With the spring transfer portal now active, college football teams are actively reshaping their rosters. Oklahoma State’s head coach, Mike Gundy, has adopted a strategy of pursuing top talent from the transfer portal, regardless of their original position or immediate positional needs.

This approach paid off late Friday night when the Cowboys secured a commitment from Trent Howland, a running back transferring from Indiana. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-3 and weighing 240 pounds, Howland recently visited Stillwater, continuing the trend where recruits often commit shortly after visiting the program.

During his 2023 campaign as a redshirt sophomore, Howland recorded 354 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns for Indiana. With two years of eligibility remaining, his move to Oklahoma State becomes strategically significant, especially with Ollie Gordon, the nation’s top running back currently at Oklahoma State, likely departing for the professional ranks after the 2024 college football season. This positions Howland to serve as a valuable backup to Gordon next season while preparing to take on a more prominent role in his redshirt senior season, where he can contribute more substantially.

According to reports by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Howland had also considered offers from UCF, Ole Miss, and Duke before ultimately choosing Oklahoma State. Originally a three-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, Howland was actively recruited by several power conference programs before committing to Indiana.

Interestingly, Howland initially committed to Minnesota via the transfer portal but later rescinded his commitment and opted for Oklahoma State as his next collegiate destination. His addition marks the second running back acquisition for the Cowboys this offseason, following Arkansas transfer AJ Green.

The Oklahoma State running back corps now boasts both size and athleticism, ensuring versatility and potency in their offensive strategies. With their depth, including players with exceptional goal-line scoring abilities and added speed, the Cowboys’ offense promises to be even more formidable.

While Ollie Gordon remains a standout talent, the depth provided by Howland and others offers flexibility and the capacity to share the rushing workload effectively. This strengthens the Cowboys’ offensive lineup, making them a more formidable force heading into the upcoming season.

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