Oklahoma
Why Oklahoma State recruited Gunnar Wilson at linebacker before he played the position
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Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy talks about first spring practice
Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy talks about Cowboys’ first spring practice
OSU ATHLETICS
MELISSA, Texas — Gunnar Wilson has entered his linebacker era.
Since first playing football at the age of 6, Wilson has played nearly every position on the field.
But his experience at linebacker was minimal when college coaches like Oklahoma State assistant Joe Bob Clements suddenly began recruiting him to be one.
Set to enroll at OSU in June with the remaining newcomers of the 2024 recruiting class, Wilson’s future became quite clear as his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame was developing late in his junior season at Melissa High School.
But the journey to get there was far from direct.
For a couple years in elementary school, Wilson was so much bigger than his teammates that he found himself on the offensive line. By junior high, he was still one of the bigger kids for his age, but this time, he landed on the defensive line. At other times, he’s been a quarterback, a running back and a defensive back.
As a sophomore and junior at Melissa, Wilson earned various all-state honors as a tight end, even though he was a bit undersized for the position at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds. In his junior season, he also played five games at safety, totaling 40 tackles and two interceptions — but more importantly, providing game tape as a defensive player.
“I guess they saw my length and my ability to run sideline-to-sideline from the safety position, and that’s what they liked,” Wilson said of the OSU coaches, who extended an offer before Wilson had ever played a game at linebacker. “OSU didn’t even come see me play linebacker in spring because I was hurt.”
More: Life ‘coming full circle’ as Oklahoma State football recruits former star Tatum Bell’s son
The Cowboys weren’t the only ones to offer Wilson a scholarship without seeing him play the position. By the time he committed to OSU last June, he had 13 offers, with only one — from Texas-San Antonio — as a tight end.
Wilson finished his senior season with 88 tackles in 12 games, but piled up multiple double-digit tackle games late in the season as he began to really settle into the new position.
Playing closer to the line of scrimmage, he combined the physicality he learned playing tight end, and the field vision he gained at safety to be a wrecking ball at outside linebacker.
Though his experience as a linebacker isn’t deep, Wilson believes the knowledge he has gained playing so many different positions is a bigger benefit.
“I can see the whole field and anticipate what’s about to happen,” he said. “I pay attention to the down and distance every play and I can put myself in the right situation.
“My football IQ allows me to be in the right spot to make the right plays.”
Because of the way he has grown into his body, Wilson’s speed stands out.
He played baseball and ran track previously in high school, but is focused on adding muscle this spring. Following the training plan provided by the OSU strength staff, he says he’s added more than 10 pounds since the end of football season.
“I’ve focused on a lot of skills training and in the weight room instead of running on the track,” he said. “But I’m fine showing up like this in June, because they’ll probably cut 5 pounds off me then add 10 back.
“I’m just excited to get there. They’re always competing to go to the Big 12 Championship, and now, hopefully, the playoff.”
More: Oklahoma State football recruiting tracker: Which players are committed to 2025 class?
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Oklahoma
Oklahoma Attorney General responds to federal immigration lawsuit
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Oklahoma
Oklahoma's Own In Focus: Edmond Man Faces Sentencing For Bringing Ammunition Into Turks And Caicos
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An Edmond man facing charges in Turks and Caicos after ammunition was found in his luggage will arrive for his sentencing on Friday.
Click here to watch News 9 Now.
Ryan Watson was arrested in April after authorities found ammunition left over from a hunting trip in his carry-on. Now, two months after being taken into custody, Watson will face his sentencing.
The punishment for bringing ammunition onto the island nation, according to Turks and Caicos law, is 12 years in prison.
Watson’s family spoke with News 9 about the trial, and applauded the efforts of the attorney defending Watson.
The family said when the prosecutor brought in the bullets to the courtroom to use in the case against Watson, it provided Watson’s attorney the opportunity to show no weapon on the island is capable of firing them.
Last week, Turks and Caicos Gov. Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam filed an amendment to country’s firearms ordinance, stating “the court may impose a term of imprisonment of less than the mandatory minimum term or a fine or both.”
Watson is scheduled to be sentenced at 10 a.m. on Friday.
Watson is not the only American tourist to face ammunition charges in Turks and Caicos, as four others have been arrested after bullets were found by airport security.
US Senators Markwayne Mullin and Rep. Josh Breechen, both of whom are lawmakers representing Oklahoma in Washington D.C., have visited the island in May to discuss the arrests.
While that delegation was unable to negotiate the release of the detained Americans, two have returned home after being given fines and shortened sentences.
Turks and Caicos Gov. Daniel-Selvaratnam defended the country’s laws, and said no American has received the full sentence.
This case led to changes at Will Rogers World Airport, from Which Watson and his family departed from on their trip toTurks and Caicos, and brought action from U.S. lawmakers.
U.S. Sen James Lankford sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration, asking how it managed to allow citizens to go to Turks and Caicos with ammo in their bags.
The TSA said officers will receive additional training on how to catch those items, with failure to do leaving the possibility of them being placed on administrative leave, or being terminated from their position.
Oklahoma
OU Basketball: Former Oklahoma Guard and 4-star Recruit Kaden Cooper Finds New Home
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On Sunday afternoon, former Oklahoma guard Kaden Cooper announced his commitment to Louisiana Tech.
Cooper was a member of the Sooners’ 2023 recruiting class, spending one year in Norman before announcing his entry into the transfer portal. As a true freshman, the Ada, OK, product played in just 15 games, logging 4.5 minutes per contest.
In his limited time on the floor, Cooper averaged 1.5 points and 0.9 rebounds per game while shooting 46.7% from the field and 50% from 3-point range. The former 4-star prospect made seven of his 15 field goal attempts and three of his six attempts from beyond the arc.
Cooper tallied 22 points and 13 rebounds in his 67 minutes of action as a true freshman. Many OU basketball observers often wondered why Cooper didn’t recieve more playing time, especially later in the season when Porter Moser and company were dealing with multiple injuries in the backcourt and on the wing.
Coming out of The Skill Factory, a development program in Atlanta, GA, Cooper was a 4-star recruit, rated the No. 58 overall prospect and No. 11 small forward in the 2023 recruiting class. Despite being a coveted recruit, the athletic wing still was unable to crack the Sooners’ rotation in 2023-24.
Now heading to Louisiana Tech, Cooper should be able to find a role as a solid contributor. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, the former OU wing has good size and should give the Bulldogs a chance to make the NCAA Tournament in 2025 after a 22-10 season in 2023-24.
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