Mike Gundy was able to announce some good news for the Oklahoma State football program Wednesday.
After a roller coaster week that saw the Pokes pull off an improbable Bedlam upset, earn a bowl bid and some All-Big 12 honors, any momentum vanished after the felony domestic assault arrest of Bedlam hero Tyreek Hill.
Wednesday Gundy announced the signing of five junior college transfers and one major college transfer. These six players will enroll in January and participate in Spring drills.
"From official release at www.okstate.com:“We’re very pleased with the maturity and experience that this group brings to our football team,” Gundy said. “We’re looking forward to these guys joining us in January for off-season workouts and competing in spring football.”"
Here is more info on the six new Cowboys:
Jordan Burton – DB – 6-3 – 208 – Longview, Texas (Longview/Stephen F. Austin/Kilgore College)
Burton was named to the first team of the 2014 All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference team. He was the leading tackler for Kilgore College and finished in the Top Ten in the conference with 108 tackles. Burton made at least 10 tackles in seven of his 10 games played. Burton began his college football career at Stephen F. Austin before landing at Kilgore for the 2014 season. He also comes from one of the strongest high school programs in Texas, Longview High School. Burton has good size and speed. He was physical high school linebacker for the Lobos. He had offers on the table from Memphis, Minnesota, Troy, Southern Miss, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and others.
Saturday Blitz
Matt Kellerman – OL – 6-5 – 295 – Centerville, Kan. (Prairie View/Butler County C.C.)
The Pokes addressed an immediate need area up front with Kellerman. He was and honorable mention offensive lineman in the Jayhawk Conference in 2014. Kellerman chose Oklahoma State over Louisville, Iowa State and the FCS progam Coastal Carolina.
Motekiai Maile – DT – 6-4 – 305 – Euless, Texas (Trinity/Pittsburg HS/Tyler J.C.)
Gundy addressed the need for a run stopper on the defensive line with the massive Maile. Along with Burton, Maile was a first team selection on the 2014 All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference Team. Maile led Tyler as a sophomore with 10 tackles for loss. Judging from the offers he had on the table (TCU, Mississippi State, Arizona State, North Texas and SMU) Maile could be an immediate impact player.
Todd Mays – ATH – 6-0 – 200 – Olive Branch, Miss. (Olive Branch/East Mississippi C.C.)
Could this be the Tyreek Hill replacement? Mays is an all-purpose athlete from a back-to-back national champion JUCO program. Mays played running back, wide receiver and even some quarterback for East Mississippi. In 2014, Mays had seven rushing touchdowns, one passing TD and two touchdown receptions. Mays also scored 18 touchdowns at East Mississippi in his 2013 freshman campaign. Mays was a dual-threat quarterback at Olive Branch (MS) High School where he amassed 3,116 passing yards and 28 touchdowns while adding 1,304 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. Mays quarterback Olive Branch to a 15-0 record and a state championship in 2011. Like Maile, Mays had high-major offers from Missouri, Mississippi State, Cincinnati, Memphis, Southern Miss and Troy on the table.
Brandon Pertile – OL – 6-6 – 300 – Clearwater, Fla. (Countryside/Georgia State/Mesa C.C.)
Another prospect that Gundy hopes can upgrade the offensive line. Pertile spent last season injured at Mesa Community College but started at Georgia State as a true freshman in 2013. The Florida native has good size and experience. He chose the Cowboys over Cincinnati, Florida, Louisville, Memphis and Texas Tech. The line is an area of need and Pirtile could compete for immediate playing time.
Victor Salako – OL – 6-6 – 315 – Huntsville, Ala. (Grissom/UAB)
More offensive line help. Salako was a solid starter at UAB – a program that recently disbanded its football program. Salako started all 12 games at left tackle for the Blazers in 2014. UAB is a bowl-eligible Division I program and Salako was a big reason why the Blazers averaged more than 200 yards rushing per game and scored 27 total rushing touchdowns in 2014. He also started 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2013. Salako could immediately compete for a starting job.