Kale Smith Receives Eligibility Waiver, Will Be a Cowboy Again in 2026

The Cowboys got some more good news Friday, as an experienced corner picked up an extra year of eligibility.

Kale Smith has been granted a sixth year, Oklahoma State announced Friday. Smith was enrolled with the Cowboys for the 2021 season but was unable to compete because of injury. He then played in just three games in 2022, now counting as his redshirt year, before he playing regularly for the Pokes the past three seasons.

Cornerback Kale Smith has been granted an extension by the NCAA and he is eligible to compete in the 2026 season. 🤠 pic.twitter.com/x5B1hohmJH

— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) February 6, 2026

Smith started the first six of the Cowboys’ games this past season before another injury sidelined him. In those six games, Smith recorded 20 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception.

Across the past five seasons, he’s played in 48 games, combining for 75 tackles, two tackles for loss, two picks (one of which was a touchdown return against Arkansas) and eight PBUs.

That 74-yard pick-six against the Razorbacks started a comeback for the Pokes, as OSU went on to win that game 39-31 in overtime. That’s the program’s most recent win against a Power Conference team.

Out of Midwest City, Smith was a three-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class. 247Sports labeled him as the No. 22 player from the state that year. He’d go on to pick Oklahoma State over offers from Oregon State, Air Force and New Mexico. He played both sides of the ball as a Bomber, finishing his senior season with 52 tackles, two interceptions, nine PBUs and 649 receiving yards.

This isn’t the only waiver OSU is after. Eric Morris told reporters Wednesday that they’re waiting to hear back on defensive tackle Iman Oates, who started his college career at the JUCO level. So there could be more good news coming for the Cowboys’ defense,