Oklahoma State football has rescinded an offer to a commit after he took a visit to a rival program. Is this too far for the staff or does it make sense?
Recruiting, like football, is a game. Although one takes place on the gridiron while the other is usually done over the phone or at the dinner table, the similarities are undeniable.
To succeed, it requires a relentless work ethic and some God-given talent. There’s no question that loyalty, integrity, and accountability also play a vital role in the two separate commodities. That was on full display in Stillwater, Okla., last weekend.
After securing a commitment from three-star recruit Myles Price earlier this month, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy and the Cowboys celebrated. The Pokes’ longstanding pipeline in the Lone Star State appeared alive and well after the Colony, Texas native chose to play for the Orange and Black over offers from nearly 15 other Power Five programs.
An ultra-athletic receiver, Price is listed as a top-100 player in the state of Texas and the 657th rated player nationally by 247Sports. The undersized (5-8, 160 pounds) playmaker gained over 1500 yards from scrimmage as a junior last season and had the look of a classic OSU slot receiver.
That reportedly changed after the speedy wideout took an official visit to conference rival Texas Tech this past weekend.
BREAKING: Following an official to Texas Tech, Myles Prices no longer holds an offer from #OkState. #GoPokes https://t.co/Ff3WMf8G82
— Oklahoma State Cowboys on 247Sports (@OKState247) June 22, 2019
According to Robert Allen of 247Sports, Gundy and the Cowboys’ coaching staff implemented a rule of sorts that forbids committed prospects from taking official visits to other schools after they were burned by several recruits in the 2015 cycle. Although it’s unclear whether or not the guideline is applied to all prospects, it’s being reported that the staff communicated their expectations very clearly with their newest signee.
With Price taking an official visit to Lubbock just six days after announcing his commitment to the Pokes, he allegedly violated this agreement with the staff. Ultimately, this would lead to the university revoking his offer and declining his pledge.
Price took to Twitter to express his disappointment with the sequence of events, as did several others.
https://twitter.com/Myles_price3/status/1142564526614859776
This is a baaaaaad look for Oklahoma St... The kid has every right to take all his OV’s https://t.co/bGcCmgX12I
— Tyler Morvant (@Tyler_Morvant) June 22, 2019
For the record, it is not uncommon for coaching staffs to have a rule or standard in place to prevent committed players from taking visits to other programs. However, there is often a clear double standard exercised depending on how talented the player in question is.
Any coaching staff can preach that their guidelines are in place to encourage potential prospects to keep their word and honor their commitments, but the simple fact of the matter is that if you’re dealing with a kid who looks like the next Randy Moss, there’s not a program in America that would enforce those same standards upon him.
In principle, I wholeheartedly agree with the importance of coaches holding players accountable and teaching their athletes the significance of honoring their commitment. The issue arises when their rules and methods are not enforced universally for every player that walks through their door.
In the end, I believe both sides feel they were wrongfully treated in the situation and to some extent, they were. However, let’s play devil’s advocate here for a brief second.
As a player, a wrong decision could temporarily derail your future. As a coach, the transfer portal has turned recruiting into a chaotic, every man for himself, free agency circus and there are only so many ways a program can combat that. In layman’s terms, there are times that this system becomes a no-win scenario for either side.
Oklahoma State now has 12 commitments in their 2020 class and are reportedly in the market for 1-2 more receivers after their offer to Price was rescinded. With a versatile skillset and 4.4 speed, Price will certainly land on his feet, though it’s been made abundantly clear that it will not be in Stillwater.
Who’s really to blame here, football fans? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter @SaturdayBlitz/@chumbleycotlon.