ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has added another Oklahoma State name to the growing NFL conversation: Justin Bowick.
On ESPN’s “First Draft,” Kiper and Field Yates were breaking down a group of “freakish” 2027 NFL Draft prospects who might turn heads at the combine when Kiper zeroed in on Bowick, the Cowboys’ 6-foot-5, 209-pound pass catcher. The attention is starting to catch up with the production.
“This kid is 6-4.5, maybe 6-5 - we’ll see about the official heights and weights - 210 (pounds),” Kiper said. “He can go get the football.
He had a big game against Oregon, big game against UCF - had a one-handed catch in this game, which was outstanding. It’s not just Wyatt Young.
It’s No. 0 for Oklahoma State, Justin Bowick, who is a talent.”
Kiper also framed Bowick’s path in baseball terms, likening his rise to a player climbing through the minors. After transferring high schools and dealing with an injury, Bowick didn’t have much film coming out of high school.
Still, he earned a scholarship at Eastern Illinois, which Kiper called A-ball. His move to Ball State was described as a jump to Double-A, and his stops at Illinois and Oklahoma State were labeled Triple-A.
The numbers at Oklahoma State only back up the hype. In his first five games as a Cowboy, Bowick has 26 catches for 442 yards and five touchdowns from Drew Mestemaker. That already puts him within reach of his best college receiving total - the 499 yards he posted as a sophomore at Eastern Illinois in 2023.
His latest statement came against UCF, where Bowick finished with six catches for 98 yards and flashed all over the field. The highlight reel included the one-handed grab Kiper mentioned, a touchdown catch and a 32-yard catch-and-run in which he shook off Knights defenders in a tight space.
How did Justin Bowick catch this?🤯
- CFP (@CFBPlayoff) October 10, 2026
Kiper said Bowick has been proving himself at every stop.
“I look at this kid to go from Eastern Illinois, he had some great games there,” Kiper said. “You say, well he dominated against UT-Martin.
Well, still, if you play at Eastern Illinois, you better take over games. He did.
He did it at Ball State. He did it at Illinois - go back to the Duke game.
He’s done it at Oklahoma State - Oregon game, UCF game, other games.
“He’s a heck of a player, and to see his progression. You need a scorecard there just to keep up with the schools that he’s gone to and the progression that he’s made.
Justin Bowick is a kid to keep an eye on, and Drew Mestemaker is bringing a lot of eyes down to Stillwater. He’s bringing a lot of NFL eyes down there.”
Bowick had already shown up on the radar before this latest boost from Kiper. The Athletic placed him on its annual “Freak List” before the season, ranking him No. 66 because of his power, speed and explosion - including the ability to squat more than 500 pounds, run 22 miles an hour and post a 1.36 10-yard split.
That profile is starting to look a lot less hidden now.
“This kid has made me stand up and take notice because on talent, boy, he is a kid,” Kiper said. “He is chiseled, and he is big, and he catches the football when it’s thrown his way.”
In Other News...
Oregon State Is Pushing Back Hard In Its Fight With Keith Heyward
Oregon States legal fight with former defensive coordinator Keith Heyward is still moving through the courts, with the university pressing ahead on its claim over an unpaid buyout and relocation allowance. Heyward, who spent time on the Beavers defensive staff, has pushed back with his own lawsuit, turning what began as a contract dispute into a broader standoff between the two sides.
The case now has a court conference set for Feb. 10 in Benton County Circuit Court, keeping the matter active as both parties dig in. Heywards filing adds accusations of breach of contract, defamation and retaliation, while Oregon State denies the key assertions at the center of his complaint, leaving the dispute headed toward another procedural checkpoint before anything is resolved. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Suddenly Has A Secondary Concern Oregon State Should Watch
Oklahoma States injury report ahead of its game against Houston offered a little more than the usual pregame housekeeping, and it matters to anyone keeping an eye on the Beavers old conference foe. The biggest name on the list is safety Mose Phillips, who is listed as doubtful with a shoulder injury after starting the past four games, a sign the Cowboys could be short-handed in the back end as they try to sort out their defensive rotation.
There is more movement elsewhere on the depth chart, too, with defensive tackle Landon Dean ruled out and freshman receiver Dayvon Standard probable to play. For a team already managing availability issues, those are the kinds of details that can shape how a game is played before the first snap. It also gives Oregon State a reminder that the margins in the Big 12 can shift quickly when one side starts to lose pieces on defense. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Defense Could Decide How This Week Really Plays Out
Washington State is heading into its matchup with Oregon State trying to spark an offense that has had to search for answers, and the move to Jaxson Eshelman is the latest attempt to find one. Eshelman brings a reputation for leadership and passing ability into a game that already looks built for points, especially with the Beavers standing as the 10th-ranked scoring team in FBS and leaning on a passing attack that can stress a defense in a hurry.
For the Cougars, the challenge is as much about holding up on one side of the ball as it is about giving their new quarterback enough room to settle in. Their defense has been one of the better units in the conference, but it now gets a direct test against Oregon State's top passing game, with key players on that side expected to carry a heavy load in a matchup that could swing on whether they can keep the Beavers from turning it into a track meet. [Read more 🡒]