Kasey Dunn’s Magical Formula For Recruiting Receivers Might be Height

Receivers coach Kasey Dunn’s got a magic formula when it comes to recruiting wide receivers. Mike Gundy acknowledged as much at his national signing day press conference in December where he gushed about his long-time assistant and the secret sauce that has netted OSU two Biletnikoff Award winners during his tenure.

“He’s had his experience in the NFL and he’s got a formula that he uses that he learned in the NFL — or he made that up and told me that, I don’t know,” Gundy said.

So what is this magic, proprietary formula he claims that no one can put a finger on? I won’t even begin to try and go full Nicolas Cage in National Treasure on you, but it might just be as simple as finding dudes who’ve been productive in high school and have good height.

Take a look at OSU’s 2018 recruiting class, for example: Of the three signees, none are shorter than 6-4.

• Johnathan Shepherd: 6-4
• CJ Moore: 6-5
• Patrick McKaufman: 6-6

That’s astounding. So maybe James Washington — a 6-foot specimen and Biletnikoff winner — is some aberration in the formula. Or maybe shorter, more explosive receivers are only one-half of his recruiting equation, which seems more likely.

A good mix of taller, possession receivers with average sized, explosive pass-catchers is super-ideal on paper. And it kind of seems like it’s OSU’s plan. Essentially mixing Marcell Ateman’s and Dillon Stoner’s and throwing it on the field is a stellar combo, and it’s worked for OSU over the past few years.

Take the 6-foot-4 Marcell Ateman into the equation along with OSU’s most recent class, though and it’s undeniable that height is a massive factor. Here’s a look at OSU’s current roster — OSU’s average height for receivers is a tick over 6-foot-1.

Whatever the formula, there’s no denying it works. Coaching a Biletnikoff Award winner is a hallmark event for any position coach, but Dunn’s made it look as routine as Saban winning national titles during his tenure.

“I would argue that he’s been as successful as anybody in the country at recruiting to a specific position, in my opinion, over an extended period of time,” Gundy says. “You know you see a few guys have a flash in the pan for a year or two.

Maybe OSU’s 2019 class will be littered with average-sized, explosive receivers a la Dillon Stoner and James Washington to even out the other side of the formula here. But by the looks of it, above-average height is becoming a staple for Dunn on the recruiting trail.