RivalsNSD: OKState signing day primer

With three recruits already signed/enrolled and 19 on the verbal commitment list, the Oklahoma State class of 2013 was largely complete well before the big day - National Signing Day. Today's the day that the 19 can make it official.

Though it's largely complete before the faxes start rolling in, there is still some uncertainty with the OSU class.

That list has to start with Rivals250 receiver Fred Ross. The four-star had been committed to the Cowboys for nearly a full-year. A surprise official visit to Mississippi State two weekends ago cast a bit of doubt on the situation. It regressed to the point that on Tuesday the OSU staff informed Tyler (TX) John Tyler head coach Ricklan Holmes - who is a former OSU player - that if they weren't able to get Ross on the phone quickly, they were going to have to start considering him no longer on the commitment list. Thus, National Signing Day dawns with Ross not listed on the OStateIllustrated.com verbal commitment list. As a matter of fact, at press time late Tuesday evening, multiple reports (including this site) have Ross headed to MSU.

There is certainly a chance that the situation is rectified and Ross ultimately signs with OSU today. That will have to be the top name OSU fans are scanning for as news begins to break this morning.

Among the rest of the OSU verbal commitment list, only Ra'Shaad Samples is known to have taken a visit to another school while committed to OSU. Samples visited Kentucky in January, but visited OSU after checking out Lexington and is believed to be solidly back on board with the Pokes.

Elsewhere, three-star defensive tackle Ofa Hautau is set to make a signing day decision. The Snow (Utah) C.C. product is believed to be down to OSU and Utah State.

If Ross does sign with someone other than OSU, that could free up a last-second offer to another prospect on OSU's list. That happened last year when receiver Austin Hays signed with the Cowboys virtually out of the blue. It's hard to guess where OSU might turn in that situation, but Ringling, Okla. tight end/defensive end Jackson Dillon is a name that's been bandied about as a possible late offer for OSU since he performed very well at OSU's final camp of the summer.

Overall, signing days under Mike Gundy have been fairly drama-free. Most every year has had a surprise or two - Perrish Cox switching to OSU from LSU or Ryan Broyles going from an OSU verbal, to OU verbal, back to an OSU verbal and then ultimately signing with Oklahoma - but the Cowboys have not tended to have shocking signing days. That should be the case again today, as most of the variables are known (and listed above). There is a good reason that coaches and fans alike say "it's not done until that fax is received."

And that's what we're here for - to bring you the news as it happens. Be sure to check the Official, un-official Signing Day thread on the Corral and follow us on twitter (@OSIJJ @Fielder29 @brendon_wm and @OKStateRivals) for signing day news as we get it!