fall.
Overview: The three-star players in this class went on to fill multiple roles during the Cowboys’ defensive emergence under former coordinator Jim Knowles, with guys like defensive end Tyler Lacy and a quartet of defensive backs, Jason Taylor II, Kolby Harvell-Peel, Jarrick Bernard and Tanner McCalister.
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2019 Oklahoma State football four-star signees
Langston Anderson, WR: Battled a string of injuries, eventually catching four passes for 69 yards last season before entering the transfer portal following last season.
Grayson Boomer, TE: Never recorded any stats over three seasons on rosters at OSU and Tulsa.
Trace Ford, DE: The only four-star recruit in this class to live up to the billing, Ford made an immediate impact, and despite injury limitations, finished his four years at OSU with 59 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Transferred to OU in January.
Deondrick Glass, RB: Appeared in one game in 2019, then entered the transfer portal midway through the 2020 season.
Overview: At the three-star level, this turned out to be a crucial class for the offensive line, with multiple starters like Preston Wilson, Joe Michalski, Cole Birmingham and Taylor Miterko.
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2020 Oklahoma State football four-star signees
Shane Illingworth, QB: In position to be the starter at Nevada in the fall, Illingworth was productive as an injury replacement for Spencer Sanders in his two OSU seasons, throwing for 939 yards and seven touchdowns in six games. He transferred after 2021.
Overview: This was a class that ended up being ravaged by the transfer portal. Including Illingworth, nine players from the 23 who signed have transferred, and four others saw their careers end early, mostly because of injuries. Among those who remain are important pieces like cornerback Korie Black and receivers Brennan Presley and Rashod Owens.
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2021 Oklahoma State football four-star signees
Kendal Daniels, S: A star in the making, Daniels was the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year last season and is in line for a bigger role this fall.
Aden Kelley, DT: The promising young defensive tackle has made five tackles in eight games so far, with the potential for a more significant impact ahead.
Overview: From the three-star level, the Cowboys hit big with receivers Blaine Green and Jaden Bray, defensive end Collin Oliver and running back Jaden Nixon all seeing meaningful playing time early in their careers. Same for receivers Bryson Green and John Paul Richardson, who have since transferred.
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2022 Oklahoma State football four-star signees
C.J. Brown, RB: Stepped away from football during his freshman season.
Ollie Gordon, RB: Had 384 yards and four touchdowns from scrimmage as a true freshman, flashing the promise of his future as a potential featured back.
Braylin Presley, WR: Appeared in seven games as a slot receiver and special teamer, but transferred to Tulsa after the season.
Garret Rangel, QB: Redshirted but appeared in four games, with three starts in place of an injured Spencer Sanders, throwing for 711 yards and four touchdowns. Will be in the mix to be OSU’s starter down the line.
Talyn Shettron, WR: Bothered by injuries in his first year, Shettron had three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown while redshirting last fall.
Tyrone Webber, OL: The junior-college transfer saw action early, but left the team, ultimately returning to his home country of Canada to play college ball there.
Overview: While it’s hard to accurately grade the overall impact of the class this early, the four-star contingent was cut in half in less than a year. From the three-star ranks, OSU got contributions from players like linebacker Xavier Benson, cornerbacks Cameron Epps and D.J. McKinney, and receiver Stephon Johnson, who transferred.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football recruiting 4-star players has been a mixed bag
