What are early impressions of Oklahoma State football's latest group of transfers?
Scott WrightThe Oklahoman
LAS VEGAS — Rare is the occasion when Ollie Gordon II crosses paths with a running back who is bigger than him.
While Gordon says he’s added a few pounds since he was weighed for the new Oklahoma State roster — he’s listed at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds but says he has surpassed 230 — he believes his new teammate still has him beat.
Trent Howland checked in at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds when he arrived in June after transferring from Indiana.
“I’m probably 230 now, but he’s a healthy 240,” Gordon said last week at Big 12 Media Days at Allegiant Stadium.
Howland was one of three new transfers who arrived in June, all of whom could find a way to have an impact on the field this season.
Howland was joined by a pair of receiver transfers, Gavin Freeman from OU and Da’Wain Lofton from Virginia Tech.
A 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior, Lofton is originally from Fort Worth, Texas, so the move back closer to home is exciting — something his new quarterback, Alan Bowman, has experienced after transferring in from Michigan.
“Being able to go back home for Fourth of July, it’s good for you,” said Bowman, who has begun to build a strong relationship with all of his new receivers in summer workouts. “For your mental, it’s good to see family, to see friends, it is good.
“As far as football, he’s Brennan Presley 2.0, which is great. Not afraid of contact, not afraid of anything. Soft-spoken but kind, so he fits right in with the guys.”
Freeman, who initially walked on at OU two years ago before earning a scholarship last season, also looks ideal for the inside receiver position. He could redshirt this season, but still see action in a few games as a backup to Presley in the slot or in the return game.
“One thing I’ll say about Gavin is he’s fast, and he goes full-speed 100% of the time,” Bowman said. “He’s gonna help us. Even if it’s not this year, in years coming, he’s gonna make a lot of plays for the Cowboys and it’s gonna be fun.”
Lofton and Freeman help build some depth in a receiver group that has minimal experience behind its starters. Both played in several games at their previous schools.
Howland brings the same type of depth and experience at running back, and he could find himself in a key role, particularly as the team’s other veteran backup, A.J. Green, recovers from a lower leg injury suffered in spring practice.
Green transferred in from Arkansas in January, and looked like an ideal addition to complement Gordon in the Cowboys’ thin backfield, in which redshirt freshman Sesi Vailahi is the only other player with college experience. Green has just one season remaining and Howland has two.
“I like Trent,” Gordon said. “He’s willing to learn. He takes the extra time to meet with me. We’ll watch film, we’ll talk about stuff. If he has questions, he’ll ask.”
Head coach Mike Gundy has been limited in his direct interactions with the newcomers, but he’s getting good reports.
“They’ve done a really good job in offseason,” Gundy said. “The other players speak very highly of them. The strength coaches speak very highly off them. And during the June training, our guys really liked them.
“I saw very little of them. But I do know our people feel really good about those guys. They feel those receivers can help us in games, and the running back gives us a big, dominant force that can help offset Ollie.”
