Oklahoma State Football Coach Eric Morris Focuses on Team Bonding

Morris brings in 21 players from his previous staff at North Texas as he looks to build relationships with his new Cowboys roster.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 3:47pm

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New Oklahoma State football coach Eric Morris is taking an intentional approach to getting to know his large roster of 105 players, 81 of whom are new to the program. With 21 players joining him from his previous staff at North Texas, Morris is leveraging their familiarity with his coaching style to help integrate the rest of the team. He's making a point to have one-on-one breakfast meetings with players to learn about them as individuals, rather than just focusing on football.

Why it matters

Morris is inheriting a major rebuilding project at Oklahoma State, with 81 new players on the roster. Establishing strong relationships and team chemistry will be crucial as he looks to replicate the quick turnaround Curt Cignetti achieved at Indiana. Bringing in a large contingent of players he's coached before gives Morris a head start, but he'll still need to work hard to get the rest of the team on the same page.

The details

Of the 105-player roster, 21 have played for Morris before, with 18 coming directly from North Texas, and three others who played for him there in 2024 but transferred to other programs last year. Morris is leveraging their familiarity with his coaching style and program expectations to help integrate the rest of the team. He's also making a point to have one-on-one breakfast meetings with players to learn about them as individuals, rather than just focusing on football.

  • Morris was named the new Oklahoma State football coach in December 2025.
  • The team's roster was released on February 4, 2026.

The players

Eric Morris

The new head football coach at Oklahoma State University, who previously served as the head coach at the University of North Texas.

Drew Mestemaker

The Oklahoma State quarterback who followed Morris from North Texas, where he led the NCAA in passing yards last season.

Iman Oates

An Oklahoma State defensive tackle who is awaiting an NCAA waiver for an additional year of eligibility due to his time spent playing at a junior college.

Kale Smith

An Oklahoma State cornerback who is reportedly awaiting word on a waiver for an additional year of eligibility due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“All 21 of the North Texas people were sitting on one side, and everybody else over here. So before I even started, everybody had to stand up and sit by somebody they didn't know in this room.”

— Eric Morris, Head Coach

“They're all guys that are familiar with what we do, not only schematically, but how we run a program. Our communication styles, what's expected in the offseason — we run a really tough program in the offseason and we want things to be extremely hard for them. And I think anytime you have guys who have already bought into that culture, we have an extra 21 people who know the way that we think the way that we operate.”

— Eric Morris, Head Coach

“Indiana being able to do it this year I think put a bunch of people on watch. Do I think we're gonna be able to go win it now all the sudden, just because Indiana did it? No, absolutely not. Curt Cignetti deserves so much credit, not only for the roster he built but for the brand of football he played.”

— Eric Morris, Head Coach

What’s next

News regarding the eligibility waivers for defensive tackle Iman Oates and cornerback Kale Smith should be known in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Eric Morris is taking a proactive approach to building relationships and team chemistry with his large, largely new Oklahoma State roster. By leveraging the familiarity of the 21 players he brought with him from North Texas and making a concerted effort to get to know his players as individuals, Morris is laying the groundwork for a potential turnaround, even if it may not happen as quickly as Curt Cignetti's success at Indiana.