In-State Recruiting Taking off: A Look at Commits, Targets and Others to Watch

OSU landed a commitment from in-state 2024 recruit Will Smith [yes, Will Smith, get your jokes out] earlier this week to give the Cowboys their fourth commitment of the cycle — three of which are from the state of Oklahoma.

The foundation of the class being laid has already been established as Oklahoma-heavy, and that could spell good things for the future of the class and the program, too. There’s tons of talent within the state particularly in 2024, and OSU is already turning its eyes toward the class in an effort to build locally.

Here’s who else is on OSU’s radar.

Current commitments

• Will Smith, DE, Choctaw, Oklahoma

• Josh Ford, TE, Stillwater, Oklahoma

• Rodney Fields, RB, OKC, Oklahoma

• Willie Nelson, S, Longview, Texas

Other 2024 in-state offers

• Xavier Robinson, RB, Carl Albert: Robinson reported an OSU offer a few weeks before the staff offered fellow in-state standout Rodney Fields, who within the same weekend received an OSU offer and committed to the program. But Robinson still figures to be a target either as a nice complement to Fields at RB, who is smaller, or at linebacker, where Rivals lists him as an inside-backer. In his OSU-related posts, Robinson has mentioned OSU running backs coach John Wozniak, though. Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State are among those after him.

• Danny Okoye, DE, Tulsa: A listed 6-foot-4 defensive end prospect NOAH Homeschool, Okoye is a four-star recruit widely recruited both inside and outside the region. OSU is already in the mix with an offer, but so, too, is Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and others. He’d be a huge coup for the Cowboys if he opted to stay within the state borders and play in Stillwater. OSU was the second power conference team to offer him a scholarship during his recruitment before he really blew up, so perhaps that will help.

• Bergin Kysar, DL, Edmond: Kysar is a listed 6-4, 230-pound DL from Edmond Santa Fe who has mostly flown under the radar thus far as a recruit. Only OSU, Army and Tulsa have reportedly offered. He seems to be what you’d expect from an in-state OSU target: he runs track, plays football, participates in archery (!), and power lifts like an absolute boss, too.

Names to watch

• Mykel Patterson-McDonald, S, Westmoore: One of the fastest-rising recruits in the state for the 2024 cycle with OU, Michigan State, UNLV and Tulsa all offering him the last month. OSU has not officially entered the mix yet but he is on the radar.

• Devon Jordan, CB, Union: OSU has fervently recruited Tulsa Union over the years, so it’s likely only a matter of time before Jordan, a four-star cornerback according to Rivals, gets an official offer from OSU. Kansas State and Iowa State have already offered, among others.

• Elijah Green, ATH, OKC: Green has reported offers from Texas Tech, UNLV and most recently Army. Iowa State has shown heavy interest and he’s visited Iowa State, TCU and Oklahoma State as well.