Daily Bullets (Apr. 5): Cowboy Basketball Lands Their Backcourt, David Taylor Lands Another Penn State Wrestler

Thanks for stopping by – here’s your daily dose of Oklahoma State sports news.

Scores

Softball: Cowgirls 4, Arizona 2
Baseball: Cowboys 4, K-State 3

Three Thoughts

• Exciting additions through the portal yesterday as the Pokes filled out their backcourt – the Cowboys are adding a scoring guard out of the SEC that loves to get to the rim and a Big East team’s leading scorer in the two-guard spot (PFB)

• David Taylor is bringing in a 184-pounder from Penn State to help replace Dustin Plott – how did Penn State let him slip away? 

It was presumed Ryder would slot into Penn State’s 184-pound spot going into next season, but Penn State hit the portal and brought in Ohio State transfer Rocco Welsh, who didn’t wrestle this past season but made the NCAA finals at 174 pounds in 2024.

• OSU pursues talented (four-star) quarterbacks every year, and this year they appear locked in an LA area guy: 

If you’ve been following Oklahoma State recruiting at all the last few months, you would know that four-star Oscar Rios is the quarterback they’re most targeting. He’s from Downey, CA and the No. 10 quarterback in the class. 

[247 Sports $$$]

Two Quotes

• I’m not sure what else would be/could be communicated about coaches, but the OSU football players talking about the intensity the new coaches bring is something: 

“Man, Coach DJ (Tialavea), I’d say just everything we do, the intensity is up,” (tight end Josh) Ford said. “I love that. Say it’s a Thursday morning run, we’re in here at 6 a.m. running 200s, that’s basically game day for us. He gets us all in the right mindset, like we’re gonna dominate this…”

[PFB] 

• Not OSU-specific, but the Grambling State coach brought an intriguing concept: buyouts when players leave in the portal. Contracts would do it, coach. 

“Coaches have been doing it for years, so we shouldn’t get mad as coaches when these kids make decisions to take care of their family,” Joseph said. “But I also think there needs to be a buyout. If they move up from me and go to Group of Five or [sic] Power Five, I should get kind of a compensation for that. So, NCAA, if you’re listening to me, I need a buyout.”    

[CBS Sports]

One Question

• Would you say there’s reason for optimism about Oklahoma State’s wrestling future? 

OSU had the #2 recruiting class in the country this year and just added a transfer who was ranked #5 in his class and has all 4 years of eligibility remaining

— MatBoy (@Seth_Duckworth) April 4, 2025

Non-OSU Bullets

• America is going through another 80 year-reinvention

• This interview with the Coastal Carolina AD on why they’re offering free concessions was insightful

• Why friction is good (faith-based)