Oklahoma State football: 5 early signees who could make biggest impact

STILLWATER, OK - OCTOBER 27: Barry Sanders #21 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys walks with head coach Mike Gundy and the football team through fans cheering them on their way into the stadium for a game against the Texas Longhorns on October 27, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State won 38-35. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - OCTOBER 27: Barry Sanders #21 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys walks with head coach Mike Gundy and the football team through fans cheering them on their way into the stadium for a game against the Texas Longhorns on October 27, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State won 38-35. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Oklahoma State football landed several significant commitments to its 2022 recruiting class with today’s early signing day.

Gundy and the OSU coaching staff are looking to help rebuild a team for the future that now enters the 2021 bowl season as Big 12 Conference runners-up. The Cowboys are also currently ranked in the Top 10.

In what may be Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State football’s best recruiting class in school history, which early signees could make the biggest impact?

Although the numbers are in flux with the changes going on during the early National Signing Day, groups such as 247Sports have OSU currently rated with a Top 25 recruiting class . Among current Big 12 members, this is behind Texas and OU, but ranks ahead of notable schools such as Oregon, Wisconsin, and Virginia Tech.

Here’s a recap of the Cowboys’ five best additions for the class of 2022:

Talyn Shettron, Edmond Santa Fe High School

Shettron, the nation’s No. 6-rated wide receiver, chose OSU over reported offers from Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Florida. He’s also listed as Under Armor All-American and may be OSU’s most notable wide receiver recruit since Dez Bryant.

Outside of Tay Martin, the Cowboys receiving corps struggled to provide a consistent big-play threat against opposing secondaries in 2021. With the Washington State transfer exhausting his NCAA eligibility in Stillwater this fall, Martin’s ability to make acrobatic catches downfield will be hard to replace. Shettron could be the one to step up.

His brother, Tabry, also signed with the Cowboys.

Xavier Benson, Tyler Junior College

Benson actually began his college career at Texas Tech, where he redshirted the 2018 season before making 57 tackles in 10 starts. He opted out of playing in 2020 and this past season he led the NJCAA with 120 total tackles.

As an experienced player, Benson figures to make an impact for a Cowboys squad that will lose two foundational pieces from its outstanding defense, both linebackers: All-America Malcolm Rodriguez and Devin Harper.