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STILLWATER — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy believes players on campus are the program's most efficient recruiters.

That's certainly the case for Bo Bowling, an out-of-nowhere roster addition who is the spring favorite to return punts.

Named the Offensive Player of the Year in the Bi-State Conference, Bowling is a walk-on from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. He chose the Cowboys because his older brother, Brian, is a senior walk-on tight end.

"I pretty much recruited him to come here,” Brian said. "He had every DII school in this region, and a lot of DI-AA schools, that wanted him. Ever since we were little we've been going to (college) games together. We're having a blast.”

Bo Bowling isn't your typical walk-on that helps with scout team duty. Bowling could play a key role for the Cowboys.

OSU special teams coach Joe DeForest was so impressed with Bowling on film that he was listed as the Cowboys' No. 1 punt returner before spring practice started.

"He has some similarities to fearless returners I've seen in this conference in the past,” DeForest said. "He'll do something with the ball when he catches it. He's fearless. I'm excited about him.”

Because Bowling has above-average speed and quickness, Gundy said he also will be in the wide receiver rotation.

"He has some talent,” Gundy said. "He's a pretty crafty guy. Football seems really important to him. And he has some durability. He plays with confidence. He'll rotate in with (the first-team offense) as a slot receiver once he learns the plays.”

Bowling, 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, began his career at NEO as a defensive back but was moved to running back. Everything changed midway through his freshman season after the Golden Norsemen won a game 3-2.

That's right, 3-2. And it wasn't a baseball game. NEO's starting quarterback was sidelined with an injury. The backup struggled.

After watching Bowling have success the previous week as the scout team quarterback, NEO coach Rob Green informed Bowling he had good news and bad news.

The good news was Bowling would be the starting quarterback despite never taking a snap with the first-team offense. The bad news was his first start would be against Blinn College, the nation's No. 1-ranked team.

Bowling didn't have much success that first game but prospered over the next season and a half at quarterback, a position he played when he led Tonkawa to the Class A high school state championship.

All of Bowling's scholarship offers after last season were from Division I-AA and Division II schools that wanted him to play quarterback. He chose to walk on at OSU and was told he might have an opportunity to earn a scholarship his senior year.

Bo likely would have never ended up at OSU if his older brother hadn't walked on at OSU two years ago. Brian started every game as a linebacker his freshman year at Friends University, an NAIA school in Wichita, Kan.

"I decided that place wasn't really for me,” Brian said. "I couldn't really afford to go there because it's a private school. I chose Oklahoma State because it's only 40 miles from home and I have a lot of friends here.”

The Bowlings actually grew up OU fans.

"We're actually the first two people in our family not to go to OU,” Brian said. "It's worked out really well. And Bo really likes it here. We're looking forward to playing together this season.”