OSU a ‘Late-Charging Darkhorse’ in Recruitment of RB Kevontre Bradford

A year ago this week, Oklahoma State officially offered talented Texas running back Kevontre Bradford. At the time it was a big offer. He was still nationally undiscovered — a three-star recruit with an impressive offer sheet and a growing list of interest. A year since that offer, he’s been fully discovered.

Bradford is now a four-star recruit with interest from Ohio State, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, LSU, Missouri, Texas — you name it. He has his choice on where he wants to go. In recent months, blueblood schools like LSU, Texas and Ohio State have made heavy pushes, as well as Wisconsin, but Oklahoma State’s persistence with him appears to be paying dividends.

According to 247Sports, OSU should be considered a “late-charging darkhorse” to scoop Bradford up. It’d be a coup for Gundy and his staff, considering the teams still making spirited efforts.

The final official visit weekend (Jan. 31) before National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 5, remains undecided for Bradford, according to sources. Texas has pushed of late, while Oklahoma State could be a late-charging darkhorse in the race for the four-star runner. Missouri has also tried to get into the race in the late stages of the game. [247Sports]

Wisconsin is no longer in the mix. Texas has a five-star RB in Bijan Robinson, making the idea of Bradford picking UT unlikely. That leaves LSU — which, you might remember, won the national championship this week — as OSU’s stiffest competition. LSU holds 33 percent of predictions in his crystal ball.

As weird as it sounds, LSU winning the natty might be a win for OSU. Given its rising profile, Bradford, the No. 136 player in 2020, may be the floor for what LSU can actually get in the class. Other high-profile running backs on the market — like Zach Evans, whose recruitment has been a bit of a circus — may be eyeing a flip, or uncommitted players may be giving LSU an extra look.

We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks, but OSU still not having a committed running back in 2020 coupled with Bradford still looking for a home could leave OSU and Bradford as the last men standing on the dance floor at the end of the night. It’d be a great fit for both and would give OSU a late-cycle commitment — for the second consecutive year — from a highly-touted four-star running back.