Talent Perspective: Utah Utes vs Oklahoma State Cowboys

Sep 18, 2024, 3:55 PM

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – In this one, we’ll get a better idea of the talent in the showdown between the No. 12 Utah Utes and the No. 14 Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Basing game previews on recruiting rankings doesn’t always provide the most accurate reflection of teams. However, it is still a valuable piece of the puzzle when assessing matchups both individually and amongst position groups.

These two schools are comparable recruiting powers. Each often finishes with a class ranked somewhere in the 30’s. Not only have the two schools recruited well over the years but are also considered very good player development programs.

Utah – Oklahoma State Position Group Talent Averages

The position group talent averages are generated by 247 Sports’ Industry-Generated Composite Ratings for each player. This is a fairly even matchup in terms of talent averages between position groups. Utah has an advantage at most positions but this is a tight matchup from a talent perspective.

	Utah Utes	Oklahoma State Cowboys
Quarterback	0.9274	0.8723
Running back	0.8857	0.8846
Wide Receiver	0.8887	0.8635
Tight End	0.8734	0.8610
Offensive Line	0.8813	0.8558
Defensive End	0.8771	0.8731
Defensive Tackle	0.8704	0.8775
Linebacker	0.8761	0.8755
Cornerback	0.8788	0.8617
Safety	0.8745	0.8788
Overall	0.8786	0.8669

Top Five Talents

Utah

Lander Barton, LB – .9587; Spencer Fano, OT – .9564; Caleb Lomu, OT – .9458; Van Fillinger, DE – .9276; Cameron Rising, QB – .9096

Oklahoma State

Kendal Daniels, LB – .9578; Talyn Shettron, WR – .9505; Ollie Gordon, RB – .9125; Collin Clay, DT – .9021; DeSean Brown, DE – .8878

Intriguing Talent Matchups

Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon vs Utah LB Lander Barton

The biggest point of focus for the Utes defense this weekend is likely limiting Gordon as much as they can on the ground. He has been limited to 216 yards and four touchdowns on 62 carries through the first three games. However, Gordon is an obvious game-changing talent. Obviously, it’s not all dependent upon Barton but he is Gordon’s counterpart in this matchup from a talent perspective. He is also the quarterback of the defense without Karene Reid. Barton will play a big role in Utah’s ability to limit Gordon, which will be a significant factor in the game.

Oklahoma State LB Kendal Daniels vs Utah QB Cam Rising

Not typically the sort of matchup you expect for a quarterback but Daniels is an intriguing piece to the Cowboys defense. He’s a converted safety and has shown impressive ability to make plays around the line of scrimmage this season. He’s a versatile piece, able to play in the middle or off the edge. Daniels will be an important player for Rising to identify given his versatility.

Oklahoma State DL vs Utah OL

The Cowboys utilize a 3-3-5 defensive scheme and like to use three bigger linemen up front. This is a defense that likes to keep secondary defenders over the top of everything while being a bit more aggressive with the front seven. It’s not a blitz-heavy team but it’s aggressive in shooting gaps and creating havoc as quickly as possible. This matchup will test Utah’s offensive line in both the run and pass game. Utah has been solid in both regards but will need their best effort of the season.