In the wake of Mike Gundy’s dismissal, the fallout has already begun — and it’s hitting Oklahoma State’s future hard. The Cowboys are starting to see their once-promising 2026 recruiting class unravel, with multiple key decommitments announced in just the past week.
One of the more significant losses so far came from three-star quarterback Kase Evans, a cornerstone of the Cowboys' future under the previous staff. Evans had long been viewed as a foundational piece for the program’s rebuild, and his departure sends a clear signal about the uncertainty recruits are feeling.
"“After many prayers and a long talk with my family, I have decided to decommit from Oklahoma State and reopen my recruitment,” Evans shared on social media. “I want to say a huge thank you to Coach Gundy, Coach Meachum, Coach Gonzales, Coach KC, and especially Coach Johns for seeing my potential to make an impact at OSU. Looking forward to big things ahead!”"Kase Evans
No Coach, No Vision — Just Questions
Evans’ decommitment followed closely behind another major loss: four-star running back Kaydin Jones, who had been one of the class’s top-ranked players for the team. Without a permanent head coach in place, it’s becoming harder for recruits, and their families, to buy into a vision that doesn't exist yet.
It’s understandable. These players commit based on relationships, system fits, and the promise of development under specific coaches. With Gundy gone and the program in flux, those assurances vanish. Recruits are left asking questions the current staff can't answer: Who’s the next head coach? Will I still fit the scheme? Will the new staff value me like the old one did?
More Dominoes Fall
The losses didn’t stop with Evans and Jones. Three more names have since backed away from their pledges: Jabarie Thornton, a wide receiver from La Vega (Waco, TX), Aiden Martin, an offensive lineman from Berryhill (OK), and Trey McGlothlin, a linebacker from Bixby (OK).
The class is thinning out quickly, and unless Oklahoma State announces a new head coach soon, more decommitments seem inevitable. As other programs ramp up their recruiting efforts, OSU is left trying to keep prospects in limbo — a near-impossible task in today’s fast-moving recruiting world.
Transfer Portal Likely to Play Key Role
If the decommitments continue, and signs point in that direction, the next head coach will face a steep climb. Beyond salvaging what's left of the current class, they'll likely need to lean heavily on the transfer portal to keep the roster competitive in the short term.
Not only will they be tasked with attracting outside talent, but they’ll also need to retain key players already on campus, many of whom may explore the portal themselves if the transition isn't handled swiftly and transparently.
Can the Program Recover?
Oklahoma State now finds itself at a recruiting crossroads. What once looked like a solid 2026 class is rapidly unraveling. And while no one can blame the players, especially when the coach that brought them in is no longer there, the administration must move quickly to stabilize the program.
Whether that means promoting interim head coach Rob Meachem or going after a splashy external hire, the next few weeks will be crucial to get a clearer vision for the program. Rebuilding a recruiting class is difficult. Rebuilding a broken trust with high school prospects and their coaches? That’s even harder.
For now, the message is clear: until OSU provides a clear plan for the future, don’t expect the bleeding to stop.