Oklahoma State University Athletics
Metcalf Rewarded With Scholarship
August 16, 2016 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy announced Tuesday that walk-on fullback Keegan Metcalf has been placed on scholarship.
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An Elk City, Okla., native, Metcalf joined the Cowboys as a sophomore in 2014 after playing at Oklahoma Baptist, where he was a defensive team captain at linebacker while also competing in track and field. He saw action in eight games contributing on special teams as a junior in 2015.
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After Tuesday's practice, Metcalf and running backs coach Marcus Arroyo shared their thoughts on the announcement:
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Fullback Keegan Metcalf
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On how he found out about the scholarship:
"I was actually walking to talk to a professor about getting into a class of his that was already closed because it has too many people in it. (Assistant Director of Operations Rod Johnson) called me and told me he needed me to come to his office as soon as I could. My mind immediately went to the worst thing…I started panicking a little bit. I walked in and he told me 'Congratulations, we've decided as a staff that we're going to put you on scholarship this semester'. I didn't cry. I almost started crying."
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On his reaction:
"I texted my dad and told him that he didn't have to worry about getting the loan and everything for this semester. He called me right after that and I told him. My parents were actually on the way to my little sister's softball game, so as soon as I said it, I guess my mom overheard because I heard her squealing in the background.
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"One of the things they've told me since the day I made the team was that they're happy regardless. If I don't want to do it anymore, I can quit and that this has been a good enough experience, but I know that deep down they wanted me to keep pushing. That's what everybody always talks about is having the story that everybody doubts them and no one believes in them. I feel like I've had the opposite. The second I was on the scout team, people started calling me beast mode. Every single player and every coach that has worked here since I've been here has been super encouraging, and it's helped a lot."
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On what the scholarship means to him:
"Going back to my senior year, I wasn't really getting looked at by anybody. I was from a small Oklahoma town and didn't really do a whole lot. I kind of moved around positions, so I didn't have crazy stats in any specific area. Going from that mindset to thinking I'm going to have to go walk on at a small school just to get a chance to play to coming to OSU, one of the best programs in the nation now and getting to be a Division I scholarship player. I couldn't have imagined it back then."
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On what he would say to someone else who is in the position he was in:
"Just keep working. Keep your head down. Everybody keeps telling me that I'm one of the hardest working kids out here. I guess I don't think about it that way. I like coming out here and competing like Coach (Kasey) Dunn talks about every day; making the man across from you as best you can every day. You've just got to love it, and if you have a passion for it, I think it becomes easy. This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, and I ran track at Oklahoma Baptist, which was pretty difficult. Just the mental toughness that goes with this program, I think if you have that, the heart and the want-to, then you can do it."
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On what this team and OSU means to him:
"It means a lot. We've been talking about the person versus the player, and one of the assignments we were given was writing a thank you letter to football. One of the things I can say is that I went here for a semester without playing on the team. You don't know any of these players. You think they're just above everybody and cocky just because every time you do see them on campus, they've got their head down trying to get to class and not trying to make contact with anybody…You get to find out that these guys are some of the best people that I've ever been around, like James Washington. You'd think he'd be a superstar type of dude, but I think he's one of the best friends I have on this team just because he's so real."
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Running Backs Coach Marcus Arroyo
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On Keegan Metcalf and why he's deserving of a scholarship:
"He's the quintessential example of what you're asking a walk-on to come into your program and do. The walk-ons are the heartbeat of this program in a lot of ways. You can't get anything done without them. The things that we ask them to do, focus, effort, leadership, toughness, good attitude, never make excuses, all of these things that are the pillars of our program, he exemplifies. He's a perfect example for the guys we have and the guys who are coming in and asking to take that role on, saying 'It can happen, I can get a scholarship as a walk-on.' It does happen, and it's happened here a lot. Coach Gundy's done amazing with it. We're not anybody without those guys, so Keegan Metcalf is a perfect example."
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On Metcalf's contributions to the team:
"The things I just mentioned. He exemplifies all of the things our program is about. I think that's the important thing about anybody that's on scholarship or wants to be on it, is that you've got to have those traits within our program…He does a great job of being where he's supposed to be and having a great attitude. At the end of the day, it rewards itself."
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On what being able to give the scholarship means to him:
"It's awesome. It's as good as it gets. It's the best part about coaching is seeing a guy put forth that effort and get rewarded for it. There isn't a better feeling for us."
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An Elk City, Okla., native, Metcalf joined the Cowboys as a sophomore in 2014 after playing at Oklahoma Baptist, where he was a defensive team captain at linebacker while also competing in track and field. He saw action in eight games contributing on special teams as a junior in 2015.
Â
After Tuesday's practice, Metcalf and running backs coach Marcus Arroyo shared their thoughts on the announcement:
Â
Fullback Keegan Metcalf
Â
On how he found out about the scholarship:
"I was actually walking to talk to a professor about getting into a class of his that was already closed because it has too many people in it. (Assistant Director of Operations Rod Johnson) called me and told me he needed me to come to his office as soon as I could. My mind immediately went to the worst thing…I started panicking a little bit. I walked in and he told me 'Congratulations, we've decided as a staff that we're going to put you on scholarship this semester'. I didn't cry. I almost started crying."
Â
On his reaction:
"I texted my dad and told him that he didn't have to worry about getting the loan and everything for this semester. He called me right after that and I told him. My parents were actually on the way to my little sister's softball game, so as soon as I said it, I guess my mom overheard because I heard her squealing in the background.
Â
"One of the things they've told me since the day I made the team was that they're happy regardless. If I don't want to do it anymore, I can quit and that this has been a good enough experience, but I know that deep down they wanted me to keep pushing. That's what everybody always talks about is having the story that everybody doubts them and no one believes in them. I feel like I've had the opposite. The second I was on the scout team, people started calling me beast mode. Every single player and every coach that has worked here since I've been here has been super encouraging, and it's helped a lot."
Â
On what the scholarship means to him:
"Going back to my senior year, I wasn't really getting looked at by anybody. I was from a small Oklahoma town and didn't really do a whole lot. I kind of moved around positions, so I didn't have crazy stats in any specific area. Going from that mindset to thinking I'm going to have to go walk on at a small school just to get a chance to play to coming to OSU, one of the best programs in the nation now and getting to be a Division I scholarship player. I couldn't have imagined it back then."
Â
On what he would say to someone else who is in the position he was in:
"Just keep working. Keep your head down. Everybody keeps telling me that I'm one of the hardest working kids out here. I guess I don't think about it that way. I like coming out here and competing like Coach (Kasey) Dunn talks about every day; making the man across from you as best you can every day. You've just got to love it, and if you have a passion for it, I think it becomes easy. This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, and I ran track at Oklahoma Baptist, which was pretty difficult. Just the mental toughness that goes with this program, I think if you have that, the heart and the want-to, then you can do it."
Â
On what this team and OSU means to him:
"It means a lot. We've been talking about the person versus the player, and one of the assignments we were given was writing a thank you letter to football. One of the things I can say is that I went here for a semester without playing on the team. You don't know any of these players. You think they're just above everybody and cocky just because every time you do see them on campus, they've got their head down trying to get to class and not trying to make contact with anybody…You get to find out that these guys are some of the best people that I've ever been around, like James Washington. You'd think he'd be a superstar type of dude, but I think he's one of the best friends I have on this team just because he's so real."
Â
Running Backs Coach Marcus Arroyo
Â
On Keegan Metcalf and why he's deserving of a scholarship:
"He's the quintessential example of what you're asking a walk-on to come into your program and do. The walk-ons are the heartbeat of this program in a lot of ways. You can't get anything done without them. The things that we ask them to do, focus, effort, leadership, toughness, good attitude, never make excuses, all of these things that are the pillars of our program, he exemplifies. He's a perfect example for the guys we have and the guys who are coming in and asking to take that role on, saying 'It can happen, I can get a scholarship as a walk-on.' It does happen, and it's happened here a lot. Coach Gundy's done amazing with it. We're not anybody without those guys, so Keegan Metcalf is a perfect example."
Â
On Metcalf's contributions to the team:
"The things I just mentioned. He exemplifies all of the things our program is about. I think that's the important thing about anybody that's on scholarship or wants to be on it, is that you've got to have those traits within our program…He does a great job of being where he's supposed to be and having a great attitude. At the end of the day, it rewards itself."
Â
On what being able to give the scholarship means to him:
"It's awesome. It's as good as it gets. It's the best part about coaching is seeing a guy put forth that effort and get rewarded for it. There isn't a better feeling for us."
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