Suspended receiver Michael Harrison has not asked for release, plans to stay at OSU
Michael Harrison, who left the Oklahoma State football program before spring practice, remained in school this semester and has not asked for a release from the university.
“I do not have such a request,” OSU associate athletic director for compliance Kevin Fite said in an email Thursday. “It is my understanding he plans to stay at OSU.”
When asked if/when Harrison had been or would be taken off his athletic scholarship, Fite declined to disclose that information. I would guess Harrison remained on scholarship for spring 2012 since he left the team mid-semester.
Harrison, who would be a junior wide receiver, was suspended by the NCAA for the 2012 season for reasons that OSU coach Mike Gundy has not made public. It’s my understanding that the suspension would trickle down to any level of the NCAA (FCS, Division II, Division III), which would severely limit Harrison’s options for a transfer.
Gundy revealed in a pre-spring conversation in early March that Harrison had decided to leave the program following the suspension.
“The NCAA suspended him,” Gundy said then. “I never suspended him, and then he chose to not play football. He made that choice himself. My recommendation to him was to finish school (this semester), because that’s what you have to do. You can’t go anywhere at this particular time…and then if he chooses to (transfer), that’s his call.
“I don’t know what he wants to do. I just know that he’s decided he does not want to play football anymore.”
I have heard rumors that Harrison may want to try to come back to the football team at some point, but not from anybody I trust. It wouldn’t be the first time something like that happened during Gundy’s tenure as head coach. Former linebacker Jeremy Nethon was dismissed from the football program by Gundy in 2005 because of poor academics, but he returned as a walk-on in 2006, earned his scholarship back and finished his Cowboy career with 132 tackles.
But the difference between Nethon’s situation and Harrison’s is Harrison made the decision to leave. As far as I’m concerned, Harrison and the Cowboys have moved on.
But even if his football days are behind him, I think there’s something to be said for Harrison staying in school this semester. And it sounds like he’ll be back at OSU in the fall, too.
Oklahoma State recruiting class beginning where 2012 class ended–with wide receivers
Marcell Ateman, a four-star wide receiver from East High School in Wylie, Texas, announced on Twitter Wednesday night that he had committed to Oklahoma State.
That now makes six wide receivers that have committed to the Cowboys since the calendar turned to 2012. Three were late additions to the 2012 class that signed with the Cowoys–Jhajuan Seales, Austin Hays and Jesse Vester. One was Chance Allen, who committed to OSU in January before switching to Oregon on Signing Day. Then there’s Ateman and Fred Ross, another four-star receiver from Tyler, Texas who was the first 2013 commit.
Those figures don’t include C.J. Curry, Brandon Sheperd and Blake Webb, receivers who all committed in 2011 and signed with OSU as part of the 2012 class.
This all emphasizes the importance of receivers in the Cowboys’ spread offense. Eight receivers caught at least 10 passes for the Cowboys last season, and it’s fair to say that they will need a greater contribution from more players in 2012 after losing Justin Blackmon and Josh Cooper.
Even when OSU only loses two receivers following the 2012 season–Tracy Moore and Isaiah Anderson–consistently reloading is still necessary. Michael Harrison’s unexpected suspension and departure is a perfect example of why.
But the biggest difference between the receivers that signed at the end of the 2012 recruiting season and the ones that have committed early for the 2013 class?
Seales, Hays and Vester were all two-star players, while Ross and Ateman are four-star players. We knew the 2013 class is really where we’d see how OSU’s historic 2011 season would affect recruiting, and so far it’s been understandably positive.
The Cowboys signed three four-star players in February (Curry, quarterback Wes Lunt and linebacker Seth Jacobs). They’ve already got two committed–and at the same position.
Wide Receiver U?
Breaking down a reshuffled Oklahoma State receiving corps
One of the biggest questions surrounding Oklahoma State spring practice is who is going to replace Justin Blackmon.
The answer is nobody is going to straight-up fill the gigantic hole left by the two-time Biletnikoff winner. But Tracy Moore and Isaiah Anderson have expressed a strong desire to be that go-to receiver in 2012. That should be expected from a pair of seniors.
But the reality is the Cowboys need to replace multiple receiver roles, not just Blackmon’s. Josh Cooper. Hubert Anyiam (he was healthy for half of the season). Colton Chelf. Michael Harrison.
With just one week of spring practice to go, these are the Cowboys I currently see sliding into those spots. Some of them are based on size/playing style/position. Some are based on production predictions and don’t take position (inside or outside) into account.
Of course, plenty of things can change by September. Six freshmen receivers will arrive in fall camp, and it’s fair to expect one or two to play in their first year. Injuries could happen. Someone could really progress in the summer or camp, or once the season begins.
2011 Justin Blackmon=2012 Tracy Moore
Blackmon’s 2011 stats: 122 catches, 1,522 yards, 18 touchdowns
Again, no one is going to replace the production of Justin Blackmon by themselves. Tracy Moore will not be expected to catch 122 passes and 18 touchdowns. But Kasey Dunn talked last week about how pleased he has been with Moore’s transition into Blackmon’s old spot on the outside. Moore has dropped close to 15 pounds to help with his speed. He’s shown at times he can be a dangerous playmaker—most notably in his performances against Louisiana-Lafayette (seven catches, 112 yards, one touchdown) and Kansas State (nine catches, 146 yards, one touchdown) last season. He called the way he was disciplined in the Fiesta Bowl a big learning experience. He’s a prideful guy, but he needs to channel that into leadership as one of the senior receivers.
2011 Josh Cooper=2012 Josh Stewart
Cooper’s 2011 stats: 71 catches, 715 yards, three touchdowns
I’ve mentioned before that Josh Stewart has arguably been the best offensive player in spring ball, and that still holds true. Last season, Stewart always seemed to make one “wow” play each game, but he was still picking up the offense as a true freshman. He’s smaller than Cooper, but a bit flashier, and should become a reliable option in his second season. He has the awareness to find the open holes in the defense for the catch and then the shifty moves to make potential tacklers miss (the buzz word from Dunn and inside receivers coach Doug Meacham is “twitch”). He’s going to be fun to watch over the next three years.
2011 Hubert Anyiam/Isaiah Anderson=2012 Isaiah Anderson
Anyiam’s 2011 stats: 27 catches, 370 yards, three touchdowns (six games)
Anderson’s 2011 stats: 28 catches, 315 yards, four touchdowns
This one was easy, because he’s really the only guy that has basically the same role as last season. Anderson filled in nicely when Anyiam got hurt, catching 22 passes for 231 yards and one touchdown. But that production will have to increase with the loss of Blackmon. He’s a speedster that could become a bigger vertical threat.
2011 Tracy Moore=2012 Blake Jackson
Moore’s 2011 stats: 45 catches, 672 yards, four touchdowns
Jackson will play attached (on the line of scrimmage) and occasionally block, but his main value as a tight end is, of course, in the passing game. He’s got a big, rock solid body and can make the catches others can’t because of his size and athletic ability. He will be valuable on those short and intermediate routes in the middle of the field and has deceptive speed for his size. But Gundy put it best when he said Jackson “realized it wasn’t junior college” during the Cowboys’ first scrimmage on Monday. He is still trying to learn the offense and has mental lapses from time to time. Still, he is expected to start and make an impact right away.
2011 Colton Chelf=2012 Charlie Moore
Chelf’s 2011 stats: 21 catches, 291 yards
Obviously, these two guys don’t resemble each other at all physically (Chelf is 5-9, 180 pounds and Moore is 6-2, 200). But Moore has had made some plays this spring and could emerge as a solid fourth or fifth option in the passing game. I expect similar production to what Chelf had this season, with the potential for a breakout game depending on how defenses play the Cowboys.
2011 Josh Stewart=2012 Torrance Carr
Stewart’s 2011 stats: 19 catches, 291 yards, two touchdowns
Another receiver who has had a strong spring, Carr is 6-2, 225 pounds but has some speed and athleticism. Like Stewart, he’s sure to go through some growing pains during his first year on the field but should contribute as a backup on the inside.
2011 Charlie Moore=2012 David Glidden
Moore’s 2011 stats: three catches, 56 yards
Again, cannot compare these guys at all when it comes to size, as Glidden is just 5-7, 170. But Meacham talked this week about Glidden’s ability to pick things up quickly and get to the right spot on the field. With Blackmon gone and the catches/yards more spread out, I actually expect Glidden to have much better numbers than Moore did last season as a backup inside receiver.
2011 Michael Harrison=2012 C.J. Curry
Harrison’s 2011 stats: 20 catches, 255 yards, three touchdowns
During Harrison’s two years at OSU, he was regarded as the guy with all the potential. I think Curry, one of the gems of the Cowboys’ 2012 recruiting class, will be thought of in the same way when he arrives for fall camp. In the spring, Kevin Johnson has been Anderson’s backup on the outside. I see Curry eventually taking that spot.
Also look out for: Kevin Johnson, Blake Webb
Michael Harrison update: Not dismissed, but don’t expect to see him in 2012
Oklahoma State receiver Michael Harrison looks for open field after making a catch during a college football game against Missouri at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Tons of rumors have been swirling about the status of Oklahoma State wide receiver Michael Harrison the past three days or so.
It is my understanding that Harrison has not been dismissed from the team, as other reports have indicated. But I don’t expect to see him play in 2012.
A source told The Oklahoman Sunday night that the Cowboys were “not counting on (Harrison)” playing this season but did not say he had been dismissed.
Harrison’s absence would be a pretty significant blow to the OSU passing game, as he was expected to slide into a starting role on the outside and at least help make up for the loss of star wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Harrison tallied 20 catches for 255 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore in 2011.
Without Harrison, an already thin group returning at receiver for OSU is even thinner, as Josh Cooper, Hubert Anyiam and Colton Chelf were all seniors this past season.
Tracy Moore (45 catches, 672 yards, four touchdowns), Isaiah Anderson (28 catches, 315 yards, four touchdowns) and Josh Stewart (19 catches, 291 yards, two touchdowns) will be the top returning wide receivers in 2012.
OSU signed six wide receivers — C.J. Curry, Austin Hays, Jhajuan Seales, Brandon Sheperd, Jesse Vester and Blake Webb — in its 2012 recruiting class. The Cowboys also signed pass-catching junior college tight end Blake Jackson, and athlete Dominic Ramacher is expected to start his OSU career as a tight end-receiver.
Harrison was briefly ruled ineligible by the NCAA prior to the 2011 season but was reinstated the day before the Cowboys’ opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.
