Mike Gundy Talks Transfer Portal and Ollie Gordon with SXM
STILLWATER – It’s not on the forefront of many college football fans’ minds, at least not the ones that have their schools playing this week for prizes such as making the CFP, conference championship games, or simply becoming bowl eligible, but as Duke University head coach Mike Elko said the other day.
"We’re probably probably about 13 days away from complete anarchy and the Wild West," Elko told reporters on Monday. "... It's literally open free agency for all of college football."
Duke is bowl eligible, but has lost five of their last seven games, which is a dangerous finish when it comes to the transfer portal. Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy saw that last year as the Cowboys lost five of their last seven games. There were 16 players that went into the portal. Then Oklahoma State got active and seemingly successfully recouped their numbers.
It is not as simple this time of year of just practicing for the games.
With the Cowboys playing for a spot in the BIg 12 Championship Game and having won six-of-their-last seven games and shooting for seven-of-the-last-eight on Saturday hosting BYU it would appear the Cowboys are in better shape when it comes to portal exits.
“They’ve done a really good job and we are very fortunate that we have great leadership among our team,” Gundy said of his players on this team, this season. “They care about each other. They are unselfish and in today’s time with the portal and NIL it is rare to see that. They have continued to work hard, stay together, and practice well.”
Still, you have to be ready. Oklahoma State has a recruiting class of 16 high school players and may add possibly two more before signing day. The recruiting staff has been active in looking at video of active players that have either indicated they are going into the portal or there is the possibility of them in the portal. You have to be proactive and also hope that you keep the players on your roster.
“I can only speak for us here at Oklahoma State and we are preparing to play an important game, so we don’t really have any interest in asking the current players that are on our team if they plan on being on our team next year,” Gundy said on SXM. “I guess we could do that and eventually it may move that direction, but I’m not comfortable with that. I would like to think that right now if you’re playing for us then you’re on our team. You’re only trying to manage your recruiting based on what you think your numbers will be next year.”
Gundy said he is looking for guard rails on the portal and full transperancy on what the NIL negotiations are with schools and athletes.
After the 16 high school recruits, maybe 18, they will save the rest and could end up with a number of returning seniors.
There are 28 seniors listed in the game notes for the BYU game. Of those 11 are listed as seniors that have used a COVID year and would be completely out of eligibility. Of those, Pokes Report has learned that at least three will apply for waivers to another season, likely because of missed time due to injury or illness. Those three are quarterback Alan Bowman, wide receiver Leon Johnson III, and linebacker Justin Wright, who suffered a season ending knee injury early this season.
The others have the option of taking a COVID year. Of those we have learned that these players have either said they will be back or are strongly considering coming back.
Korie Black, CB, Waco (Connally), Texas
Collin Clay, DT, Oklahoma City (Putnam City), Okla.
Dalton Cooper, OT, Prague, Okla.
Kenneth Harris, CB, Columbia, La./Arkansas State
Joe Michalski, OC, Kansas City (St. Thomas Aquinas), Kan.
Brennan Presley, Slot, Bixby, Okla.
Xavier Ross, DE, Cedar Hill, Texas
Trey Rucker, Saf., Waldorf, Md./Flint Hill, Va./Wake Forest
Jake Springfield, OT, Flower Mound, Texas
Kody Walterscheid, DE, Muenster, Texas
Preston Wilson, OG, Argyle, Texas
So many variables. Then you have media reports like the story that came out on running back Ollie Gordon. The emerging superstar and newly announced Doak Walker Award semifinalist was listed by one local story with the three schools he was most likely to play for or could play for in the future.
“We need to know what we’re dealing with financially,” Gundy said. “Ollie has done really well and the thing that has been impressive is we weren’t doing really well schemewise and we made adjustments and changed our system. We adjusted it to fit Ollie because we felt he was our best back. It worked and he developed into being a really, really good college football player.
“A few weeks ago somebody sent me a screenshot from Twitter. the top three schools that Ollie Gordon could be playing for next year,” Gundy continued. “We were second. An SEC school was first and I don’t know who was third, but I laughed and thought at least we’re in the top three.”
By the way Pokes Report has learned through reliable sources that Oklahoma State’s NIL collective Pokes with a Purpose has had discussions with Ollie Gordon and he is happy with his situation currently and with regard to the future at Oklahoma State.
That is good news, but get ready. Lots of action now and hopefully next weekend at the Big 12, but following that it will be portal season.
