Oklahoma State’s home opener against Oregon is already shaping up to be a major recruiting stop, and now another in-state name has locked in a visit.
Lane Simpson, an athlete from Cushing High School in Cushing, Okla., said on social media that he accepted an invitation to be at the Cowboys’ Sept. 12 game against the Ducks in Stillwater. Simpson, who appears to be on Oklahoma State’s radar for the Class of 2028, posted: “I’ll be @CowboyFB next weekend as Oregon comes down to play in stilly.
Can’t wait for this big game. Thank you to @WesDr8ke for the game day invite.
@RecruitCushFB @__CoachMorris @chisholm_scott @DouthitJaxon @kpatterson_2 @PrepRedzoneOK @247Sports @sixstarfootball pic.twitter.com/AGsUX7r2k0”
On his social media page, Simpson lists himself as a 5-10, 165-pound athlete with a 4.44 40-yard dash and says he is the No. 4 athlete in Oklahoma. Major recruiting services 247Sports and On3/Rivals do not currently list him, though those outlets are focused on the Class of 2027 recruits.
Simpson is not the only recruit planning to be in Stillwater for that one. Last month, Allen, Texas, cornerback Elijah Smith also announced that he accepted an invitation to make his official visit for the Oregon game.
That visit window matters because Oklahoma State will host official visitors at all six of its games this season, but the Oregon matchup and the Nov. 14 game against Texas Tech are the ones drawing the most attention. Some recruits have already said they’ll be at the Texas Tech game as well.
Simpson also posted another social media message that listed him as a “C/O 28 ATH WR/CB, 4.0 GPA S1Ready for a big JR season.@CushTIGERSFB @chisholm_scott @DouthitJaxon @AndrewLee_CFB @CoachEdwardsWR @WesDr8ke @Switz @Sooner7v7@mfarrellsports @ScottC_Scout @derekrasmussen pic.twitter.com/H65M2xYxbj”
As for Oklahoma State’s current recruiting class, the Cowboys have 12 commitments in the Class of 2027. The latest addition was a four-star flip from Jenks, Okla., offensive lineman Odaefe Oruru. The other four-star commit, according to 247Sports, is linebacker Israel Hammonds from Choctaw, Okla.
The Cowboys also have two more in-state pledges: wide receiver Cooper Hooker of Pryor High School in Quapaw, Okla., and defensive back Bryson Brown of Broken Bow, Okla.
The rest of the class comes from outside Oklahoma, led by quarterback Carson White of Fort Bend Hightower in Missouri City, Texas, who ranks as a top-25 quarterback recruit nationally. The Texas group also includes Trinity (Euless, Texas) High School safety Chayce Davis, Troy offensive lineman Sonny Mullen and Argyle wide receiver Ake O’Neal.
Other commitments are Ensworth offensive lineman Jake Baker of Nashville, Tenn., Baton Rouge Catholic edge rusher Jayden Vessell of Baton Rouge, La., American Leadership Academy tight end Talan Scott of Queen Creek, Ariz., and Bolingbrook running back TJ Lewis of Bolingbrook, Ill.
Every commitment remains non-binding, and the first chance any of them can sign with Oklahoma State comes in December during the early signing period.
In Other News...
Oklahoma States New Era Starts With A Test Cowboys Fans Will Feel
Oklahoma States next chapter now has a date attached to it, and it starts with a familiar in-state measuring stick. The Cowboys will open the 2026 season against Tulsa, giving Eric Morris his first game as head coach after taking over for Mike Gundy following the 2025 season. It is the kind of matchup that instantly frames a new era, with local stakes, early expectations and plenty of attention on how quickly the program can settle in under new leadership.
For fans, it also marks the beginning of a schedule that has already been laid out in full, which only sharpens the anticipation around what this team will look like from week to week. Ticket information is available as the countdown begins, but the bigger draw is the uncertainty that comes with a coaching change and an opener that should tell a lot about where Oklahoma State is headed next. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma States Realignment Hope May Come Down To One Simple Fix
Brett McMurphy, an Oklahoma State graduate and longtime college football insider, recently offered a blunt read on where the Cowboys fit in the next wave of conference realignment. From his perspective, the path to gaining traction is not about flashy rumors or geography-driven wish lists, but about doing the one thing every league values most: winning enough games to make the brand harder to ignore.
McMurphy was skeptical that Oklahoma State is positioned for one of the sport's biggest jumps, even as realignment talk continues to swirl around the college landscape. He pointed instead to a broader shakeup that could reshape multiple leagues, with the SEC and Big Ten looking elsewhere if they do expand, while the Cowboys keep trying to make themselves a more appealing option by building results on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma States First Depth Chart Leaves Fans One Big Tulsa Question
Eric Morris opened his first game-week news conference by turning the page to Oklahoma States season opener at Tulsa, and the first depth chart offered an early look at how he plans to spread the work around. One of the clearest takeaways was at slot receiver, where Wyatt Young and Miles Coleman were both listed in the same role, a sign that the Cowboys are already leaning into flexibility as they get ready for the first real test of the season.
The tight end picture may be even more telling. Injuries have thinned that group enough that former walk-on Carson Kolb is the name at the top for now, a reminder that the opening week is already forcing Oklahoma State to adapt on the fly. Morris said he feels good about the teams preparation and likes the chance to put that work on a big stage, but the way those early roles settle in could say plenty about how quickly the Cowboys find their footing. [Read more 🡒]
