John Tyler Defensive End Tyus Bowser Commits to Oklahoma State + Will Have Basketball Option As Well

His coach is a proud alum, one of his teammates has already pledged his commitment there and now John Tyler senior defensive end Tyus Bowser is set to become a member of the Oklahoma State football program.

Bowser (6-3, 225) made the decision to commit to Oklahoma State on Thursday. He held other football offers from Memphis, Missouri, Texas Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, West Virginia and Wyoming and a basketball scholarship offer from Oral Roberts.

“It’s a big load (off my mind)," Bowser told ETSN.fm Thursday afternoon. "There were a lot of schools talking to me right before the signing day. It’s been a little stressful but to finally get it off my chest, it feels great.”

The multi-sport John Tyler star also said he would be given the opportunity to play basketball at OSU as well.

“I talked to (basketball head coach Travis Ford) and he said he was all for it," Bowser said. "He said once we get done with bowl games, I could just head down to the arena and play basketball. Right after school in June, I can start working out with the players. Once that’s over, just go right back to football.”

The decision comes less than two weeks before National Signing Day on Feb. 6 and just days after his official visit to the Stillwater, Okla., campus last weekend. Bowser is the second Lions player to commit to Oklahoma State. Receiver Fred Ross pledged to OSU last January.

“It helped a lot to see some new stuff that I didn’t get to see the last time I was there … I was up there for junior day and camps and stuff," Bowser said. "Just to be able to see the environment, the student life and everything it kinda got my attention.”

Bowser said his decision was not based solely on athletics.

“Education always comes first for me and finding what’s going to interest me most, which is architecture and they have a pretty good architecture program," he said. "That was the main thing, because I’m not going to go to a school where the education I need is not going to be there for me.”

Bowser had a monstrous senior season, leading all of East Texas with 24 sacks in leading John Tyler to the Class 4A Division I state semifinals for the second straight year. He also added 83 tackles, five forced fumbles and two recoveries, while running for, passing for and receiving a touchdown on offense.

His two best performances occurred late in the season for JT.

In the regular-season finale against Whitehouse with the district championship on the line, Bowser sacked Whitehouse quarterback Patrick Mahomes five times and forced a fourth-quarter fumble that led to the Lions' game-winning score in their 45-38 victory. Bowser also had seven sacks in John Tyler's area-round playoff win over Wylie.

Bowser is No. 5 on the latest ETSN 25 recruiting rankings.