Oklahoma State makes its appearance on ESPN's Top 75 Recruiting Class Rankings, albeit just sneaking in.
With the 2026 college football signing period concluded, ESPN's final recruiting class rankings paint a clear picture for Oklahoma State: a modest high school haul that landed the Cowboys at No. 71 overall nationally.
ESPN had this to say regarding the Cowboys' 71st overall ranking:
"Eric Morris took over a program and a class in need of work and improvement. The first step has been rebuilding the roster, something he was able to do while at North Texas. Not surprisingly he has leaned heavily on the transfer portal, but he has also been able to bring some talent via the high school and junior college ranks.
He was able to flip former Oklahoma State commit RB Kaydin Jones back from Kansas. To help boost a defense that was solid even during the Cowboys' 2025 slide, he landed LB Taurean Davis, a top-10 junior college prospect. Broderick Vehrs was a North Texas commit who followed Morris to the Cowboys and gives him another promising QB to develop. Joey Quinn was a February signing day add and is a good-sized DL who can be tough against the run."
This placement marks a notable entry into the top 75 after previously sitting unranked, reflecting late additions like running back Kaydin Jones (a flip from Kansas), junior college linebacker Taurean Davis (a top-10 JC prospect), quarterback Broderick Vehrs (who followed new coach Eric Morris from North Texas).
Despite these inclusions, the class features zero SC Next 300 commits, no players ranked among ESPN's top prospects, showing a limited elite-talent pipeline.
Prior to the transfer portal opening, Oklahoma State's high school recruiting efforts were underwhelming, with fewer than a handful of commits and no ESPN 300 prospects.
This would have left the class unranked entirely on ESPN's board, a reflection of the program's transitional struggles following a disappointing 3-9 season in 2025 and the coaching change to Eric Morris.
The Cowboys leaned heavily on junior college and portal additions to build numbers, addressing immediate needs on both sides of the ball but highlighting a reliance on transfers over traditional recruiting dominance.
In contrast, OSU's transfer portal class stands out as a major strength, previously ranked No. 13 nationally by ESPN among portal groups.
Headlined by quarterback Drew Mestemaker (who led FBS in passing yards and touchdowns in 2025 at North Texas), running back Caleb Hawkins (the nation's top rusher in touchdowns last year), and wide receiver Wyatt Young, these moves provide veteran production and scheme continuity under Morris' up-tempo offense.
The portal influx transforms a potentially stagnant rebuild into one with real competitiveness, especially on a roster that struggled offensively and defensively in the Big 12 last season.
Within the Big 12, ESPN's high school-focused rankings show significant variance. Texas Tech leads the conference at No. 13, powered by seven SC Next 300 commits including five-star OT Felix Ojo and LB LaDamion Guyton.
BYU sits at No. 20 with three SC Next 300 prospects, strong in tight end and quarterback depth. West Virginia ranks No. 23, emphasizing offensive line and secondary. Houston checks in at No. 35 with a five-star dual-threat QB in Keisean Henderson, while Arizona lands at No. 39, building around a four-star QB successor.
Lower-ranked Big 12 squads include Utah (No. 40), Arizona State (No. 41), TCU (No. 49), Kansas State (No. 50), Kansas (No. 52), Baylor (No. 60), Colorado (No. 61), and Iowa State (No. 66). Several others, such as Cincinnati, UCF, and others, fall outside the top 75 or remain unranked in this cycle.
For Oklahoma State, the No. 71 high school ranking reflects rebuilding challenges, but the elite portal class offers a faster path forward.
Under Morris, blending these veteran transfers with developmental youth could accelerate a turnaround in a league where immediate impact matters most.
As the Cowboys eye 2026 contention, success will hinge on integrating this mixed roster effectively.
Check out the below link for the full ESPN Recruiting Class Rankings:
