Hometown hustler Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Hughes is OSU’s latest wrestling recruit
ted to wrestle at Oklahoma State. But unlike several recent Stillwater High commits, he is not a transfer. He is Stillwater raised. After the Hughes’ family relocated to Stillwater from Claremore during Cael’s first grade, Adam Engel he began wrestling in the Cowboy Staff Reporter Wrestling Club. A year later, he was a youth state champion. Cael Hughes didn’t want to As the years progressed, wait for Ethan Kyle to settle into Hughes’ intensity for wrestling his new home. blossomed. But nearly everything In the summer of 2020, about Hughes’ interest was selfHughes, the Stillwater High School inflicted. He didn’t touch a wresrising sophomore, a few months tling mat for the first seven years of removed from an undefeated 6A his life. His first sport was football, 106-pound season, wanted to spend thanks to his dad, Jeremy, who is his summer on the mat. an assistant football and wrestling He wanted to meet Kyle, coach at Stillwater. But in his his new coach, and prepare for a freshman year, Cael decided to second state title on an uber-comspecialize in wrestling. petitive Pioneer roster. He was too small. He just wanted to work. “A 100-pound running back “As soon as I moved, they’re and defensive back in the ninth like, ‘I know you probably have a grade is not a very big guy,” Jeremy lot of work to do to move into your said. “We were a little concerned house but let me know when we with injury going into his freshman can get together and work out,’” year of high school, so he decided Kyle said. to take a year off and then he just Last week, Hughes, the No. never has gone back.” 18 overall class of 2023 prospect according to MatScouts, commitSee Hustler on 2
Success in the shadow Courtesy of Jeremy Hughes
OSU commit Brown found exposure playing behind Daniels
Daniel Allen Staff Reporter Playing under someone’s shadow wasn’t always easy for CJ Brown. However, it was part of the job. As Beggs head coach David Tenison would escort his team off the field, the media present for Beggs’ games all flocked toward class of 2021 four-star safety Kendal Daniels. Everyone wanted to know the top-100 recruit’s expectations for his senior season, and ultimately where he wanted to play his four years of college football. Brown didn’t reel in near the attention as Daniels. “Obviously Kendal was the talk of the town,” Tenison said. “He was the big name on campus. Everyone wanted to know where he was going… Ultimately CJ was happy for Kendal, we all were, because why wouldn’t we be? But CJ certainly had something to prove, and
via Twitter (@cjbrown2323)
you could see it his whole junior season. The kid was playing with a chip on his shoulder, and why wouldn’t he?”. As frustrating as playing under Daniels’ shadow may have been for Brown, Tenison said he believes doing so helped Brown gain media exposure even more. In 2020, Baylor assistant coaches came to watch Daniels practice and work out. However, once the workouts took place, both were impressed by Brown. “I think they were just impressed by his work ethic and grit,” Tenison said. “That’s something CJ will do to you. You know it’s actually pretty funny. They didn’t even come to recruit or scout him, they were 100% there for Kendal (Daniels), and (Brown) basically earned an offer on the spot when they saw him.” Following the work outs, one of the coaches asked Tenison about Brown. “They said to me, ‘Who’s that No.
23,’” Tenison said. “I immediately responded and said, ‘Oh, that’s CJ Brown, our sophomore running back.’” A day later, Brown received an offer from Baylor. “CJ was absolutely ecstatic,” Tenison said. “Obviously he was aware of the type of football program Baylor was, and still is. He knows the history that program has, so it was certainly a special moment for him.” Similar events occurred with Nebraska and Arkansas during Brown’s sophomore season. They came to watch Daniels work out, and Brown ended up catching their eye. “Before they left they asked me about CJ (Brown),” Tenison said. “I gladly sent them all of the tape and highlights I had of CJ with me. Shortly after one of the Nebraska coaches contacted me back, commenting how special of a player he is.” Tenison said this was the start of Brown’s “coming out party”. Shortly
after these events transpired, CJ had up to 11 offers by the start of his junior season. “By that time there were several coaches who wanted to inquire about CJ (Brown),” Tenison said. “Oklahoma State obviously being one of them. Quite frankly, I was excited for (Brown). This was his special moment, the moment he’d worked so hard for during his then three, now four years here at Beggs.” Unfortunately, it wasn’t always easy for Brown with the recruiting trail. Things took a turn when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, making it extremely difficult for Brown to attend more camps to gain notoriety and add to his name as a recruit. Things were going well for Brown. He was starting to gain a large amount of traction, starting to turn heads, and then a global pandemic put a hold on all of that. See Shadow on 8