Oklahoma State AD criticizes Mike Gundy's recruiting: 'We settle'

Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder considers Mike Gundy a "difference-maker" as a football coach, but he's apparently unimpressed with his abilities as a recruiter.

"I would approach recruiting a little differently than he does," Holder told Kyle Porter and Carson Cunningham of the Pistols Firing Podcast. "I'd want to finish higher in those recruiting rankings than we consistently do. I think that ultimately puts a ceiling on what you're able to achieve ... I think sometimes we settle when we don't have to."

Gundy has built his alma mater into a perennial Big 12 contender over the past several seasons without much high-end talent, but the Cowboys have also continuously fallen short against marquee opponents.

Oklahoma State, which has won 10 games in three of the last four years, consistently lands outside the top 25 in ESPN's recruiting class rankings. OSU finished 32nd in 2018.

"We do a great job of overcoming that with (strength and conditioning coach) Rob Glass down in the weight room, and I think our coaches do a great job of disciplining and motivating and channeling what talent we have in the right direction," said Holder. "I just think we would be better served with a few more James Washingtons coming in the front door ... we need to take some of those five-stars and turn them into seven-stars, which I think Rob Glass could do, and I think Mike Gundy could as well."

- With h/t to The Oklahoman