How new Gamecock Austin Stogner evolved into an elite high school recruit

Steven Greek grew increasingly patient.

His Prestonwood Christian offense could roll at times. Eventual Rice quarterback Wiley Green served as the trigger man under center. Tight end Austin Stogner added another wrinkle as a pass-catching body who could be moved around the formation.

The problem? Greek only got 10 to 15 plays per game with Stogner — a two-way player early in his high school career — on the offensive side.

“I had to develop packages by which it was either a third-and-short or it was a low red zone (chance),” Greek said. “Let’s use that guy when he can really make teams pay.”

Stogner eventually grew into a four-star recruit and boasted offers from just about every school in America by his senior season. The former University of Oklahoma tight end is now on his way to South Carolina to conclude his career alongside one-time Sooner teammate Spencer Rattler.

Those closest to Stogner like the fit. Now healthy and having found what all parties feel is a positive situation, he may just find his moment in the spotlight.

“There’s no one I trust more in the industry than Coach (Shane) Beamer,” Stogner told The State.

That Stogner starred at Prestonwood Christian wasn’t so much a surprise as it was a happy accident. Greek joked he always wanted Stogner to stick on offense, but it just took time to land him on that side of the ball permanently.

In his limited runs on offense, Stogner was dominant. He averaged just 38.3 yards per game as a sophomore. He did, however, score 10 touchdowns on 41 catches. Differently put, he averaged a score on 24.4% of his receptions.

Stogner underwent a growth spurt from around 6-foot to his current stature at 6-foot-6 ahead of his junior season. He was wobbly and wiry, but slowly grew into the body that would land him on most every recruiting radar in college football.

Opponents struggled to find matchups for Stogner. In a 2017 Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state semifinal game against All-Saints’ Episcopal School his junior year, he torched eventual Texas linebacker Luke Brockermeyer for a touchdown on one of his three catches.

One week later, Stogner threw the lead block to spring a runner on 3rd-and-7 for a first down that allowed Prestonwood Christian to run out the clock against St. Pius X in the 2017 state championship game.

“He’s a quarterback’s dream,” Shanon Purcell, Stogner’s senior year offensive coordinator, told The State.

“It didn’t matter what it was he was asked to do,” Prestonwood Christian head coach Chris Cunningham added. “Whether it was to be a great blocker, or a great receiver, or a great defensive end, he always rose up to the occasion. (He’s) one of the most dependable and trustworthy players I’ve ever had.”

Stogner won’t arrive on campus at South Carolina for a few more weeks. He still has 15 credits to finish up at Oklahoma in order to obtain his degree. Once that’s completed he’ll head to Columbia, as he sees it, as a visitor for the spring.

The former Sooner won’t be eligible for spring practices, but he will be in town and can attend practice. It’ll also give him a chance to get familiar with new teammates.

“I’ll just take an unofficial (visit) literally every single day,” Stogner quipped. “I’ll probably be the recruit to visit the most times ever.”

Stogner’s time at OU ebbed and flowed. He earned second team All-Big 12 honors as a sophomore. He ranked third on the squad with 422 yards receiving on 26 catches.

His freshman year, though, was marred with injury. Stogner suffered a bruised muscle in a Nov. 7, 2020 game against Kansas. Shortly after his diagnosis, he called Oklahoma’s team physician as the pain increased. He was eventually checked into the hospital.

Doctors found an infection in Stogner’s leg. He concedes there was a brief concern he might lose his limb. A heavy regimen of medicine and an emergency surgery followed.

Stogner stayed in the hospital for almost two weeks before he was cleared.

“Me, my parents and Chris Watson — our trainer — were really truly the only ones who knew how much I went through,” he said. “And to be able to make it back is kind of a miracle.”

Rehab proceeded as planned. Stogner returned to the field for Oklahoma’s 55-20 win over Florida in the 2020 Cotton Bowl. He added another 14 catches for 166 yards and three scores as a junior, albeit not quite up to his lofty standards.

Stogner remains close with those at Prestonwood Christian. He still works out at the school during breaks and visits regularly when he can. Cunningham says Stogner sets an example for other kids in the program.

The former Oklahoma tight end also serves as a throwing partner for Greek’s son, Daniel, who’s entering his second year as a quarterback at Mississippi State under Mike Leach. The two were set to get in a workout session together last week.

Now settled in his commitment to South Carolina, the coaches who saw Stogner destroy defenses in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex feel he’s found the spot that could propel him to an NFL career and beyond.

If he finds that level of consistency, it’s fair to assume South Carolina offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield will be able to get him on the field for more than 10 or 15 plays.