Can Oklahoma State Follow the Curt Cignetti Path Back to National Relevancy with Eric Morris?

STILLWATER — Indiana didn’t have a single 10-win season in the program’s history when Curt Cignetti arrived following the 2023 season. Now the Hoosiers have two 11-win seasons and a College Football Playoff appearance and look like a near lock for a first-round bye in this year’s playoff.

But Cignetti, now a household name, didn’t show up in Bloomington alone. He brought six position coaches with him, including both coordinators.

He also brought 13 former JMU players, according to this report from Sporting News. That list included 11 starters or heavily used rotational players. Nine of those players maintained their level of involvement or increased it to serve as the backbone for Indiana’s 2024 playoff run.

All of which begs the question, when Oklahoma State’s new head football coach, Eric Morris, kicks off his first spring practice, how many former North Texas players and coaches will be living in Stillwater?

Given the fact that North Texas finds itself in the middle of a 10-1 season that just might result in a playoff bid if the cards fall their way, several UNT players will get a lot of attention in the upcoming transfer portal if they want to make a change.

North Texas faces Temple on at 2:30 p.m. Friday. Here are a few players who might be worth watching, just in case.

Offense

QB Drew Mestemaker (#17) – He leads the nation with 3,469 passing yards, has 26 passing touchdowns and a 70% completion rate to back all of that up. Oh yeah, and he’s a redshirt freshman.

RB Caleb Hawkins (#24) – The freshman from Shawnee leads the team in carries (168), rushing yards (1,030) and rushing touchdowns (19). He’s also sixth with 306 receiving yards on 26 receptions and had three additional scores.

WR Wyatt Young (#10) – The 6-foot, 195-pound sophomore leads North Texas’ receiving corps by a considerable margin. He has 56 receptions, 1,076 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. His closest competition in those categories trails him by 16 receptions, 432 yards and five scores. Pro Football Focus credits him with forcing 25 missed tackles and only three contested targets, suggesting the slot does a good job getting open.

Other names to know:

WR Landon Sides (##22) – Junior, fourth in receiving with 26 receptions, 369 yards and a touchdown

LT Braydon Nelson (#67) – Sophomore, UNT’s second-highest graded lineman (74.7 overall by PFF)

RG Johnny Dickson (#54) – Junior, UNT’s third-highest graded lineman (70.8 overall by PFF)

Defense

LB Ethan Wesloski (#32) – The junior linebacker leads the team in total tackles (88) and tackles for loss (nine). He also has one interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Pro Football Focus graded him 91 overall, putting him in as the 18th-best defender in the entire country to play at least 100 snaps.

S Patrick Smith-Young (#12) – The junior safety is third on the team with 58 tackles and is the UNT defensive back opposing teams avoid the most, averaging 15 plays between targets. Smith-Young broke up two passes. He gave up seven receptions on 13 total targets, but those catches only added up to 58 yards.

DL Ethan Day (#90) – The junior leads the team with 23 total pressures this season, including 4.5 sacks. Only one other player on the team has more than 15 pressures for UNT this fall. He’s third on the team with six tackles for loss.

Other names to know:

CB Kollin Lewis (#25) – Sophomore, team-high two interceptions, allowed seven catches and only 62 yards on 16 targets, has the defense’s fifth-highest PFF grade (74.8).

S Quinton Hammonds (#14) – Sophomore, has 45 tackles and tied for team lead with two interceptions.

DL Brayden Knox (#42) – Freshman, from Putnam City, played in five games

DL Will Smith (#92) – Sophomore, former Tulsa player from Choctaw, played in three games. Was, at one point, committed to OSU out of high school.