Grading Oklahoma State’s 2020 Recruiting Class on Offense

Oklahoma State announced an 18-man recruiting class on Wednesday that heavily features lineman and defensive players, with eight of the 18 expected to play on the offensive side of the ball. Let’s take a look at those eight and hand out grades on how OSU addressed its needs on that side of the ball.

1. Receivers: Brennan Presley, Rashod Owens, Matt Polk

Report card: Color me ecstatic that Brennan Presley, the best player in the state and one of the breakout seniors of the year, is listed by OSU as a receiver. That’s fantastic. He can play corner at OSU — and I have no doubt he can do so at an elite level — but his ball-tracking skills could make him an absolute star pass-catcher in this offense.

Along with Presley, OSU also signed legacy receiver Matt Polk, a 6-foot-4 prospect who gives OSU Marcell Ateman-like size. And then, this week, they also added a commitment from Rashod Owens, a running back/safety/receiver who OSU anticipates will play receiver for them. All around, a really solid and electric class. I might love this trio.

Receivers grade: B+

2. Running back: TBD

Report card: There is … nothing to grade. OSU turned in an incomplete sample. OSU running back target Isaiah Jacobs committed to Maryland over OSU on Wednesday, and right now there’s no running back currently committed to OSU. Four-stars Daniyel Ngata and Kevontre Bradford are still uncommitted and being pursued by OSU, as is junior college prospect La’damian Webb. There’s time yet for this incomplete group to be salvaged for a passing grade.

RB grade: TBD

3. Quarterback: Shane Illingworth

Report card: The more I watch, the more I like this get for OSU. Illingworth is a 6-foot-6.5 pro-style prospect with a rocket-arm from California. I like that. I also like that this was the guy new OC Sean Gleeson clearly targeted early, then got. Even with this year’s offense revolving around Spencer Sanders’ running threat, it’s clear this is a guy Gleeson believes he can build an elite offense around. Watch his tape and you’ll agree with me.

QB grade: A+

4. Offensive line: Trent Pullen, Cade Bennett, Eli Russ, Monroe Mills

Report card: All the big bullies. This class is absolutely nasty. Two of the top-three ranked commits in this class are offensive linemen, and neither of those two — Eli Russ or Trent Pullen — are my favorite long-term prospects. That honor belongs to Arizona star Cade Bennett, a guy with a Quenton Nelson-like nasty streak who absolutely punishes people in the trenches. I don’t want to be a generous teacher and hand out two A+ grades, but I gotta do it. Take a bow, Charlie Dickey. Take a stinkin’ bow.

OL grade: A+

5. Cowboy back: Quinton Stewart

Report card: A very solid prospect. Stewart stands at a stout 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, and looks the part of a player who can grow into a significant contributor with time. He picked OSU over Iowa State and Kansas. Not a blue-chipper, but his blocking and pass-catching make him an intriguing take.

CWB grade: B