'Bigger than one man': OSU has kept defensive recruiting class intact after Jim Knowles' departure
Scott Wright
Oklahoman
STILLWATER — Officially,
Oklahoma State doesn’t have a defensive coordinator or a linebackers coach. But that hasn’t slowed the Cowboys on the recruiting trail the last few days.
On Saturday, OSU added a commitment from a highly regarded junior-college linebacker, Xavier Benson from Tyler (Texas) Junior College, who became the 16th player in the recruiting class and the sixth on the defensive side of the ball.
Equally important, the Cowboy coaching staff,
in the aftermath of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles leaving for Ohio State, was able to weather the storm and keep the commitments of the previous five defensive players who had pledged to Oklahoma State.
OSU head coach Mike Gundy and his assistants have been on the road and on the phone, working to make sure those players know where their future stands with the Cowboys.
“When I found out Coach Knowles was leaving, I was a little scared about what was going to happen to the rest of the coaching staff,” said Putnam City North defensive end Jaleel Johnson, who has been committed to the Cowboys since June. “It was disappointing, because I really wanted to play under him.”
Gundy and defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements visited Johnson at school on Wednesday, then assistant Greg Richmond made an in-home visit to see Johnson on Thursday.
“It’s awesome to know that these coaches care enough about me to come visit my home and my school,” Johnson said. “I really do feel loved at Oklahoma State.”
Defensive graduate assistant Koy McFarland, who helped coach linebackers, has filled in with recruits in Knowles’ absence as well.
“It sucks that (Knowles) left, but I respect his move and understand why,” said Stillwater linebacker Gabe Brown, who has been committed to OSU since September of 2020. “He’s a great guy and I wish I would’ve got to play under him, but the program is bigger than one man. I committed to the Cowboy culture and all of the staff and players there.
“I’ve talked to Coach McFarland about the situation and he basically said that they still wanted me to come play for them and be part of the team, and that’s why he called me first.”
The other defensive commitments in the class — defensive end Landon Dean, cornerback Cameron Epps and cornerback Dylahn McKinney — have all had in-person visits with Gundy in the past week as well.
“Coach Gundy came and visited me (Wednesday),” said McKinney, from Colleyville, Texas. “And I’m always in touch with my position coach, Coach (Tim) Duffie.
“I’m hoping to have some sort of idea of what the future holds for the defense. I’m an aggressive corner that likes to press and play a lot of man-to-man coverage. It’s one of the reasons I chose Oklahoma State. Coach Duffie reassured me that he has learned everything he could learn from Coach Knowles the past four years, which gives me confidence that we will keep some of those same principles.
“At the end of the day, I trust that Coach Gundy will make the right decision for us as a team.”
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