2019 Recruiting: OSU’s Biggest Needs by Position (Part 2)

At the end of last week, I went position-by-position for 2019 to decipher which of Oklahoma State’s needs are most important on the recruiting trail to address. Today, we’re going to finish off Part II of that series with a look at the positions I ranked 6 through 10 in order of importance.

PART I

6. Wide receiver

Chris Lacy, Marcell Ateman and James Washington are exiting stage left gracefully, but in come Patrick McKaufman, C.J. Moore and Jonathan Shepherd to fill the spots for 2018.

In 2019 there will be less turnover, though. Only Jalen McCleskey is set to graduate, and I wouldn’t expect OSU to take more than two receivers in this class. Which means coach Kasey Dunn, like Josh Henson, can be selective in who he wants to bring in.

7. Running Back

Now is the time to prepare for the real possibility of Justice Hill forgoing his senior season for the NFL. And with OSU filling just one spot in 2018, I expect OSU will grab two running backs in the 2019 class to make up for Hill’s potential departure, as well as Jeff Carr’s transfer last season.

Keep an eye on Millwood (OKC) tailback Marcus Major.

8. Cornerback

Having JayVeon Cardwell, Tanner McCalister and Gabe Lemons — all 2018 signees — is reason to believe that CB is of low importance on the food chain for 2019. I would suspect this is a one-man cornerback class, and at tops two.

9. Safety

OSU signed four safeties in the 2018 class. Four! That’s enough youth to give OSU some serious cushion at the position. I’m not sure OSU takes any more than one safety.

10. Offensive line

After signing five in the 2018 class, Josh Henson’s on the hunt to bolster his OL unit with a blue-chipper or two. But there’s no urgency to replenish the talent at the position with an overhaul like 2018. Expect a two- or three-man class to help fill the voids expected to be opened when Lemaefe Galea’i, Deionte Noel, and Larry Williams expire their eligibility. But this position is going to be set for years to come.