STILLWATER — A chain reaction of decisions looms over the Oklahoma State football team.
With Tuesday's news that North Texas' Eric Morris will be the Cowboys’ next coach, what assistant coaches will he hire and what type of offensive and defensive systems will they run?
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhich players want to enter the transfer portal?
And which players will the new staff want to keep on the roster?
The staffing questions are not settled at this point. But a lot is known about the players already on the OSU roster.
So let’s dive into a collection of current Cowboys that Morris' coaching staff would be smart to keep in Stillwater.
Quarterbacks are a personal taste, and Morris might try to lure his starter, Drew Mestamaker, so we'll stay away from them.
But here are a dozen players the new staff should keep, listed alphabetically, with a few bonus additions below:
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Oklahoma State's Wendell Gregory (4) celebrates a defensive play in the second half of the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Baylor Bears at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.12 players the new staff should consider keeping
Linebacker Ike Esonwune
Fun fact: his full first name is Ikechukwu (pronounced E-catch-uh-koo). A redshirt sophomore, Esonwune has shown significant growth this season, working his way into the primary rotation alongside older, more experienced linebackers.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCornerback LaDainian Fields
When attrition hit the secondary, the redshirt freshman took advantage of the opportunity more than anyone. He has an ideal body type for a cornerback at 6-foot, 180 pounds, and came up with two interceptions this season in limited action.
Running back Rodney Fields Jr.
LaDainian’s cousin, Rodney is also a redshirt freshman and looks the part of an every-down back for the next few years. Morris might try to bring Shawnee native Caleb Hawkins, who has had a strong freshman season at North Texas. But you can never have too many running backs.
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Oklahoma State's Rodney Fields Jr. (20) gets by Kansas State's Wesley Fair (18) on a rush in the second half of the college football game between Oklahoma State University and the Kansas State Wildcats at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday Nov. 15, 2025.Cornerback Eric Fletcher
Like LaDainian Fields, Fletcher is another redshirt freshman in the secondary who took advantage of additional playing time and showed his capability in coverage.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTight end Josh Ford
Yes, he’s already in the transfer portal, but the Stillwater product loves his hometown school and could be lured back in the right situation. At 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, Ford will be a redshirt sophomore next season and has physical traits that are uncoachable with plenty of room to grow as a receiver.
Receiver Gavin Freeman
He’s been the most productive receiver on the team this season and would be an exceptional senior leader to have in the locker room next season. He’s also a reliable return man.
Oklahoma State's Gavin Freeman (17) leaps over Baylor's DJ Coleman (33) in the first half of the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Baylor Bears at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.Edge rusher Wendell Gregory
This one might be tough. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Gregory has been one of the Big 12’s most dangerous freshmen, currently tied for third in the league with 10 tackles for loss. He’s originally from Marietta, Georgia, so the lure of SEC country might call him back closer to home.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDefensive end Jaleel Johnson
Injuries have stunted his career production, but as a redshirt junior this season, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Johnson was one of OSU’s most consistent defensive players when he was on the field.
Defensive tackle Armstrong Nnodim
Only scratching the surface of what he’s going to be, the 6-foot-2, 290-pound Nnodim has a strength level that will make him a forceful defensive lineman as he further learns the position. He also has shown the versatility to play just about anywhere on the line.
Linebacker Jacobi Oliphant Jr.
Originally recruited as a tall cornerback, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Oliphant has grown into a linebacker — a move he made in preseason camp. So he’s still learning the position and possesses a unique understanding of pass coverage that will increase his value as he improves his more traditional linebacker skills.
Oklahoma State offensive lineman Grant Seagren (74) prepares for a play in the Cowboys' game against Baylor on Sept. 27 at Boone Pickens Stadium in StillwaterOffensive tackle Grant Seagren
Another player who is in the portal, Seagren has continued to play out his redshirt sophomore season. He had limited playing time before he arrived at OSU, but excelled once he got on the field. At 6-foot-6, 311 pounds, he has the frame and the playing style of a future NFL tackle.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDefensive tackle De’Marion Thomas
Here’s a story that has probably deserved more attention than it has gotten. Thomas opted to redshirt four games into his true junior season, but didn’t enter the transfer portal. Instead, he has been practicing with the scout team. The 6-foot-2, 337-pound Tulsa product can be an impact player in the middle of the defensive line.
5 true freshmen to consider
Receiver Royal Capell: Slot receiver with return capabilities and a high football IQ.
Cornerback Kobi Foreman: Athletically gifted player who can help in a variety of areas.
Receiver Matrail Lopez: Coaches and teammates raved about his preseason showing before an injury sidelined him for much of the year.
Safety Jo Pierce: Hasn’t played in a game yet, but has shown significant promise as a 6-foot-1, 200-pound defensive back.
Linebacker Carl’Veon Young: Teammates have been awed by how hard he hits, which is noteworthy, considering he’ll only get bigger as he fills out his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame.
Bonus pick: Quarterback Banks Bowen
This could be a valuable two-fold move. Set to be a redshirt freshman, Bowen was a three-star, dual-threat recruit who seems like an ideal player to hang onto at a position where maintaining depth can be difficult.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn top of that, his father, interim defensive coordinator Clint Bowen, has proven his worth and seems like the exact type of assistant you want in your program. Morris likely wants to choose his own defensive coordinator, but Clint Bowen would be a good fit as an analyst or position coach.
Scott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X at @ScottWrightOK. Sign up for the Oklahoma State Cowboys newsletter to access more OSU coverage. Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Which Oklahoma State football players should new staff try to keep?
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