Inside The Numbers: Cowboy Football In Texas

When Oklahoma State competes in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29, many Cowboys will consider it a homecoming of sorts. OSU has 70 players on its roster from the state of Texas, eight of whom went to high school within an hour of the Alamodome.
 
Oklahoma State's San Antonio-based players:
 
Vincent Taylor: Defensive tackle from James Madison HS in San Antonio
Jordan Sterns: Safety from Cibolo Steele HS
Tre Flowers: Safety from Converse Judson HS
Ramon Richards: Cornerback from Brackenridge HS in San Antonio
Austin Hays: Receiver from San Antonio Ronald Reagan HS
Zach Sinor: Punter from Medina Valley HS in Castroville
Deionte Noel: Offensive lineman from Cibolo Steele HS
Zach Smith: Linebacker from Pleasanton HS
 
Whether it be familiar surroundings or some other reason, Oklahoma State has excelled in the state of Texas, going 14-6 in its last 20 games played in the Lone Star State. The list:
 
2010 at Texas Tech – W, 34-17
2010 at Texas – W, 33-16
2010 vs. Arizona – W, 36-10 (Valero Alamo Bowl)
2011 at Texas A&M – W, 30-29
2011 at Texas – W, 38-26
2011 at Texas Tech – W, 66-6
2012 at Baylor – L, 41-34
2012 vs. Purdue – W, 58-14 (Heart of Dallas Bowl)
2013 vs. Mississippi State – W, 21-3 (Advocare Texas Kickoff)
2013 at UTSA – W, 56-35
2013 at Texas Tech – W, 52-34
2013 at Texas – W, 38-13
2013 vs. Missouri – L, 41-31 (AT&T Cotton Bowl)
2014 vs. Florida State – L, 37-31 (Advocare Cowboys Classic)
2014 at TCU – L, 42-9
2014 at Baylor – L, 49-28
2015 at Texas – W, 30-27
2015 at Texas Tech – W, 70-53
2016 at Baylor – L, 35-24
2016 at TCU – W, 31-6
 
 
Recruiting the state of Texas has been a high priority for Oklahoma State football since Mike Gundy took over at his alma mater in 2005. Oklahoma State annually has more players on its roster from Texas than any other program outside of the Lone Star State. This year's totals:
 
1. Oklahoma State -70
2. Kansas - 47
3. Oklahoma - 42
4. Tulsa - 35
5. New Mexico State - 33
6. Louisiana Monroe - 29
7. New Mexico - 24
8. Louisiana Tech - 22
 
Several of the players on OSU's depth chart for this year's Valero Alamo Bowl game are from the San Antonio area (six, to be exact). That is nothing new for the Cowboys, as some of the highest-profile players to come through the OSU program during the Gundy era hail from the state of Texas. A look:
 
Dez Bryant (Lufkin) - Dallas Cowboys first-round pick and leading receiver. 
Russell Okung (Houston) - Seattle Seahawks first-round pick, 2013 Pro Bowler
Brandon Pettigrew (Tyler) - Detroit Lions first-round pick 
Quinn Sharp (Mansfield)- Cincinnati Bengals kicker, three-time All-American K/P 
Kendall Hunter (Tyler) – New Orleans Saints RB and two-time consensus All-American
Perrish Cox (Waco) – Tennessee Titans CB and two-time All-American 
Emmanuel Ogbah (Houston) – Cleveland Browns DE and 2015 All-American
Justin Gilbert (Huntsville) – Pittsburgh Steelers CB and 2013 All-American
Markelle Martin (Wichita Falls) - Tennessee Titans safety and 2011 All-American 
Grant Garner (Mesquite) - 2011 All-America center 
Orie Lemon (Houston) - Dallas Cowboys linebacker
Lane Taylor (Arlington) – Green Bay Packers offensive guard