Meet Oklahoma State’s 2019 PWOs: Part Two

Oklahoma State is bringing in at least nine Preferred Walk-Ons with the 2019 class. We took at look at five of them earlier this week. Today, we wrap up this two-part series by breaking down the other four, including why some of them chose to commit to Oklahoma State.

Layton Ernst

Rated as a 2-star prospect, the 6-foot-1, 275-pound center from Mansfield, Texas chose to be a PWO at OSU over an offer from Air Force.

“I had a lot of smaller offers from D-2 and FCS, schools, Air Force, and about six or seven PWOs,” Layton told us. “When they (OSU) called me to offer me, it wasn’t just like ‘hey we want you to come here.’ It was more ‘we like you, we want you.’ I just felt wanted there and once I got there i fell in love with it. The facilities are kind of unbeatable. I’ve always dreamed of playing D1 football, that’s why I’m going this PWO route because its the best opportunity for me.”

Ernst is expecting to join the team this summer as a center. Like previous Josh Henson recruits, Ernst has shown an ability to play multiple positions on the offensive line.

“I played guard my sophomore and junior year,’ said Ernst. “Then my senior year, I moved to senior. OSU is going to train me at guard and center.”

While he’s expecting to redshirt his freshman season, Ernst hopes to follow in the footsteps of guys like Brad Lundblade and eventually earn a starting spot.

“I want to start. that’s my goal,” said Ernst. “That’s been my goal and dream since I was little. This year I’m going to go in there and get bigger, faster, stronger. Whatever role they ask me to play, whatever it is, I want to just work hard and make the team better.”

Feel free to check out Layton’s 2018 highlight reel on his Hudl page.

Zack Appiah

While the 6-foot, 192-pound prospect played both outside linebacker and tight end for Edmond Memorial, it looks like he’ll be with the Cowboy Backs at Oklahoma State.

Appiah had D2 offers from schools like Southern Nazarene and Bethel College, and had interest from Kansas State.

Braedy Wilson

The long snapper from Mustang, Oklahoma trained at Rubio Long Snapping, a camp specifically for training long snappers. They have him rated as a 5-star prospect at his position. Here’s a bit of what they had to say about him.

Braedy had a great summer with Rubio Long Snapping. One of the most athletic Long Snappers in his class. Braedy can absolutely fly down field and will, undoubtedly, be a factor on the punt coverage team. Snaps are smooth and the harder he snaps the ball, the faster and more accurate he will be. Snapping with confidence is going to be huge for Braedy over the next couple of years. Kid is a stud. I know it and I want him to know it as well. Upside is off the charts.

I would also suggest checking out this story from Jacob Unruh of the Oklahoman on Wilson.

Ben Freehill

With just one punter on the roster next season, in incoming 28-year-old freshman Tom Hutton, it’s good to see the Cowboys add another one for 2019.

Frehill served as both punter and kicker for GCMS High School in Gibson City, Illinois. He was twice a first-team Heart of Illinois Conference kicker and set 13 school records in punting and kicking. The Falcons won the IHSA Class 2A state championship in both his junior and senior seasons.

Freehill took the PWO offer from OSU over scholarship offers from a number of FCS schools.

“Playing power-five football has always been a dream of nice,” Freehill told the Ford County Record. “Coach (Mike) Gundy is well-known and just a great coach and leads a great program, and that just kind of sold it to me.”

Freehill expects to redshirt his freshman season