With chance to help rebuild Oklahoma State football, Taje McCoy happy to be coming home
Scott WrightThe Oklahoman
STILLWATER — Hired as Putnam City’s football coach amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, Carter Whitson didn’t get to meet his new players face-to-face right away.
So he had been Taje McCoy’s coach for a few months before he ever put eyes on the gifted sophomore.
“At that point in time, he thought he might’ve been a running back,” Whitson said with a laugh. “But the kid just had a presence about him. Had a big smile on his face. He’s a kid we knew there was something special in.
“He blew up into his frame and became a freakin’ weapon coming off the edge in high school football.”
Five years later, that frame is even bigger, and McCoy’s threat off the edge hasn’t changed.
And now, he’s coming back to his home state with his recent commitment to Oklahoma State out of the transfer portal.
After his stellar career at Putnam City that ended with his selection as The Oklahoman’s All-State Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, McCoy signed with Deion Sanders’ Colorado program — though OSU was a strong contender then, as well.
McCoy redshirted in his first year in Boulder, then became a rotational player this past season. He appeared in all 13 games and carved out a role as a pass-rush specialist. Of his 23 tackles, six were third-down stops.
Now, he joins an OSU program building a new defense under coordinator Todd Grantham, and the outside linebacker/edge rusher position is a linchpin of the scheme, which makes McCoy’s arrival potentially critical.
Now 6-foot-2 and 247 pounds with an explosive first step off the line of scrimmage, McCoy looks like a perfect fit in that role.
“Trying to get him recruited when he was here, his height wasn’t the 6-4 that a lot of people were looking for,” said Whitson, now the head coach at Edmond North. “But he has the wingspan of a 6-5 kid and you knew the weight was gonna get added in the right way so he could keep his unique twitchiness and ability to bend around the edge. And those long arms give him an extra weapon on an edge rush.”
Looking back on his high school days, McCoy thanks Whitson and former Putnam City assistant Rufus Alexander for convincing him he had talents outside of running with the football.
“Coach Whitson always looked out for me,” McCoy said. “Being able to talk to him about stuff and him giving me advice has been the most important to me.
“When he first came in, I was trying to play running back and linebacker, but I had some older guys ahead of me. Then before a JV game, Coach Rufus Alexander said he was gonna try me out at defensive end and I ended up dominating. From there on out, I was on defense, and I realized I could really be good at this.”
Though he has enjoyed exploring the mountains and scenic settings around Boulder, McCoy is excited to be back in the familiar landscape of Oklahoma.
“I always liked Oklahoma State growing up,” McCoy told The Oklahoman. “It was one of my top schools. When I saw their season last year, I knew that wasn’t up to their standard. I know I can help the team."
“It’s a good move for me, being closer to family and them being able to travel to my games easier.”
And not just games, but quick trips to see family, like his older brother, Kenny, will bring an enjoyment he missed in Colorado.
“I’m excited to play in front of my hometown, just knowing I have the city behind my back,” McCoy said. “Or just going hunting and fishing. My brother’s close and he does all that stuff, so I’m excited to get back and do a little bird hunting.”
