Recruiting Matchup: OSU More Talented across the Board than Kansas State

Oklahoma State doesn’t recruit at an elite level nationally or in the Big 12. But against Kansas State, it has a pretty distinct advantage from a talent perspective looking back on high school recruiting rankings.

As we do every week, let’s take a look at how the starters on offense and defense for OSU stack up against the starters on offense and defense for its upcoming opponent. This week it’s Kansas State.

But first, your weekly caveats: This is not an analysis piece. There is no extra weight added to players of higher value such as QB or RB. This is merely a fun look back at the star rankings of high school players who are starters now. And the final caveat: Players who were unranked as high school prospects have been given an overall rating of 70. Based on 247Sports’ ranking scale, anything 79 or below is a two-star prospect, so 70, by its own definition, would be a low two-star.

First up: OSU’s offense. No change from last week (so far as we know). It ranks, on average, 82.94. By 247’s definition of recruiting rankings, that’s a low-three-star.

Compared to the Kansas State offense, OSU has a slight edge, and it has one thing in common: Several former unranked high school players who are starters. Its starters rank on average is 80.68.

Now let’s go to the defense where, again, OSU has an edge. This time an even bigger one. OSU’s starting unit ranked on average 85.57, a smidge above the middle-of-the-road mark for three-star recruits.

Kansas State …. with two former unranked prospects, ranks 81.03. Higher than its offensive unit, but talent wise, still below OSU.

Last week OSU had a talent edge over Iowa State on defense but not on offense, and it may or may not have made a difference. (I’d argue lack of experience on defense and a porous OL exacerbated things significantly). Against K-State on the road Saturday, though, we’ll learn whether or not the higher talent level can be the difference between 1-3 in league play and 2-2.