How will Oklahoma State finish the 2020 football recruiting class?

With about a month to go until the early signing period begins for class of 2020 recruits, it seems like a good time to check in on Oklahoma State’s class.

The Cowboys have 17 commits for 2020. Here’s the breakdown:

• Quarterback (1)
• Receiver (2)
• Offensive Line (4)
• Defensive Line (3)
• Linebacker (2)
• Defensive Back (4)
• Special Teams (1)

That leaves, at most, eight more scholarships available for the class. The question is, how will the coaching staff use those? Let’s break it all down.

Oklahoma State will land a running back

OSU is currently without a 2020 running back commit. With the likelihood that Chuba Hubbard leaves for the NFL and Jahmyl Jeter entering the transfer portal, the Cowboys would have two seniors and a redshirt sophomore in 2020. It would behoove OSU to add at least one — if not two — running backs in this class.

I believe four-star all-purpose back Daniyel Ngata will give OSU an early Christmas present when he commits on Dec. 22.

He was originally supposed to announce a commitment last month, but pushed his announcement back. At the time, OSU was quickly becoming the favorite. I’m not sure the delay will change that. My guess is, it’s an opportunity to announce his decision on a big stage.

OSU is still in on in-state three-star running back Isaiah Jacobs of Owasso. He could be a fallback if Ngata picks a different school — Texas A&M or Arizona State.

However, I think OSU would like to land both. The Cowboys could use it with what they have returning next season.

OSU will add another offensive lineman

I know this sounds a little crazy. OSU has four linemen committed in the class with two guards and two tackles. The Cowboys have a deep offensive line room already with 20 guys, and barring any unforeseen decisions, will only lose two redshirt seniors at the end of the year with Marcus Keyes and Johnny Wilson.

But I can’t shake the feeling OSU wants one more guy, specifically an experienced player. They’ve offered JUCO lineman Jeremy Flax, though I think OSU is out of the running on him. Maybe they make a stronger push for Flax or choose to target another JUCO guy, or maybe they go into the transfer portal and pull a guy out.

Something tells me OSU wants an insurance policy for next season in the form of someone who is further along in their development.

One more linebacker... at least

OSU has two linebackers committed for 2020, but they’re both inside linebackers. With the importance of the position group, I think OSU is still in the market to bring in an outside linebacker in the class.

After losing Brynden Walker to Oklahoma and Arizona swooping in to steal away Jabar Triplett, the Cowboys turned their attention to three-star outside linebacker Mason Cobb.

The Cowboys offered him in early October and were his only Power-5 offer until Arizona jumped in the running. UCLA and Utah continue to “show the love” on social media as well.

It’s hard to get a read on where Cobb is leaning as he seems to treat all his offers — including Colorado State, Nevada, UNLV and Utah State — pretty equally on his social media channels. If the Cowboys are putting on the full press, he’ll remain someone to keep an eye on.

If Cobb doesn’t work out, I would look to the transfer market. OSU is set to lose both Philip Redwine-Bryant and Kevin Henry at the end of the season and Calvin Bundage’s future is still a little up in the air.

Another Safety

The Cowboys have one safety commit for 2020 in three-star Zach Middleton, but they’re not done yet. OSU offered Utah State commit Nicolas Session after his official visit this past weekend.

The Cowboys feel pretty set at the position, with no one set to run out of eligibility after the current season. But considering what Session said during an interview following his visit, he seems like a guy the coaching staff might bring in and then decide where to put him.

“The coaches told me I could come in and be on special teams, and they see me as a safety in the box or covering as well,” Session told 247Sports. “At the nickel position and if I get a little bigger I could possibly move down to the will linebacker.”

Session feels like a strong OSU lean after his visit, but with two official visits still to come, I’m not sure I’m ready to make a prediction for the Cowboys. If Session doesn’t work out, expect OSU to look for another prospect.

Do they need another pass catcher?

OSU has two wide receivers committed in Matt Polk of Arizona and Brennan Presley of Oklahoma. While the Cowboys aren’t expected to lose more than two pass-catchers at the end of the season at most (depending on what Tylan Wallace decides), that doesn’t mean other things can’t happen.

Which brings me to two players in particular; four-star Loic Fouonji of Midland, Texas, and three-star Jay Wilkerson of Midlothian, Texas. Both are players that OSU has been high on and that have been high on OSU.

The question is, are either still under consideration after Polk committed, or were they other options in case he didn’t?

While they may not need another pass catcher in the class, adding a guy like Fouonji would be hard to pass up.

He was named one of the 25 semifinalists for the Mr. Texas award. He’s the leading receiver for Midland Lee with 57 catches for 1,337 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’s also a solid kick-off return man.

Again, I don’t know if OSU is still in on either, but if they could add Fouonji, he would be one of the jewels of the class.

---

My guess is OSU fills about five scholarships with guys or positions listed above, leaving three for whatever else they decide they need. That is, of course, assuming OSU wants to bring in a 25-man class.

There will likely be other areas of need that won’t necessarily be apparent until after the season. Similar to the Cowboys bringing in grad transfer wide receiver Jordan McCray this past offseason after feeling other guys were coming along fast enough, there will be spots OSU believes would be better suited by guys with experience while the younger guys develop.

Plus, we have no idea who else might enter the transfer portal. I don’t think the number will be as high this year. That, or who might decide they want to head to the NFL earlier than expected. Or even — knock on wood — another prospect decides to decommit.

There’s some time left between now and the early signing period, and even more until the class has to be finalized in April. While the coaching staff doesn’t have a ton of work left to do, they certainly have their work cut out for them in finishing next year’s class.