Christmas Wish List: Who OSU Football Is Targeting for 2018

With 21 commitments in the class of 2018 and the December signing period fast-approaching, the Oklahoma State coaching staff is putting the finishing touches on a recruiting class currently ranked just within the top-30 nationally.

The recruiting class, headlined by stud quarterback Spencer Sanders and Union’s C.J. Moore, is largely filled out with minor work to be done before signing day — which can take place as early as Dec. 20 this year due to the implementation of an early period.

With that in mind, here is an early Christmas wish list with prospects OSU is targeting this holiday season. Ho ho ho!

Haki Woods Jr.

Woods is a junior college cornerback who made an official visit to Oklahoma State for the Kansas game this weekend. The 6-foot-3 prospect from Pima Community College is a three-star, rated as the No. 7 player at his position in the junior college ranks.

Woods is also drawing heavy interest from Arizona — the presumed favorite for the Tucson native — as well as Oregon and Oklahoma State.

Woods was a former Arizona commit before backing away from his pledge in late October. A visit this weekend and continued recruitment by the OSU staff since November could bode well for OSU, which is still looking to add depth at the CB position alongside JayVeon Cardwell and Gabe Lemons in the 2018 class.

OSU commit Jaelyn Nolan, a listed athlete, could also compete for the position at OSU despite playing QB in high school. But the addition of a proven cornerback with experience would be valuable — and for Woods, the potential to play early in the Big 12 could be enticing.

Tayland Humphrey

Tayland Humphrey — AKA “Big Saucy” — has had quite the random and strange recruitment process at Hutchison Community College. Humphrey is an elite defensive tackle prospect, yet with offers from Bama, Florida State, Arkansas and others, 247Sports analyst peg him to be  …. FIU bound.

Why, you ask? That’s because John Bolding, his younger brother from Klein Oak, committed to FIU. And it’s pretty clear they want to play together at the next level.

Because of this fact, OSU extended offers to both Humphrey and Bolding in hopes of landing a dynamic packaged deal. Yet right now, Humphrey is still in uncommitted limbo, despite Bolding’s committment to FIU back in July.

Humphrey made a visit to OSU several weeks ago, though. And Joe Bob Clements is doing yeoman’s work to try and make the thing happen. He’s worth keeping an eye on, because a commitment from him would ensure OSU a bonafide star and starter on the interior of the defensive line from day one.

John Bolding

The aforementioned John Bolding — AKA “Lil Saucy” — is the one who committed to FIU in July. Yet the recruitment between OSU and Bolding is ongoing.

Bolding might not be OSU’s top target along the offensive line, but if he were to flip his decision, OSU would be inclined to take him if only to try and make the Humphrey-Bolding connection come to fruition.

Bolding is a two-star who has since picked up offers from Southern Miss and Alabama in the wake of his commitment to FIU — which I presume is only an effort by the schools to pique Humphrey’s interest.

Right now, it still seems to me that Bolding and Humphrey are two-for-one specials. So unless that somehow changes in the coming weeks, OSU will continue to view Bolding as a target up until signing day. Humphrey’s value is simply too high.

Lyn-J Dixon

Lyn-J Dixon is a four-star all-purpose back from Butler, Georgia, who was previously committed to Tennessee before backing away from his decision in the wake of the Butch Jones saga.

As a result of his recently re-opened recruitment, Dixon is planning an official visit to Oklahoma State in December. But right now, it’s all Clemson and the reigning national champions who have captured the lead for the elite top-300 national prospect.

OSU has one commitment at running back for 2018 in Jahmyl Jeter, but Lyn-J is a different style of prospect who could be the lightning to Jeter’s thunder.

Right now, an extra running back for 2018 is more of a luxury than a necessity, given that OSU has Justice Hill, J.D. King and Chuba Hubbard for 2018. But given the potential that OSU could lose Hill to the NFL after the 2018 season, Dixon could provide a high-grade insurance policy. The staff will need to wow him on his official to sway him away from the Tigers, though.

Azur Kamara

OSU is fishing in old territory for class of 2018 edge rusher Azur Kamara, an Arizona Western prospect where OSU found linebacker Patrick Macon last cycle. Kamara is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound prospect ranked in the top 10 nationally at his position.

Despite a long-standing recruitment on OSU’s side, 247Sports doesn’t peg the Pokes to be a factor, as 67% of voters predict he’s Louisville bound. But as of Sunday, OSU, along with Utah, Ole Miss, Iowa State and Florida State, are his final five.

When OSU began its recruitment, Kamara was hardly a known commodity. But with 20 offers and counting, he’s a nationally known name and could be a plug-and-play on the edge of OSU’s defense. Look for OSU to try to land an official visit in the coming weeks.