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STILLWATER — Oklahoma State fans will see most of the 23 members of the Cowboys’ 2012 signing class on the turf at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturdays this fall, Cowboys coach Mike Gundy said Wednesday.
The Cowboys routinely play freshmen receivers and running backs, Gundy said. True freshmen also have earned playing time on defense in the secondary and at linebacker.
“Most of our skill players — the receivers and running backs — will have an opportunity to play,” Gundy said.
The offensive and defensive line usually are the two positions that freshmen will need to grow into, Gundy said. They need to add muscle and get rid of baby fat.
Oklahoma State strength and conditioning coach Rob Glass does an excellent job of changing the shape of OSU’s freshmen classes, Gundy said.
Oklahoma State signed five Oklahomans, 12 Texans and a player from five other states — Kansas, Georgia, Arizona, Illinois and Missouri.
“We’ve had a lot of good fortune with Oklahoma players in recent years,” Gundy said. “This group should fall right in line with that.”
The Cowboys signed Stillwater High standout Jesse Vester, Broken Arrow tight end/offensive lineman Zac Veatch, Madill running back Caleb Muncrief, Wagoner defensive back Kevin Peterson and Tulsa Washington defensive tackle Calvin Barnett who comes to OSU via Navarro Community College.
Muncrief and Peterson are two of the fastest student-athletes in Oklahoma. Peterson won gold in the 2011 Class 4A 100-meter dash with a time of 10.86. Muncrief took silver in that race with a time of 11.00 seconds.
The duo brings more speed to OSU’s offense and defense.
Muncrief and Vester received scholarship offers from OSU on Tuesday and committed that same day.
Oklahoma State didn’t have many recruiting surprises, landing most of their verbal commitments. Four student-athletes — quarterback Wes Lunt, Barnett, linebacker Jeremiah Tshimanga and tight end/offensive linemen Blake Jackson — already are enrolled at Oklahoma State and will participate in spring drills.
Lunt, redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh and junior Clint Chelf will be evaluated during spring drills to determine who will be OSU’s next starting quarterback. The Cowboys’ record-setting quarterback Brandon Weeden completed his eligibility after this past season.
“We wouldn’t have brought him (Lunt) in here if we didn’t think he could be a starting quarterback. It’s the same thing with J.W. Walsh. It’s the same thing with Chelf,” Gundy said.
The OSU coach said all three would be given an equal opportunity to win the starting position in spring and fall workouts.
The Cowboys signed four receivers to fill inside and wide receiver slots that opened when inside receiver Josh Cooper and wide receivers Colton Chelf and Hubert Anyiam completed their eligibility. Oklahoma State also lost its two-time Biletnikoff Award winner Justin Blackmon who declared for the NFL Draft after OSU’s Fiesta Bowl victory over Stanford.
The Pokes added speed and size at the position with C.J. Curry, Jhajuan Seales, Brandon Sheperd and Blake Webb.
Webb is a speedy receiver who can read coverages, Gundy said. He’s more of an inside receiver.
Curry eventually will bulk up to 190 pounds. He is 185 now, Gundy said. He is fast and has a bright future.
Sheperd will jump up to 190 pounds at some point. He can adjust to the football and make a play in space, Gundy said. Seales will bulk up and should be a playmaker for OSU.
Oklahoma State’s recruiting class is ranked No. 28 in the nation by Scout.com.
The Cowboy recruiting class ranks fifth in the Big 12 behind No. 26 West Virginia, No. 23 Texas Tech, No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 1 Texas.
Scout.com has the Pokes landing four, four-star recruits and 16 three-star recruits.
“I don’t know if we’ve every signed a five-star here,” Gundy said. “I don’t know if we’ve had that many four-star guys. There’s a lot of talent in this class. They guys who work hard and are dedicated to Oklahoma State every day are the ones who will give you a great opportunity to have success.”
This 2012 recruiting class also is the highest ranked class academically that Oklahoma State has ever landed, Gundy said. The coaching staff tells recruits that if they don’t want to attend classes, get an education and play as a team, they shouldn’t become a Cowboy.
“We believe college football, each year, is moving toward smarter football players,” Gundy said.
Junior college transfers Barnett and Jackson are expected to get playing time with OSU’s season opener, Gundy said.
