Where Collin Oliver Ranks Among All-Time OSU Defensive Recruits

Collin Oliver is one of the highest-ranked Oklahoma State linebackers to pledge to the program. Ever. Period.

He also ranks quite high on the list of all-time recruits in the entire category of defensive players.

I culled the list of all-time signees to join the Cowboys program since recruiting rankings were indexed in the early 2000s, and Oliver’s inclusion on the shortlist, via the 247Sports database, is notable. Among all of them on the defensive side of the ball, he ranks 22nd — and notably just behind the likes of Justin Gilbert, Markelle Martin, Ugo Chinasa and others.

Some absolute dudes.

And this isn’t a small sample size, either. We’re talking about nearly 20 years worth of defensive recruits. (Most classes have roughly 25 players, so if you figure half of them are defenders then there are several hundred he’s outclassed to be so highly regarded on the list.)

Class	Position	Name	247Composite Rating
2003	DT	Xavier Lawson-Kennedy	98.13
2007	SDE	Richetti Jones	97.86
2010	OLB	Shaun Lewis	94.84
2006	SDE	Derek Burton	93.76
2006	CB	Terrance Anderson	93.28
2004	WDE	Nathan Peterson	92.22
2006	CB	Perrish Cox	91.97
2014	OLB	Gyasi Akem	91.63
2007	DB	William Cole	91.42
2010	CB	Justin Gilbert	90.59
2009	S	Daytawion Lowe	90.53
2015	DT	Darrion Daniels	90.32
2008	S	Markelle Martin	90.05
2005	SDE	Ryan McBean	90.00
2003	CB	Robert Jones	90.00
2007	DT	Tonga Tea	90.00
2002	CB	Vernon Grant	90.00
2004	DT	Walter Thomas	90.00
2013	SDE	Naim Mustafaa	89.59
2006	WDE	Ugo Chinasa	89.38
2010	ILB	Caleb Lavey	89.04
2021	ILB	Collin Oliver	89.01
2019	WDE	Trace Ford	88.97
2012	OLB	Seth Jacobs	88.42
2011	ILB	Ryan Simmons	87.78

Verbal commitments are non-binding and thus, Oliver’s inclusion comes with an asterisk for now. He’s a commitment, not a signee. There’s a big difference. (Just ask Greg Adkins.)

But his placement on this list underscores just how monstrous his verbal commitment is for an Oklahoma State program that wants to keep top talent in the state close to home and also ratchet up its talent level across the board. Perhaps it’s too soon for Gundy and Co. to throw a celebration, but if he signs in December, OSU should be thrilled about his prospects of potentially producing in a similar way many of the other stars on the list did in year’s past.