Notebook: Oklahoma State’s Expedition into Utah, Run-Blocking Conundrum and Trey Rucker’s Tackling Numbers

STILLWATER — The Cowboys could find out a lot about their future on Saturday.

Oklahoma State hosts Utah in a game that seems to have major Big 12 title implications despite it just being mid-September. OSU players met with the media after their Monday practice. Here are three storylines that stood out entering the Cowboys’ game against the Utes.

‘They Don’t Recruit Utah Kids’

Oklahoma State’s expedition into Utah is fascinating.

Over the past five classes, the Cowboys have snagged four high school recruits out of the Beehive State, and that doesn’t include the two commits OSU has in this upcoming class. It also doesn’t include junior college players the Pokes have pulled from Utah — like Jaylen Warren, Nathan Latu and Justin Kirkland.

A lot of OSU’s success in the state has to do with player development specialist Beni Tonga (I wrote this feature on Tonga’s impact on OSU a few years back). But Kirkland met with the media Monday, and he brought to light a potential other reason why programs are having success in Utah.

“The thing is, like, Utah, they don’t recruit Utah kids,” Kirkland said. “I hope they look at the scouting report, see that I’m a Utah kid and they’re like, ‘Oh, maybe we should’ve got him,’ and then we just beat them.”

Kirkland’s statement doesn’t entirely hold up. From the 2020 recruiting class to the 2024 recruiting class, Utah has signed 21 players from Utah, according to the 247Sports rankings. But that isn’t a ton compared to the work BYU does at keeping kids in state, as the Cougars have signed 51 Utahns during that same time.

With about 3.4 million citizens, Utah’s population is less than Oklahoma’s (about four million), but the Beehive State is producing a ton of football talent. There are 24 high school players from Oklahoma who 247Sports has given a ranking to for the 2025 class. There are 51 of such players from Utah.

With the Utes and Cougars joining the conference, that should only benefit OSU’s success in the state moving forward.

“I think there for a minute Utah football wasn’t disrespected but unknown,” Kirkland said. “I think COVID hit and Utah was one of the only states that was still playing ball. Utah’s got good teams. Corner Canyon just beat IMG. It’s not like we don’t ball out out there. I think it’s really been nice to kind of put Utah football on the map and get some kids some more exposure and all that.”

‘We Know What Mistakes We’re Making’

The Cowboys’ struggles in the run game have been a bit of a conundrum.

OSU returned Doak Walker-winning running back Ollie Gordon, and the offensive line that blocked for him last season is mostly unchanged. But Gordon has managed just 216 yards at 3.5 yards a carry through OSU’s first three games. To add to the confusion, that same offensive line hasn’t allowed a sack this season and has give up just three quarterback hurries, further proving the offensive line is plenty capable of playing well.

Gundy has pointed to teams loading the box as to why OSU’s running game hasn’t quite gotten off the ground. Here is what center Joe Michalski said Monday.

“We know what we’re doing,” Michalski said. “We know what mistakes we’re making. We just gotta eliminate them. It’s just all about execution more than anything and practice will pop it and that sort of thing. It just comes down to execution and mental focus.

“We gotta do more than what we’re doing. Whatever that takes, that’s what we’ll do.”

‘You Get Knocked Down, but You Always Gotta Get Back Up’

Trey Rucker recorded only seven tackles in Saturday’s win against Tulsa, but he is still five tackles ahead of the second-leading tackler in the Big 12.

Nick Martin is that second leading tackler. Aside from Oklahoma State players, Rucker leads the league in tackling by a ridiculous nine tackles just three games into the season. Rucker has 39 total tackles to this point, meaning he is averaging 13 tackles a game. It might not be the best sign that OSU has relied upon a safety to make 39 tackles in three games, but it’s a crazy stat to look at nonetheless. Take Utah for example: the Utes’ leading tackler is Van Fillinger, who has 16 tackles this season — 23 fewer tackles than Rucker.

Rucker said he is feeling fine despite signing up for 39 car crashes so far this season.

“Body feels great,” Rucker said. “Can’t complain about the body, just gotta keep going.

“Mentally, it doesn’t weaken me. It’s just more of my determination that keeps me going because it kind of feels like my life. Like, you get knocked down, but you always gotta get back up. So, that’s nothing to me.”