How NCAA Rule Change Frees Oklahoma State to Play The Best Players

Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris is looking at his roster a little differently than he has at any point in his head coaching career.

Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

From Incarnate Word to North Texas to Oklahoma State, Eric Morris is just 40 years old, but he's already amassed several years of experience as a head coach.

In that short time, he's seen a lot. But what he what he's dealing with this season is something every head coach is dealing with for the first time.

The NCAA's new age-based eligibility rule, or the “five-for-five” rule, allows freshmen entering school this fall to have five years to use five years of eligibility. There are no redshirts, except under unique circumstances.

For coaches like Morris, fall camp has been about figuring out which freshmen can help you without burning their redshirt, since they could play up to four games. Now, Morris is free to play anyone based on how they impress him in camp. It’s changed, to an extent, how he’s looked at fall camp.

Eric Morris on His Freshmen

Desert Edge Scorpions Dayvon Standard (10). | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Morris has talked about several true freshmen during his time with media, especially the ones that have made an impression on him. Last year, he might have tapped the breaks a bit on talking them up. Now? He doesn’t have to. He can play them if they’re ready. In a way, his job depends on it.

“I think in this era of college football, especially with no more redshirts, you're gonna put your best foot out there, and whoever gives you the best chance to win on Saturdays it doesn't matter how old they are,” Morris said earlier this week. “I mean, obviously they're gonna have to prove it over the course of the entire camp. The scrimmages have been great to see those guys actually be out there live without a coach, without a controlled environment around them. But yeah, I think we're going to play whoever gives us the best chance.”

Morris has talked up several true freshmen during camp, mostly on the offensive side of the ball. He’s spotlighted quarterback Broderick Vehrs as a legitimate candidate to be the backup behind Drew Mestemaker. Running back KD Jones set several career records at Oklahoma high school giant Jenks and is in the mix to be part of a rotation of backs behind starter Caleb Hawkins.

Two wide receivers have already caught his attention — Jabarie Thompson from La Vega High School in Waco, Texas, and Dayvon Standard, a summer enrollee from Desert Edge in Goodyear, Ariz., who is the second-tallest wide receiver on the team.

Morris hasn’t talked up safety Braeden Presley as much this fall. But given he’s the younger brother of program legend Brennan Presley, who set program records as a wide receiver, Braeden Presley has a chance to earn time right away, especially since the depth beyond the projected starters has some questions.

Those are five freshmen who could benefit from the new rule. Those are five freshmen that could help the Cowboys right away as they try to flip the switch after a 1-11 season.

That's a new rule change that can have a significant influence on how well Oklahoma State plays in 2026 and how Morris builds his roster for the future.