Five Cowboys Made the Shriners Children’s Watch List

We’re still a month and a half before we see an OSU football game, but several Cowboys are already garnering attention for next spring.

Five Cowboys were named to the Shriners Children’s 1,000 Watch List. It’s the start of a process of recognizing players with talent and NFL potential for consideration in next year’s Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl, a premiere pre-NFL Draft scouting event.

Named were quarterback Drew Mestemaker, linebacker Ethan Wesloski, edge Jaleel Johnson, offensive lineman Johnny Dickson III and wide receiver Wyatt Young. Of the five Pokes listed, only one (Johnson) returns from last season’s roster. The other four followed first-year head coach Eric Morris from North Texas.

Here’s a look at what they liked.

Drew Mestemaker (QB): FBS’s reigning passing leader. On one hand, he’ll be doing his best to live up to the step up in competition. On the other, he’s the nation’s leading passer stepping up into a Power Four program with his offensive coaches and system from last year, a good chunk of his weapons and a Top 15 transfer portal class. He could be ready for that sophomore surge.

Ethan Wesloski (LB): The redshirt senior comes to OSU from North Texas. He broke out as a junior in 2025, grabbing the third-highest PFF grade among FBS linebackers last season. He ranked in the Top 25 among tacklers in the nation.

Jaleel Johnson (Edge): The list’s sole returning Cowboy might be the least credentialed of the group (stats-wise, that is). Johnson only played four games last season but in those limited snaps he was rated the Pokes’ best defender by PFF.

Johnny Dickson III (OL): A seasoned vet with starting experience and honors to boot, Dickson earned all-conference honors in the American last year as a junior. He boasted more than 750 snaps on the year and will be a part of the Cowboys’ O-Line as it tries to gel and facilitate all their offensive potential.

Wyatt Young (WR): Ending the list with a not-so-hidden gem. Young was a First Team All-American as a sophomore for the Mean Green and ranking third in the FBS in receiving yards.

The 2027 Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. and will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.