Eric Morris Lands Top Transfer Class, Now Turns Focus to Building Oklahoma State’s Culture from the Ground Up
STILLWATER - Eric Morris didn’t just make a splash in his first recruiting cycle at Oklahoma State - he cannonballed into the deep end. The Cowboys’ new head coach hauled in what’s being called the best transfer class the program has signed in at least four years, and the numbers back it up.
According to 247Sports, OSU’s portal class ranks seventh nationally - a massive leap from the 22-to-63 range the Cowboys hovered in during the final years of the Mike Gundy era. And while the overall class, which includes high school signees, didn’t crack the top 10, it still stands as the strongest group OSU has brought in over that same stretch.
So how did Morris celebrate this milestone? By heading to Texas - not for more recruiting, but to chase Axis deer with one of his closest friends in coaching, Texas Tech offensive line coach Clay McGuire.
“The offensive line coach at Texas Tech is one of my best friends,” Morris said. “We were teammates and have worked together.
So we go with his dad, after signing day, for the last three years. So this has become an annual trip.”
For Morris, the hunting trip wasn’t just tradition - it was a much-needed breather. The past two months have been a whirlwind: hiring a full coaching staff, onboarding more than 80 new players, and navigating the endless logistics that come with taking over a college football program.
“Monday (Feb. 2) was the first time I was really able to relax and breathe,” he said.
And when he finally got that moment to exhale, Morris kept it simple. No big celebrations, no elaborate plans - just a grill, a fire, and some peace and quiet.
“I love to grill,” he said. “I just love to be outside.
Love to hunt and fish and do things outdoors. I’ll be grilling steaks tonight, building a fire and turn my phone off for the next two days, be with some buddies.”
But even in downtime, Morris doesn’t lose sight of what matters most. After the trip? He’s heading to see his kids and “play dad,” as he put it.
That’s the balancing act for Morris and much of his staff right now. With families still back home - kids finishing school, houses being packed - the transition to Stillwater is ongoing.
But Morris is using that time to his advantage. With fewer distractions, he’s all-in on building something meaningful at OSU.
“Come into the office and focus on what’s next, and that’s building the culture in these walls,” he said. “In this building, in our locker room. And that starts with building relationships and spending time with one another.”
And make no mistake - Morris is living at the facility, almost literally. His new house? It’s more of a crash pad at this point.
“I have a mattress,” he said. “I have one towel that I took from here so that I can shower there.
And I went by and bought a case of water, and I have a TV that’s on the floor. So, like, that’s all that I have in my house right now.
So there’s nothing to go home to.”
That means if you’re a Cowboy player, you’re going to be seeing a lot of your new head coach - and that’s exactly how he wants it.
“This is a great opportunity for me to spend just a ton of time up here and find these times for me to get around these kids,” Morris said. “And like, there’s nothing, I don’t have a special way, or a magic way, to build relationships.
The only way I know how to do it is to spend quality time with these kids. And so that’s one thing that I’m committed to right now, and it’ll continue to be that way throughout the course of this spring.”
The message is clear: Morris isn’t just trying to win games - he’s building a foundation. And with a top-tier transfer class already in the building, the groundwork is off to a strong start.
Now, it’s about culture, connection, and committing to the daily grind. And for Morris, that grind has already begun.