STILLWATER — Shamiel Gary was not bitter three years ago, when his only scholarship offers after playing for a state championship team at Tulsa Washington were from Wyoming, Air Force and Colorado State.
And he certainly isn't bitter today. How could he be?
The junior transfer is now battling for Oklahoma State's starting strong safety job, a spot vacated by former Cowboy star and current Tennessee Titan Markelle Martin.
“We're just going out there and trying to compete,” Gary said. “Every day is a new day. I'm just excited for the opportunity just to play the game of football.”
Safeties coach Van Malone loves how Gary's experience at Wyoming, where he was a Freshman All-American in 2009, has given him the instincts to become a savvy playmaker in the secondary. It's an interesting assessment now, since that lack of experience in high school — Gary did not start until his senior season — is likely one of the main reasons he did not receive much recruiting interest from major-conference schools.
Gary's first and only college visit was to Wyoming, and he immediately became an impact player for those Cowboys.
He intercepted three passes against Weber State in his first collegiate game — and dropped a fourth. In two seasons, he tallied 192 tackles and 11 pass breakups.
But like many young adults who leave their home state for college, Gary missed his family. Talking to his parents on the phone when things were tough wasn't the same as talking in person.
And when his grandmother became ill, Gary wanted to come back to Oklahoma.
“I just wanted to be closer so I could be able to help out my family,” he said.
Gary got to spend another a year in the same state as his grandmother before she died this past summer. He's also gotten much more time with his nieces and nephews and cousins.
