Should Have Been a Cowboy

Looking back on the SI piece "The Dirty Game", it makes it sound as if OSU was nabbing 4 and 5 star studded classes, both left and right.. But much to my chagrin, we were not. As a matter of fact, you could do multiple articles like this one, full of 4, 5 star athletes that went elsewhere. But that doesn't mean that we haven't had plenty more studs thinking about playing at BPS for a few years before joining the (National Football) League.

Lets look at some recruits we missed out on. Let me qualify, most all of the players to be mentioned either visited Boone Pickens Stadium (officially or unofficially) or were committed to playing for Oklahoma State then decommitted. The time span ranges from 2005 recruits to those playing this year.
(All star ratings alluded to are done by Rivals)

1. Quarterbacks

Kyle Allen Scottsdale, Arizona (Desert Mountain) 4 stars
Committed to: Texas A&M 2014 Recruiting Class

After visiting for OSU's spring game, Allen, the top ranked pro-style QB by Rivals decided to go to A&M.
Who said yes: Mason Rudolph
After missing out on a QB1 prospect in 2013 and 11 leaving to revive Illinois, a stud prospect was and is a must get for this class.

Luke Del Rio Highlands Ranch, Colorado (Valor Christian) 3 stars
Walked on at: Alabama 2013 Recruiting Class

Decommitted in December 2012 after Todd Monken left and decided to walk on at Alabama.
Who said yes: Nobody else did.
With a father who's the Defensive Coordinator of the Denver Broncos, Del Rio seemed to be a cerebral type with great athleticism. He did well in the Elite 11 competitions and looked to be an underrated player. Keep an eye out for this guy in a couple of years.

2. Running Backs

Felix Jones Tulsa, Oklahoma (Booker T. Washington) 4 stars
Went to: Arkansas 2005 Recruiting Class

Made his way over from Tulsa in the fall of 2005 before becoming the lesser part of the 2 headed DMC beast at Arkansas
Who said yes: Kevin White, who later makes a cameo, albeit a sad one, in a Sports Illustrated piece
2007 Season: 1,338 rushing yards, 11 TD's, 2 kick returns for touchdowns, Consensus All American
1st Round Draft Pick for the Dallas Cowboys, 21st overall

Mike Goodson Klein, Texas (Klein Collins) 4 stars
Went to: Texas A&M 2006 Recruiting Class

A 5 star running back (Scout) came to Stillwater 2 weeks before becoming the Ag's top commit
Who said yes: pulled in two players worth mentioning, Keith Toston and Dantrell Savage
Career at A&M: almost 3,000 yards from scrimmage as the thinner half of the Jorvorskie Lane backfield
4th Round Draft Pick for the Carolina Panthers (111th overall)

Barry Sanders, Jr. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Heritage Hall) 4 stars
Went to: Stanford 2012 Recruiting Class

Visited OSU more times than he's been to California total (probably), but hasn't played very much to this point
Who said yes: Caleb Muncrief
Why he's listed: other than being the child of one of the greatest football players ever, would most likely have been a significant contributor Post-Randle, Pre-Roland

Dreamius Smith Wichita, Kansas (Butler Comm. College) 3 stars
Went to: West Virginia 2013 Recruiting Class

Who said yes: Rennie Childs, Corion Webster
He visited OSU in November of last year. I could go for having a guy that likes to run for 75 yards on those boys in Norman.

Dreamius Smith 75 Yard Touchdown vs. Oklahoma (2013) (via BoomWVU)

3. Wide Receivers

Ryan Broyles Norman, Oklahoma (Norman) 4 stars
Went to: Oklahoma 2007 Recruiting Class

OU then OSU then back to OU, but made plays for Sammy Bradford and wrote most Sooner records while in town
Who said yes: some guys named Dez Bryant, Hubert Anyiam and Josh Cooper
All time NCAA leader in Receptions, nearly every record in the OU book (yards, TD's, receptions)
2nd Round Draft Pick for the Detroit Lions (54th overall)

Laquon Treadwell Crete, Illinois (Crete-Monee) 5 stars

went to: Ole Miss 2013 Recruiting Class

ESPN's #1 Wideout came to Stillwater but apparently he didn't get any new socks full of cash on his visit (too soon?)
Who said yes: Marcell Ateman and Ra'Shaad Samples
The 3rd leading receiver as a true freshman on Ole Miss team (through Thanksgiving)

Bralon Addison Sugar Land, Texas (Hightower) 4 stars
went to: Oregon 2012 Recruiting Class

Decommitted from Oklahoma State to be the (faster) Josh Stewart of Oregon
Who said yes: Jhajuan Seales, Brandon Shepherd, CJ Curry, Blake Webb
The #2 receiver at Oregon, runs faster than Les Miles to an LSU job offer.
Note: Oregon wideout Chance Allen decommitted from OSU to go with him.

Kendall Sanders Athens, Texas (Athens) 4 stars
went to: University of Texas 2012 Recruiting Class

Decommitted from Oklahoma State in November 2011 because it's hard to tell Texas no.
Who said yes: Brandon Shepherd, Jhajuan Seales, CJ Curry, Blake Webb
Starts for the Texas Longhorns who consistently do less with more talent (Think he'd rather be catching passes from Chelf rather than watching pick 6's from McCoy?)
I don't know how much it hurts my feelings that we got Jhajuan Seales late in the process, potentially because of Sanders' switch.

Fred Ross Tyler, Texas (John Tyler High School) 4 stars
went to: Mississippi State University in 2013 Recruiting Class

Decommitted from Oklahoma State on Signing Day, apparently had family connections in Starkville.
Who said yes: Didn't really replace Ross, but signed Ra Shaad Samples and Marcell Ateman
I hope he enjoys spending time with his family connections there, because it could be a while before the Bulldogs leave campus for a bowl game.

4. Offensive Lineman

Trent Williams Longview, Texas (Longview) 3 stars
Went to: University of Oklahoma 2006 Recruiting Class

Williams visited OSU in December of 2005, but ended up at OU
Who we got instead: Russell Okung is the name you're most likely to remember
Big get for the Sooners. Think about an O-Line with Big Russ and Trent Williams.. Two first round picks on the same line.

Donald Hawkins Tunica, Mississippi (Northwest Mississippi Comm. College) 4 stars
went to: University of Texas 2012 Recruiting Class

Committed to OSU in August, Switched to UT in December 2012, starting for the Horns
Who we got instead: Chris Grisbhy, Michael Wilson
Would have been nice for Wickline to have him with the early injury of Devon Davis

Rami Hammad Irving, Texas (Irving) 4 stars

Committed to: University of Texas 2013 Recruiting Class

Committed to OSU in June 2012, switched to Baylor in November 2012, then UT in January 2013
Who we got instead: Jack Curzu, Jaxon Salinas
At this point, I'm convinced when Texas loses out on a 5 star, they just call around and see who Wickline has offered from Texas then they make a run.

5. Defensive Lineman

Chucky Hunter West Monroe, Louisiana (West Monroe) 4 stars
Committed to: TCU 2011 Recruiting Class

Hunter visited OSU in January of 2011 after committing to TCU a couple of weeks before
Who said yes: James Castleman and Mike Mustafa
Hunter went on to be the first true freshman to start for the Toads and was All Big 12 his sophomore year. Can you imagine adding that guy to Castleman and Barnett?

Sylvester Williams Jefferson City, Missouri (Coffeyville Comm. College) 3 stars
Committed to: University of North Carolina 2011 Recruiting Class

Williams visited OSU around the time he visited UNC, but the Tar Heels won out.
Who said yes: Castleman and Mike Mustafa
Williams went on to be First team All ACC and an All American by some sources. Was drafted in the 1st Round, 28th overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2013 NFL Draft.

John Jenkins Meriden, Connecticut (Miss. Gulf Coast Comm. College) 4 stars
Committed to: University of Georgia 2011 Recruiting Class

Jenkins decommitted from OSU after visiting Georgia in January of 2011.
Who said yes: Castleman and Mike Mustafa
Jenkins went on to be the 3rd round pick, 82nd overall of the New Orleans Saints in the 2013 NFL Draft. The previous season, he earned 2nd team All SEC honors.

6. Linebackers
Dalton Santos Van, Texas (Van) 3 stars
Committed to: University of Texas 2012 Recruiting Class

Santos decommitted from OSU in June 2011, switching to the University of Tennessee a couple of months later, only to switch to the Horns in January of 2012.
Who said yes: Seth Jacobs, Dominic Ramacher and Jeremiah Tshimanga
Santos starts for the Longhorns this year and would probably still be sitting behind Lavey in the middle.

Curtis Lofton Kingfisher, Oklahoma (Kingfisher) 4 stars
Committed to: University of Oklahoma 2005 Recruiting Class

Lofton was an All-American in 2007 for the Sooners setting a school record for games with double digit tackles. He left Norman after his junior year to be the 2008 2nd round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons (37th overall).
Lofton is rumored to have been a lifelong OSU fan. He visited OSU but Brent Venables had too great of a track record developing linebackers (see: Calmus, Rocky and Lehman, Teddy).
Who said yes: Chris Collins, Alex Odiari
Note: I played high school football and basketball against this guy and they have a place for athletes like him: the NFL.

7. Defensive Backs

Ahmad Dixon Hewitt, Texas (Midway) 4 Stars
Committed to: Baylor 2010 Recruiting Class

Dixon visited OSU a couple of weeks after visiting Baylor, but held strong with the Bears. He's been a fixture of the Bears defensive rebuild: a 3 year starter and is a candidate for most rewards a solid DB is up for. Would have been a fun pairing to see Dixon and Gilbert opposite each other.
Who said yes: Justin Gilbert, Devin Hedgepeth and Deion Imade

DJ Hayden Houston, Texas (Ft. Bend Elkins/Navarro J.C.) 3 Stars
Committed to: University of Houston 2011 Recruiting Class

Hayden visited OSU but ended up with the hometown Cougars, You may have heard of Hayden when the Oakland Raiders took him in the 1st round of the 2013 Draft (12th overall). He was a 2 time All CUSA performer and was a top 50 junior college player according to Rivals.
Who said yes: DB prospects Josh Stewart and Miketavious Jones

Trae Elston Oxford, Alabama (Oxford) 3 stars
Committed to: Ole Miss 2012 Recruiting Class

Elston was an Under Armor All American out of high school that has been an impact player for Ole Miss. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team by ESPN and was named "The SEC's Hardest Hitting Freshman" by the same source. Elston visited Stillwater in January 2012 but wound up at The Grove instead.
Who said yes: Kevin Peterson and Ashton Lampkin

Just close your eyes and try to imagine Weeden throwing bombs to Blackmon with Broyles lining up in the slot, Trent Williams playing RT while Big Russ holds down the LT spot. How bout Barry Sanders, Jr. as a change of pace back with Roland? My favorite is the 4 man rotation of Barnett, Castleman, Hunter and Williams. Would anybody ever pass the line of scrimmage?

Tried to be as comprehensive as possible, but if you think I missed anyone important, let me know in the comments.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!