Oklahoma State's 2021 Recruiting Targets
Oklahoma State's 2021 Recruiting Targets
Take a look at the wrestlers in the class of 2021 that Oklahoma State currently has committed and what uncommitted recruits they're still targeting.
Unlock this article, live events, and more with a subscription!
Already a subscriber? Log In
As I mentioned in the Iowa Hawkeyes recruiting targets article, sometimes recruiting is more about protecting what you already have (verbal commitments) than going out and earning new commitments. I believe Oklahoma State is in a similar position as the Cowboys currently own commitments from four wrestlers in the top 56 of the Junior Big Board.
While I don't believe John Smith is done on the recruiting trail, as you'll see below the Pokes have made school lists of three more wrestlers on the Junior Big Board, Oklahoma State could call it quits right now and be in the running to earn their second straight #1 ranked recruiting class.
OKLAHOMA STATE DEPTH CHART & LONG-TERM LINEUP
The Last Decade In Cowboy Recruiting
Over the past decade, Oklahoma State has finished inside the top 10 recruiting class rankings seven times and has an average ranking of 6.6. Those three times they were outside the top 10 they were never ranked lower than 13th. The success on the recruiting trail has translated to eight top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and six team trophies over the same period of time. Since 2011, nine different schools have won recruiting titles, but no school has won back-to-back titles, but Oklahoma State currently sits in the driver's seat to sign their second straight top-ranked class in 2021.
Lightweight (125-141)
Level of need: It wouldn't hurt
2020 signees: #13 Trevor Mastrogiovanni (Blair Academy, NJ); #54 Jakason Burks (Omaha Burke, NE); Alex Yokubaitis (St. Louis Catholic, LA)
Current 2021 verbal commitments: None
2021 uncommitted targets: #8 Stevo Poulin (Shenendehowa, NY)
With Daton Fix, Reece Witcraft, Trevor Mastrogiovanni, Jakason Burks, Dusty Hone, and Kaden Gfeller on the roster for at least two more seasons, it might sound a little crazy to say it wouldn't hurt to add another hammer to this weight range. However, I think it's just 125 that needs to add another piece. Even if Daton Fix does go down next season, it will likely only be for 2020-21; I'm skeptical that Trevor Mastrogiovanni can make 125, and the Pokes are currently in the mix for one of the elite prospects in the class of 2021.
New York stud Stevo Poulin recently listed Oklahoma State as one of the five schools he's in contact with the most. Poulin won Super 32 in 2018, is a three-time New York state champion, and in 2019 made a Cadet world team before taking fifth at the world championships. Wrestling 113 a year ago, Poulin is a guy like Nick Piccininni who could potentially be a career 125-pounder. While I believe they have a chance at landing Poulin, I think Oklahoma State is likely behind NC State and Penn State at the moment. Poulin plans to take his time and take all five official visits.
Watch Trevor Mastrogiovanni beat Minnesota's Mitch McKee at the 2019 Junior Open in Las Vegas.
UPDATE: Since this article was written, Stevo Poulin has committed to North Carolina State.
Congrats to the Poulin family. Very happy for Stevo and appreciate them being forthcoming throughout his recruitment. pic.twitter.com/Cew07dg37U
— The Wrestling Nomad (@wrestlingnomad) June 10, 2020
Middleweight (149-165)
Level of need: Nah they're good
2020 signees: Elise Brown Ton (Allen, TX)
Current 2021 verbal commitments: #9 Travis Mastrogiovanni (Blair Academy, NJ); #15 Victor Voinovich (Brecksville, OH); #56 Teague Travis (Tolton Catholic, MO)
2021 uncommitted targets: Luka Wick (San Marino, CA)
Much like the lightweights, the Cowboys are set up nicely in the middleweights and a lot of that depends on verbal commitments they currently own in the class of 2021. Teague Travis will provide reinforcements at 141/149, Victor Voinovich will compete immediately for the starting job at 149, and Travis Mastrogiovanni looks to be the future at 157. You could make the argument the Cowboys could use more depth at 165, but with Travis Wittlake having three more years of eligibility remaining and Cade Lindsey and Elise Brown Ton behind him, the Cowboys don't need to find the long-term replacement for Wittlake until the class of 2022 or beyond.
While Cali stud Luka Wick did list Oklahoma State has one of the eight schools he is communicating with the most at the moment, I would be surprised if he chooses to head to Stillwater and join the loaded middleweight room.
Watch Voinovich beat four-time California state champ and Arizona State signee, Jesse Vasquez at Who's #1.
Upperweights (174-285)
Level of need: Nonexistent
2020 signees: #10 AJ Ferrari (Allen, TX); #11 Dustin Plott (Tuttle, OK); #63 Luke Surber (Tuttle, OK); #90 Konner Doucet (Comanche, OK); Daniel Jezik (Coal City, IL); Trevor Dopps (Goddard, KS)
Current 2021 verbal commitments: #10 Kyle Haas (Maize, KS)
2021 uncommitted targets: #5 Cael Valencia (St. John Bosco, CA)
Oklahoma State's current and future roster is loaded from top to bottom, but no weight range in Stillwater is as loaded as the Cowboy big boys. At one point, AJ Ferrari was the top-ranked recruit in the class of 2021 and will either be the future of 197 or 285. If he goes heavyweight, that allows top-100 recruit and two-time Illinois state champion Daniel Jezik to be the man at 197. If Ferrari is a 197-pounder, that allows top-100 recruit in the class of 2020, Konner Doucet, and top-10 recruit in the class of 2021, Kyle Haas, battle it out for the future of heavyweight.
Dustin Plott was once the second-ranked recruit in the class of 2020 before an injury forced him to miss his senior season. Plott recently told our Oklahoma State beat writer, Seth Duckworth, he will be a 174/184-pounder in Stillwater. If he's healthy, I think he could be the guy right out of the gate at 174, but if he is indeed a 184-pounder, he will have to compete with NCAA qualifier Anthony Montalvo who has three seasons of eligibility remaining. If Plott does go up to 184, his Tuttle teammate Luke Surber could be the future of 174.
As was the case with Poulin and Wick, Oklahoma State is in the mix for Cael Valencia, but I don't see them as the favorite as I believe Valencia stays somewhere out West.
Watch Haas beat Ohio State commit Seth Shumate to make the Cadet world team.
Keep it locked on FloWrestling all month as we continue to roll out depth chart breakdowns for the nation's top D1 programs and also take a look at the high school wrestlers they are targeting.