Orange and black were routine colors present throughout Ryker Haff’s childhood.
Each morning, Haff began his day walking past a child-sized Oklahoma State jersey hanging proudly from his bedroom wall.
Then he went to Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturdays.
“I just loved the crowd energy there as a kid,” Haff said. “It made them easy to root for, too, because I wanted to feel connected to a state school.”
So, when Haff received word of OSU's recruiting interest, he began to envision living out his dream. During his visit, he smiled ear to ear while donning an official Cowboys jersey for the first time.
For Haff, a final trip to OSU coach Mike Gundy’s house was more than just a visit.
It was the final domino of his recruitment and ultimately sealed his commitment.
“It’s a day I’ll probably never forget,” Haff said. “I kind of already knew I wanted to commit on my way there, but it was even easier after chatting with him face to face. It was a really special day.”
Haff, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive tackle, is No. 18 on The Oklahoman's Super 30 recruiting rankings for the 2025 class.
A three-star recruit according to the 247Sports composite rankings, Haff committed to play at OSU on April 10. He also received nearly a dozen other scholarship offers from other Division I programs, including Houston, Iowa State, Minnesota, Texas Tech and Tulsa.
The past year has been a whirlwind for Haff.
Despite a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder and a sprained MCL in his left knee, Haff persevered to play all 12 games as a junior.
"Battling injuries this year was tough, but it was a no-brainer to do," Haff said. "I just tried to think about everybody else when I felt pain in games. I knew I needed to stay disciplined for the team and that they needed me, so I just toughened it out."
The injuries were just a minor disturbance to Haff, who still had a breakout year.
Teaming up with Blake Cherry, another Owasso tackle committed to Arkansas, Haff was a key leader for the Rams' Class 6A-I state semifinal appearance and 9-3 finish to the season.
With a streak of 27 consecutive games without allowing a sack, Haff is driven to add to his impressive feat in his final season.
"For Ryker's size, he's a remarkable athlete," first-year Owasso head coach Antonio Graham said. "He's a rare talent with a ton of heart. Ryker is not only one of the strongest players I've ever coached but also has the foot speed to block defenders out in space with some of the best. Simply put — he's just a beast."
Owasso's promotion of Graham from defensive coordinator to head coach has resulted in players fully aligning with his leadership. The locker room is glowing about Graham's influence.
Haff admires Graham's coaching style and has learned a few life lessons.
"One thing I've learned to accept is that someone is always watching you," Haff said. "So it doesn't matter where I'm at — practice, the weight room, games — I have to work and give it my all. You never know if that's the last game somebody will be able to see you play, so I have to seize every opportunity I have to get the job done."
Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jdavis@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jdavis34_. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com
The Oklahoman’s 2025 Super 30
- Name: Ryker Haff
- School: Owasso
- Super 30 ranking: No. 18
- Height: 6-foot-6
- Weight: 310 pounds
- Position: Offensive lineman
- Committed to: Oklahoma State
The Oklahoman’s 2025 Super 30 feature series
The Oklahoman’s Super 30 feature series will spotlight each high school football player on the Super 30 recruit rankings for the 2025 class through July 21. The series continued Wednesday with No. 18, Owasso’s Ryker Haff. See No. 17 and No. 16 on the list in Friday's edition of The Oklahoman. Here are the last four players we’ve featured:
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