Oklahoma State defensive tackle Justin Kirkland is very excited to play against Utah on Saturday. He is from the Beehive State and looks forward to getting revenge on a school that never gave him an offer.
Meanwhile, as Kirkland turns his focus toward the Utes, college football fans across the country are in sheer awe of his monstrous frame.
As an unranked prospect in the recruiting Class of 2022, the all-state offensive and defensive lineman got looks from BYU, Utah State, Weber State, Southern Utah and Idaho State at Roy High School. Even though Kirkland grew up approximately 45 miles from the state’s flagship institution, Utah never called.
The thing is, at Utah, they don’t recruit Utah kids.
— Justin Kirkland
The lack of opportunity in Salt Lake City led him to Utah Tech as a nose tackle. Kirkland played in all 11 games as a freshman and recorded 40 tackles with six tackles for loss and two sacks.
Justin Kirkland tossing the LG into the RB to make a tackle. pic.twitter.com/dOKAIPbk3X
— Adam Lunt (@AdamLunt817) August 17, 2023
Defensive linemen are at a premium in college football, so an impressive year on the FCS level creates an immediate demand from FBS programs. Oklahoma State got on the phone with Kirkland and got him to Stillwater ahead of the 2022 season. He played in all 14 games as a sophomore, started six, and was credited with 22 total tackles on the year.
Now a junior, Kirkland is a massive piece on the Pokes defense. Literally.
Oklahoma State nose tackle Justin Kirkland is a monstrous human being!
He ended his freshman year at 307 pounds. He later arrived to Oklahoma at 342 after parlaying his offseason work in the weight room with Moose Tracks ice cream and donuts.
Kirkland is listed at 6-foot-4, 346 pounds in 2024.
Utah native Justin Kirkland has had this week’s game circled for a while now. pic.twitter.com/sZ3U51eolC
— McClain (@McclainBaxley) September 16, 2024
Utah did not offer him a scholarship out of high school. Nor did it offer him in the transfer portal.
Kirkland is going to play this weekend’s game against the Utes with a giant chip on his shoulder.
It would be sweet revenge.
I hope they look at the scouting report and see that I’m a Utah kid, and think “oh maybe we should’ve got him” and then we just beat ’em.
— Justin Kirkland
The Utah offense is averaging 421.7 yards per game through its first three games of the season. The Cowboys’ enormous nose tackle hopes to change that success and hand them their first loss.
Justin Kirkland is ready to prove Utah wrong!