Oklahoma State’s early run through national award watch lists finally picked up some steam this week, and the three Cowboys who landed on different lists say a lot about where this roster is headed.
Last week, quarterback Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins got the Cowboys on the Maxwell Award watch list. After that, the attention around Oklahoma State’s national award presence went quiet for a bit. Then Friday brought a much busier finish, with three more Cowboys earning spots on separate watch lists for very different reasons.
Former North Texas linebacker Keon Welsoski was the first of the group to draw notice, landing on the watch list for the award that goes to the best linebacker in college football. He was one of 51 linebackers named and one of 12 Big 12 players on the list. That inclusion fits what he already put on tape last season at North Texas, where he was an all-American Conference selection, led the team with 113 tackles and played in all 14 games.
For Welsoski, the recognition feels overdue after four years of work at North Texas, and it also sends a clear message about where he stands heading into his final college season. The selection committee includes former standout linebackers, which gives the honor some real credibility. It also reinforces the idea that Welsoski should be in the starting lineup for Oklahoma State when the Cowboys open against Tulsa on Sept. 5, with his play carrying major weight if the defense is going to rebound from last year’s abysmal season.
Tight end Josh Ford Green showed up on a different kind of list. He was one of 113 players named to the watch list for the award that honors FBS players who combine community service, classroom success and on-field performance. The award is named for former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, and Oklahoma State pointed out in its release that Green has been one of the most active volunteers with the school’s FCA program since arriving on campus.
That award has a built-in twist: there will be a winner, but that player also serves as the “captain” of the Good Works team. Green has a broader path than most because the award looks beyond football alone.
Still, what he does on the field matters too. He’s one of two highly experienced tight ends on the roster, but the position hasn’t produced much so far, and Green has only 22 career receptions.
If he puts together an explosive season, it could help the Cowboys and strengthen his case.
The third Cowboy on the list is former North Texas transfer Coleman, who earned a spot on the watch list for the award given to college football’s most versatile player. That honor is named for former Notre Dame star and Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung, whose 1956 season included leading Notre Dame in passing, rushing, scoring, kickoff and punt returns, and punting. He also played defense and finished second on the team in interceptions.
Coleman doesn’t need to match that kind of workload, but his North Texas résumé explains why he made the list. In 2025, he played in 12 games with six starts at wide receiver, catching 47 passes for 550 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a few carries and handled punt return duties for UNT.
How Oklahoma State uses him will matter. The award usually leans toward players who contribute on special teams, so his role in scrimmages and early in the regular season will help shape whether he stays in the conversation.
If the Cowboys deploy him the way North Texas did, Coleman can impact the game as a receiver, return man and occasional option out of the backfield on jet sweeps. That kind of versatility gives Oklahoma State more ways to attack.
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