What Jaden Nixon’s Commitment Means for Oklahoma State and its 2021 Class

Oklahoma State added the commitment of running back Jaden Nixon to its 2021 recruiting class on Wednesday, the first running back to commit to OSU since Deondrick Glass in January of 2019. (Unless you want to count Chuba Hubbard hitting pause on the NFL for another yearlong commitment to OSU.)

Nixon gives OSU a much-needed punch on the recruiting trail after a slow start in the cycle. Here’s what it means for the class and for the future of OSU.

What it means for the 2021 class at RB

Nixon is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound back who profiles a lot like LD Brown when he was coming out of high school at DeSoto. Undersized, underrated … fast. Nixon runs track and plays football for Frisco Lone Star and his last 100M dash time was 10.62.

That said, he projects as more of a scat-back than an every-down back. The good news is that he’s almost certainly just part one of a multi-part running back process this recruiting cycle. With Chuba Hubbard, LD Brown and Dezmon Jackson set to use up their eligibility, Nixon may be one of two or even three running backs in this class.

Archbishop Rummel (L.A.) running back Logan Diggs is the big name to monitor right now. He’s a 6-foot 195-pound bruising back — and the teammate of OSU commit Kolbe Fields. The staff is also pursuing newly-offered Louisiana native Ke’Travion Hargrove as well as Cam’Ron Valdez and Tavierre Dunlap.

Junior college prospect Tiyon Evans committed to Tennessee on Thursday in the wake of Nixon’s pledge, taking one name off the board for the Pokes.

Cool, now what’s Nixon’s production?

Last season as a junior, Nixon rushed for 821 yards and 14 touchdowns on more than 9 yards per carry. He also caught 18 passes for 262 yards receiving and two scores. And all that production came playing alongside Lone Star Frisco receiver Marvin Mims, a four-star receiver who signed with OU last recruiting cycle.

What’s his ceiling?

I likened Nixon to LD Brown, but I think his upside is even bigger. His speed is roughly the same, but I’m mildly concerned about the slight frame (170 pounds is a redshirt-in-waiting, which is most often the case with young backs anyway). But the pass-catching ability really pops. That has not been LD Brown’s game at OSU. Nixon has some chops running routes and making contested catches down the field.

He’s the type of versatile offensive player OSU has targeted in years past, with guys like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle coming to mind. While he’s listed at running back, I think OSU could use him in the slot or even out wide just because his speed will be so difficult to contain.

Where does he rank?

I can write 1,000 words but many may only want to know where he ranks.

He’s rated as a three-star according to 247Sports and the 247Sports Composite rankings.

More specifically, he ranks as the No. 54 running back nationally and the No. 93 overall player in the state of Texas. As running back rankings go, he rates ahead of recent USC pledge (and OSU offer) Brandon Campbell and just behind Cam’Ron Valdez. You can look at the Class of 2021 running back rankings here.

Nixon’s closest comp in terms of historical Oklahoma State running back rankings is Rennie Childs, who was a 3-star RB in the Class of 2013. Childs is the 173rd-ranked recruit in OSU history. Nixon in No. 178.