Boone: Five Players to be Excited About for 2018

The 2017 season for Oklahoma State is, mercifully, in the books.

But with gridiron grinding still fresh on the mind, I wanted to empty out some leftover thoughts as an early look-ahead for 2018 with five players to watch out for next season. (As an aside, I avoided listing any of the same players Cox listed on his own personal list a few weeks ago.)

(As another aside, yes, I’m still very much all-in on Spencer Sanders.)

(Oh, and one final aside: There will be more lists like this as we learn more in the summer and into fall training camp.)

OK, let’s do this.

Brock Martin — Defensive End

Martin was slated to make an impact as a true frosh based off fall camp reports before a shoulder injury forced him into a redshirt season. But if there’s anyone I’d put money on to bounce back stronger, it’s Martin — a two-time state champion wrestler from Oologah.

With Tralund Webber expiring his eligibility and Jarrell Owens plateauing in 2017, Martin has a shot to work his way into the 2-deep. This kid’s motor is next-level good.

Patrick McKaufman — Wide Receiver

McKaufman won’t get the headlines OSU’s other receiver recruits will, simply because he was a summer enrollee who redshirted. But don’t let his situation fool you: He’s got the talent to legitimately burst onto the scene … as OSU’s No. 1 receiver.

The former Douglass star QB turned NEO standout turned Cowboy is a freakish athlete at 6-6 and he’s absolutely electric with the ball in his hands. He’s got a good shot to stun people next season as OSU looks to replace James Washington and Marcell Ateman.

Sean Michael Flanagan — Safety

Sean Michael Flanagan was a last-minute addition to OSU’s 2018 class, de-committing from Arkansas and flipping to the Pokes a day before the early signing period.

It was a big deal, no doubt, but I don’t think people truly appreciated what a coup it was for Oklahoma State. His commitment gave OSU its third-highest rated commitment in the 2018 class, and at a position — safety — that desperately needs a young contributor to step up.

Flanagan could be the guy to fill in a role early no the back end of OSU’s defense, and he’s got a head start as an early enrollee.

Enoch Smith — Defensive Tackle

A high school blue-chipper, Smith flamed out at Michigan State before taking the JUCO route back to the Division I ranks. Now one of the vets of OSU’s nasty defensive front, Smith will challenge for a starting gig with DeQuinton Osborne off to the NFL. He’s an unreal talent with a perfect frame to fill OSU’s run-stuffing DT position — a la Ofa Hautau — up front.

Malcolm Rodriguez — Safety

Considering that Rodriguez was a late-cycle add for OSU in 2017, it’s a wonder he was able to contribute at all as a true freshman. But he stepped on campus and didn’t look out of place in fall camp, which allowed him to play special teams and spot duty in OSU’s secondary.

He’ll be all the better for it in 2018, as he and Thabo Mwaniki — two true frosh who saw the field quite a bit as youngsters in 2017 — will be among those competing to replace the production left behind by seniors Tre Flowers and Ramon Richards.