How Morris Can Follow Indiana's Portal Blueprint at OSU

During his introductory press conference, Eric Morris addressed the question swirling through the minds of Oklahoma State fans.

Morris left no doubt when outlining his blueprint for a quick turnaround. In doing so, he highlighted one paramount element — the transfer portal. And to prove his point, he shed light on Indiana's football revitalization under second-year coach Curt Cignetti. 

“I think there’s definitely a formula to success now,” Morris said. “…You’re seeing what Indiana is able to do —  they’d lost more games than anybody in the history of college football (before coach Curt Cignetti’s arrival) and now, all of a sudden, they’re sitting at No. 1. And they’ve done it with developing and retaining players.”

For OSU fans admiring the swift turnaround the Hoosiers have undergone, it’s important to note 13 players followed Cignetti from James Madison when Indiana hired him ahead of the 2024 season. Because Morris will likely hope to do the same with a large portion of his key pieces from North Texas. Ones who played vital roles in the Mean Green finishing with a program-best 12-2 record, to go with an appearance in the American Athletic Conference championship game. 

Morris has already brought 24-year-old general manager Rahj Murti with him from North Texas. He’s also brought several other staff and personnel members with him from Denton. Who’s to say he won’t do the same with a few of his old players? 

Shortly after North Texas’ 49-47 win against San Diego State in the New Mexico Bowl on December 27, a flood of Mean Green players announced their intention to enter the transfer portal. So, there’s plenty to choose from. 

Here is a look at six positions Morris and his staff should focus on patching through the portal, along with some UNT players already entering who might be good fits.

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Quarterback

This one might be the most obvious — redshirt-freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker.

The unknown gunslinger from Austin, Texas, who didn’t start a varsity high school game at quarterback, walked on at North Texas and took college football by storm. This season was Mestemaker’s first as a starter, but he emulated traits of a chiseled veteran rather than a rookie. In 2025, Mestemaker led college football in passing yards (4,379) and ranked second in passing touchdowns (34), only behind Heisman Trophy winner, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. 

Can his relationship with Morris outweigh any lure from big-money programs with lucrative NIL offers that OSU might not be able to match? Potentially.

But what if Mestemaker doesn’t follow Morris to Stillwater? The Cowboys likely won’t be in the running for high-dollar names like DJ Lagway, Sam Leavitt, Josh Hoover, Beau Pribula or Dylan Raiola, but more affordable options are out there.

Of course, Mestemaker is the prized target for OSU fans. But even if he goes elsewhere, other viable options will be available. And with Morris’ pedigree as a premier quarterback developer, OSU will be all the more appealing as a transfer destination.

Running back

The most glaring option is UNT running back Caleb Hawkins.

As a freshman in 2025, Hawkins led college football in rushing touchdowns with 25. He led the AAC with 1,434 rushing yards on 230 attempts, averaging 6.2 (!) yards per carry. On the receiving end, Hawkins totaled 370 yards and four touchdowns. 

Hawkins is a Shawnee native and grew up attending OSU football games. And the cherry on top — his old coach is settled into Stillwater.  

But if Hawkins’ bargain price is too high, the Cowboys could look elsewhere within the UNT running back room. Most notably, there’s Ashton Gray, who served as one of Hawkins’ primary backups throughout the season. Gray rushed for 377 yards and five touchdowns on 58 carries, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt. He broke out a week ago against San Diego State, totaling 152 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

Morris could still look elsewhere to complement a room consisting of redshirt sophomore Rodney Fields, redshirt freshman DJ Dugar and highly-touted signee Kaydin Jones out of Jenks. 

But OSU is losing Kalib Hicks and Sesi Vailahi to the portal, while Trent Howland exhausted his remaining eligibility. Thus, the Cowboys are in dire need of a veteran or high-caliber addition to their running back core.

Wide receiver

In terms of depth, overall talent and in correlation with Morris’ air raid scheme, wide receivers might be a higher focal point than running back for OSU. And given how much the receiving core has thinned out the past month, adding a few premier portal prospects is vital.

The primary focus should be on UNT wide receiver Wyatt Young.

As a sophomore, Young ranked third nationally with 1,264 receiving yards, to go with 10 touchdowns. His 6-foot-10 frame, one-on-one ability and sheer speed quickly made him Mestemaker’s go-to target this past season.

It might also be of benefit for Morris to consider sophomore receiver Miles Coleman. Albeit undersized, Coleman is a speedy slot receiver who totaled 550 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 47 catches.

Offensive line

The Mean Green had a lot of bulk in the trenches this season. And a few noteworthy UNT offensive lineman have already announced their intention to transfer. 

The most appealing prospect might be 6-foot-4, 320-pound left tackle, Braydon Nelson. He started 11 games for the Mean Green in 2024 as a true freshman. This season, he played the second-most snaps of any UNT player, and posted a 73.2 offensive grade according to PFF, which ranked seventh among AAC offensive linemen. In turn, he earned Second Team All-Conference honors, and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. 

Next, there’s Johnny Dickson, who spent his first two seasons at Virginia Tech before transferring to UNT ahead of the 2024 season. Dickson played on the Hokies’ offensive line alongside former OSU offensive lineman Bob Schick in 2023. He was the Mean Green’s right guard this season and allowed only two sacks in 430 opportunities. He is the fifth-best run-blocking guard according to PFF and earned Third Team All-Conference honors. Dickson is listed at 6-2, 295 pounds and will have one season of eligibility remaining.

Lastly, there’s Desmond Magiya, who appeared in all of UNT’s games this season and made three starts at left tackle. As a redshirt sophomore, Magiya didn’t surrender a sack this season in 182 pass-blocking opportunities according to PFF. Listed at 6-5, 330 pounds, Magiya will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Front seven

The losses of edge rushers Wendell Gregory, Kyran Duhon and Taje McCoy were brutal blows to OSU’s defense. Simultaneously, it opens slots for newcomers. And OSU fans can only hope some of those will be from UNT. 

At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, Ethan Day might be the most noteworthy name on the defensive line. After spending his first two seasons at Wyoming, Day broke through this season with 53 tackles — seven for loss — and 4.5 sacks as a junior. 

At linebacker, the most obvious choice is linebacker Ethan Wesloski. At 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, Wesloski provides immense speed at his position. Not to mention, Morris frequently praised his football I.Q., which is often an overlooked element of a good defender.

He started 35 games in three seasons with the Mean Green, but surged in 2025. As a junior, he finished with 113 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception. He posted a career-best, 17-tackle game Nov. 22 against Rice. 

The Cowboys are expected to return a handful of intriguing prospects at linebacker, but if Morris and defensive coordinator Skylar Cassity want a feasible veteran addition, Wesloski might be a safe bet. 

Secondary 

The Cowboys should be in good shape at cornerback — though, it wouldn’t hurt Morris and Co. to add a few portal pieces there. But OSU’s safety position has been decimated through the portal.

Fortunately for OSU fans, the Mean Green benefitted from a talented safety room. And there’s already a handful of names to choose from.

At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Quinton Hammonds could be a valuable addition. He appeared in all 13 games for UNT as a freshman in 2024, surging to a starting spot. This season, he totaled 53 tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups. 

There’s also the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Evan Jackson. While he might be undersized, his sheer quickness highlights his skillset. 

Jackson started 12 games in three seasons with the Mean Green, but was a prevalent part of the defensive unit. As a junior this year, he posted 44 tackles, two interceptions and as many pass breakups.

Safety is another position that needs depth and experience given Cassity's multiple-front scheme will often have three on the field at a time. So, it might be of interest for Morris and Cassity to go in-house for a couple of those additions.