QB Kendall Thompson and TE Austin Haywood commit to OU: Southmoore quarterback Kendal Thompson and tight end Austin Haywood have committed to Oklahoma. Thompson, a junior, is the son of former OU quarterback Charles Thompson. Through nine games, Thompson has thrown for 1,903 yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He's also run for nine touchdowns. Haywood (6-4, 250), a senior, has scored on 10 of his 26 receptions and five of his 16 rushing carries. He also has 49 tackles, four sacks, two fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. (The Oklahoman) Note: Thompson is the second commitment for the 2011 class.
Blake Bell is still committed to Oklahoma despite Landry Jones: Blake Bell, a Bishop Carroll Catholic standout in Wichita, Kan., turned down offers from Georgia, Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame and several others to play for the Sooners. The recruiting site Rivals.com ranks Bell as the No. 4 quarterback in the country. Bell won't be bound to Oklahoma until he signs a letter of intent in February. And despite the Sooners sudden shift at quarterback, his commitment hasn't wavered. "I'm still excited," Bell said. "People ask me if I'm reconsidering or stuff like that, but not really. I'm still excited about coming into it. I can't wait to get on the field and show them what I've got." (The Oklahoman)
Rashod Favors verbally commits to Oklahoma: Oklahoma has reportedly received a verbal commitment from Rashod Favors, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker from Dunbar High School in Texas. According to Scout.com network Web site SoonersIllustrated.com, Favors said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables is "looking at me as a hybrid safety. ... As a rover and maybe a linebacker, too." (Tulsa World) Favors is Oklahoma's 23rd verbal commitment of the 2010 class.
Four-star prospect Trey Millard commits to Oklahoma: The state of Oklahoma appears to be the place to be for Rock Bridge’s two blue-chip football recruits. Chase Rome verbally committed to Oklahoma State in March, and Monday night Bruins teammate Trey Millard gave Big 12 rival Oklahoma a pledge. Rivals.com reported the commitment, and Bruins Coach A.J. Ofodile confirmed it Tuesday morning. With school starting this week, Millard was unavailable for comment. (Columbia Tribune)
WR Justin McCay verbally commits to Oklahoma: Highly touted five-star recruit Justin McCay verbally committed to Oklahoma on Tuesday. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound prospect at WR/LB is ranked No. 34 on Rivals 100 and No. 3 on Scout.com's National 100. McCay chose Oklahoma over Florida, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Florida State to name a few. He is the 21st verbal commitment of the 2010 recruiting class.
Jenks to forfeit wins and Lake ruled ineligible: Documents obtained by the Tulsa World on Thursday detail the findings of Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association regarding the eligibility of student-athlete Jarrett Lake. In the documents, released by Jenks Public Schools through the Open Records Act, the OSSAA found that Lake was ineligible because his aunt, identified as Claire Williams in OSSAA documents, maintained permanent residence in North Carolina while leasing property in Jenks. Lake was also ruled academically ineligible because he was ineligible at his previous school due to unpaid fees. Lake's name and other identifying information were redacted in the documents, but the World has learned from several sources that he is the player in question. Lake played football and ran track for the Trojans during the 2008-09 academic year, and he has committed to play football at the University of Oklahoma. The investigation was sparked by an anonymous e-mail sent April 10 by a person who claimed their son had been "screwed out of playing time" by Lake. The e-mail was sent from the address badad2011@aol.com. An e-mail sent to the address Thursday was returned with a message stating it was undeliverable. "I am now advising you for the last time before I sue each of you individually," the April 10 e-mail said. "...I dare each of you to ignore this e-mail. I have already retained an attorney who advised me to send you one last e-mail before we take action."(More at Tulsa World)
Oklahoma picks up verbal commitment from Franklin: Oklahoma reportedly has received its 20th verbal commitment of the 2010 recruiting class in Aaron Franklin, a linebacker from Marshall, Texas. The 6-foot-1, 206-pound Franklin told Rivals network Web site SoonerScoop.com Friday night that he chose OU over Texas, and phoned Longhorns defensive coordinator and head coach designate Will Muschamp to break the news. "He said it's all great and he is still happy for me and said I'm a good person and wished me good luck," Franklin told SoonerScoop. "He was cool about it." Rivals.com rates Franklin as a three-star prospect. (Tulsa World)
Report: Oklahoma commitment Jarrett Lake ruled ineligible for upcoming season: As first reported Monday on tulsaworld.com , the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association has ruled that Jarrett Lake, a highly regarded football recruit who has committed to the University of Oklahoma, is ineligible for the upcoming year. Lake, who will be a senior this season, participated in football games last season, and that could force Jenks to forfeit those games. Jenks finished 12-2 in 2008. Both of the Trojans' losses were to Union, including a 34-20 setback in the Class 6A state championship game. According to statistics from Jenks games, Lake participated in at least nine of the Trojans' wins. It's unclear if the school would have to forfeit some or all of those games. Jenks is expected to appeal the OSSAA's ruling at the association's monthly board meeting on Aug. 11. Neither the OSSAA nor Jenks High School would confirm the player was Lake, but multiple sources identified him as the player whose eligibility has been questioned. (More at Tulsa World)
DB Aaron Colvins verbally commits to Oklahoma: Owasso senior defensive back Aaron Colvin made his verbal commitment to the University of Oklahoma on Sunday evening. Colvin narrowed down his choices to the Sooners, Oklahoma State, Tulsa and Missouri before choosing OU live on the Oklahoma Sports Blitz. He is Oklahoma's 19th verbal commitment of the 2010 recruiting class and the fourth in-state recruit to say he will play football for the Sooners next season. (Newson6.com)
Orange, Texas teammates verbally commit to Oklahoma: Wednesday, the Sooners added a pair of verbal commitments in Orange (Texas) West Orange-Stark High School teammates Trey Franks and James Haynes, SoonerScoop.com and OUESPN.com both reported. OU now has 18 commitments, seven away from the maximum a school can sign. (The Oklahoman)
A Glance: James Haynes, ATH/DB (6'1", 181, 4.36)4-Star by Rivals.com Trey Franks, ATH (5'9", 170, 4.4) 3-Star by Rivals.com
TE Brian Volger set choose between Alabama and Oklahoma: Brian Vogler, a 6-foot-7, 245-pound rising senior at the Brookstone School in Columbus, has narrowed his choices down to Alabama and Oklahoma. The smart money should go down on the Crimson Tide. Lane Johnson, a 6-foot-6, 252-pound tight end from Groverton, Texas, committed to the Sooners Tuesday night. But Vogler's not saying. "Everybody says they want to go to a winning program," said Vogler, who Rivals.com ranks as the No. 6 tight end in the country. "Well between these two there is so much tradition. Both of them have multiple national championships. It's great just to have interest from both of these teams." Vogler said he began the recruiting process open to everyone. He then cut the field down to eight, then down to two.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution) UPDATE: Brian Vogler has just committed to The University of Alabama, doing so at a noon eastern press conference from his high school on Columbus, Georgia. (RollBamaRoll.com)
Lane Johnson transfers to Oklahoma: The Sooners have added a late summer signee in Lane Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 252-pound tight end out of Kilgore (Texas) College, the Tyler (Texas) radio station KTBB reported. Johnson, who actually played quarterback at Kilgore but will play tight end at OU, is expected to report to workouts in August and will have three years of eligibility remaining. "He's going to be a really good football player for Oklahoma and having three years left is even better, especially with some of their tight ends leaving after this season," Kilgore coach J.J. Eckert told KTBB. (The Oklahoman)
Jenks' Jarrett Lake commits to OU after visit: Jarrett Lake already had a scholarship offer from the University of Oklahoma. So on Monday, during a trip to Norman to watch former Jenks High School teammate Gabe Lynn's summer workouts, Lake decided to make it official and verbally commit to playing for the Sooners in 2010. "We went up to see Gabe practice and work out, kind of get a feel for how the summer workouts go," said Lynn's father, Tyrone Lynn. "He knew he wanted to go there anyway and that just really reinforced it." Gabe Lynn will be a freshman cornerback for the Sooners this season. Lake transferred to Jenks last year after moving in from Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy. Tyrone Lynn said Lake at first lived with an aunt, but has since moved in with the Lynn family. "She travels quite a bit, and he and Gabe became close friends," Tyrone Lynn said. "In between her travels, it just kind of worked out that he stayed here a lot. He's like another son. He's got a room and he's part of the family." (Tulsa World)
Julian Wilson verbally commits to Oklahoma: Southmoore defensive back Julian Wilson committed to Oklahoma on Tuesday. The 6-2, 180-pounder chose the Sooners over Florida, Nebraska, Arkansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Colorado and others. "Coach (Bobby Jack) Wright was real excited when I told him," Wilson said. "I talked to Coach Stoops on the phone and he was real fired up about it." Wilson, who plays both receiver and defensive back for Southmoore, will play either cornerback or safety at OU. (The Oklahoman)
Texas prospect Austin Woods commits to OU: Oklahoma added an offensive lineman Wednesday with the verbal commitment of Austin Woods from Texas' Rockwall-Heath High School. "I've taken a lot of visits and I've talked to a lot of coaches," the 6-5, 290-pound center told Rivals.com, "and it just came down to where I felt the most comfortable and the tradition they have at OU." Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Texas Tech and Baylor were reportedly among Woods' other college suitors. (Tulsa World)
RB Finch commitments to Oklahoma: Oklahoma won another recruiting battle this weekend in reeling in a verbal commitment from 4-star running back Roy Finch, OUESPN.com reported Friday night.Finch, a 5-foot-8, 170-pound back out of Niceville, Fla., had offers from Tennessee, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Ole Miss and North Carolina, among others. As a junior, Finch rushed for almost 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. Earlier this month, the Sooners got a verbal commitment from 4-star running back Brennan Clay, of San Diego. (The Oklahoman)
Torrea Peterson verbally commits to Oklahoma: OU won a hotly contested recruiting battle Thursday night by landing a verbal commitment from defensive tackle Torrea Peterson, Rivals.com reported. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Peterson, who hails from San Antonio East Central High School, held offers from USC, Texas, Auburn, LSU and Nebraska, among a host of other schools. (The Oklahoman) Note: Rivals.com ranks Peterson as a three-star recruit.
Oklahoma commitment Terry Franklin fails to qualify: Oklahoma's 2009 recruiting class will be one short. Sooner coach Bob Stoops confirmed Friday that defensive end Terry Franklin did not qualify and will attend a Texas junior college instead. Stoops said the coaching staff had been aware of Franklin's situation since late May. (Norman Transcript)
While I was away on vacation a couple news items occurred and worthy to take note.
Chaisson joined the Sooners officially: Justin Chaisson last month had multiple felony charges -- including coercion with a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon -- pleaded down to gross misdemeanors. On Thursday, OU released a statement that read, in part, "all allegations of the use of any weapon have been dismissed and are not the basis of any charge against or plea by him." Chaisson was on the team's official roster as of Thursday. (Tulsa World)
University of Oklahoma press release regarding Justin Chaisson joining the Sooners:
"We have thoroughly reviewed the facts and disposition of any and all allegations against Justin as determined by the independent assessment of the district attorney's office and the court system.
"Based on their investigation of the facts, all allegations of the use of any weapon have been dismissed and are not the basis of any charge against or plea by him. Our decision is appropriately based on the independent determination and action of the district attorney's office and the court system.
"We take these matters of conduct very seriously. Justin fully understands our expectations and his responsibilities of exemplary behavior and professional counseling. He knows the consequences if he does not meet those requirements."
Justin Johnson transfers to Texas JUCO: Justin Johnson was supposed to be part of a five-man rotation at running back this season after playing sparingly as a freshman in 2008. Johnson, a native of Gilmer, Texas, who is the younger cousin of former OU wide receiver Manny Johnson, was rated the No. 2 running back in the country coming out of high school by one recruiting Web site. Thursday, Johnson told the Tyler, Texas, radio station KTBB that he plans to transfer to Abilene (Texas) Christian, a Division II university in the Lone Star Conference. "Right now, we anticipate him transferring, which is fine," Stoops said. "We'll give him a full release and wish him the best. "Certain guys seek certain things, and he feels that's best for him. We want it for him as well." (The Oklahoman)
Milwood's Trayvon Henry commits to Oklahoma: Oklahoma didn't go too far to pick up its latest football commitment Thursday night, when Soonerscoop.com reported Oklahoma City Millwood linebacker Trayvon Henry had pledged. Henry, rated by Rivals.com among the top 15 insider linebackers in the nation and the top 20 Oklahoma prospects overall, is the 12th player to commit to OU in the current recruiting class. (Tulsa World)
Ndulue commits to Oklahoma: Defensive end Chuka Ndulue of Dallas verbally committed to Oklahoma on Friday, Rivals.com reported. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Ndulue of Jesuit High School had offers from Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Utah and UTEP. Ndulue is a native of Nigeria, having moved to Dallas when he was in the seventh grade. (The Oklahoman)
Shaw picks up scholarship offer from OU: Oklahoma Sooners offered Joshua Shaw (Palmdale, CA.) a scholarship, becoming the fourth player from California to receive an offer from OU. Shaw considered a three-star prospect at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds, 4.45-40, who can play both sides of the ball, says OU provides an opportunity to compete early on defense.
"Oklahoma just offered me," Shaw said. "That's a huge one, Oklahoma is a national program that is competing for a national title every year. They have a great defense and I have a ton of interest in them right now.
"Coach Bobby Wright is the one recruiting me and he told me they lose both starting corners after this season. With an opportunity to compete for early playing time and all the other great things about the school, I'm giving them a lot of heavy consideration right now."
As a 2008 junior at Palmdale High, Shaw had 443 yards receiving, 118 yards rushing, 40 tackles, six breakups and four INTs. Thus far, he has received offers from Oregon, Boise State, Washington among others.
Sooners gain pair of Texans: Oklahoma got a pair of verbal commitments from the state of Texas on Tuesday in 4-star offensive guard Adam Shead of Cedar Hill and 3-star wideout Sheldon McClain of Cibolo, Rivals.com reported. They are OU's eighth and ninth verbal commitments for the 2010 recruiting class. (The Oklahoman)
Prospects and others in Sporting News' top 100 recruits: Checkout Sporting News' Brian McLaughlin top 100 recruits in 2010, he's ranked a few prospects that are of particular interest to Sooner fans. Two of which have already committed to Oklahoma, while five others have been offered scholarships.
51. Bronson Irwin - Committed to Oklahoma early Commitment: Oklahoma OL, 6-5/315 Mustang (Okla.)
76. Jake Matthews - Considering Oklahoma, Oklahoma St. (Offered) Commitment: None OL, 6-5/270 Elkins (Missouri City, Texas)
79. DeAndrew White - Interested in Oklahoma (Offered) Commitment: None WR, 6-0/165 North Shore (Houston)
Former Sooner Keith Jackson speaking in Tulsa: Former OU football great and NFL star Keith Jackson will be the guest speaker Tuesday at a scholar-athlete banquet hosted by the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The 7 p.m. banquet will be at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Tulsa. Tickets are available by calling (405) 236-5179. (The Oklahoman)
OU recruit Justin Chaisson placed on three years probation: Former Bishop Gorman standout football player Justin Chaisson, 18, pleaded no contest Wednesday morning to four gross misdemeanors stemming from a March attack on his ex-girlfriend of four years. The charges include two counts of false imprisonment, one count of conspiracy to commit coercion and one count of malicious destruction of property. District Judge Stefany Miley of Department 23 accepted the terms of Chaisson's plea agreement, sentencing him to a maximum of three years probation, 120 hours of community service and a restitution fee of a later determined amount. The agreement also restricts any contact between Chaisson and the victim and one witness of the crime, both of whom are female classmates of his. According to Chaisson's lawyer, Michael Cristalli, the ruling will not have an effect on Chaisson's athletic scholarship from Oklahoma University which he had accepted before the incident. "He's still going to Oklahoma," Cristalli said. "We were working in conjunction with Oklahoma with these negotiations to make sure they would be comfortable with him going to the university and participating in the program." (More at Las Vegas Sun)
Sooners offers RB Brennan Clay scholarship: Oklahoma Sooners offered highly touted running back Brennan Clay from Scripps Ranch HS (San Deigo, CA) a scholarship, the 6-foot, 185-pound back ranks among the best in the nation. He was ranked at No. 112 overall previously on Rivals 100 but is now the No. 41 player in the nation and the No. 2 all-purpose back.
"I was hyped to get the offer from Oklahoma," Clay said. "That's a big-time school and I'm definitely planning to take an official visit there in the fall. Right now, I know where four of my visits will be and I have one date set.
"I'm going to Michigan (Sept. 18) when they play Eastern Michigan. I'm also going to visit Oregon, Georgia and Oklahoma and I'm keeping that fifth visit open right now. I'm also going to take unofficial visits in June to Stanford and Cal and all of those schools have offered me."
Texas DB Hayes verbally commits to Oklahoma: SoonersIllustrated.com is reporting Quentin Hayes, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound defensive back from Lancaster High in Texas made a commitment to Oklahoma this afternoon after receiving word that he was indeed being offered by the Sooners. "Yeah, I committed," Hayes confirmed. Hayes was on of the more than 28,000 people on hand for the annual Red-White Spring Game on Saturday. "It was really nice," Hayes said of the visit. "I liked it a whole lot." (SoonersIllustrated.com)
Sooners wear wristbands in support of Corey Wilson: Several Sooners wore new rubber wristbands during the scrimmage. The bands are red and blue, and on the front is the yellow Superman logo. The wristbands were a gift handed out by Sooner Corey Wilson, who watched from a wheelchair on the sideline. Wilson was paralyzed in a February car accident and has begun full rehab with hopes of walking someday. "It's tough, man," linebacker Travis Lewis said. "We have to keep his spirits up. We have to be strong for him." (Tulsa World)
Updated Depth Chart:The Oklahoman has updated their projected fall OU Depth Chart.
Prospective recruits attend Red/White game: Dozens of high-profile recruits were in attendance, including at least three five-star prospects and more than a dozen four-star prospects, as rated by Rivals.com. Among the most coveted recruits in the stands was defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat of Plano, Texas (he was there with his father, former Dallas defensive end Jim Jeffcoat), wide receiver Darius White and quarterback Blake Bell -- already an OU verbal commitment. Tulsa Central running back DeMarco Cobbs, rated as the top overall player in Oklahoma, also was in Norman. (Tulsa World)
Bell No. 2 QB on Scout.com verbally commits to OU: Blake Bell, out of Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita, Kan., committed to the Sooners, according to multiple Internet reports. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Bell was in Norman on Thursday to watch practice and visit with the coaches. He is the No. 25-ranked overall recruit in the nation, according to Rivals.com, and the No. 2 quarterback in the country, according to Scout.com. (The Oklahoman)
DE prospect picks OSU over OU, Florida: Chase Rome a junior defensive lineman [3-star prospect] at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Mo., had been offered a scholarship not only by the Gators, but by Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State. He says his high school is "within walking distance" of Mizzou's Faurot Field. But on Monday, when the 6-foot-3, 280-pound Rome announced his commitment, he pledged to sign with Oklahoma State. Rome plans to graduate in December and enroll at OSU for the 2010 spring semester. (Tulsa World)
OU offers scholarship to D.C. area prospect: Old Mill (Millersville, MD) junior RB/LB Josh Furman [4-star prospect] received a scholarship offer from Oklahoma today. The Sooners join a list that's sure to keep expanding, but currently includes Duke, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Pitt, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. (Washington Post)
Joe Powell reportedly commits to Oklahoma: Joe Powell, a wide receiver from Skyline High School in Dallas, has given a verbal pledge to play at Oklahoma, according to the Rivals Network Web site SoonerScoop.com. Powell is the Sooners' fourth verbal commitment of the 2010 class. Verbal commitments are nonbinding. Prospects can't sign binding letters of intent until Feb. 3, 2010. Powell reportedly had offers from Kansas and Houston, but committed to Oklahoma soon after the offer came. "Me and Jay Norvell, we have a real good vibe and we've been real close and I just feel like that decision was the decision for me," he told the Web site. (Tulsa World)
Thompson verbally commits to Oklahoma: ESPNU 150 Watch List lineman Tyrus Thompson has committed to sign a Class of 2010 scholarship offer with the Sooners, affiliate Web site OUInsider.com reports. Thompson previously told OUInsider.com that he would announce soon for either Oklahoma or Baylor. "They both have great academic programs and they both have great coaching staffs. It basically came down to who can get to the championship game and I want a shot at that ring so I just picked Oklahoma," Thompson said. (ESPN.com)
Wood verbally commits to Texas: Houston Second Baptist quarterback Connor Wood, the top quarterback prospect from the Lone Star State, has decided to orally commit to Texas over OU, according to Rivals. Earlier this month, Wood's high school coach told The Oklahoman that it was looking like Wood's decision was going to come down to the Red River rivals. Wood attended the junior days at both OU and Texas, though he also had offers from numerous other schools, including Alabama, LSU and Notre Dame. (The Oklahoman)
OU plans to use Mossis Madu at slot: Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops said last week he anticipates using third-string running back Mossis Madu in the slot next season. "It'll be one of those cases where we'll have him ready to be," Stoops said. "To some degree, you could put him in the slot and move Ryan (Broyles) outside." But while Madu could play more in the slot, he won't be changing positions, even though he'll have to share carries behind DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown. (The Oklahoman)
Sooners looking to recruit touted QB Connor Wood: With quarterback Sam Bradford's future beyond 2009 an unknown and neither redshirt freshman Landry Jones or newcomer Drew Allen having any game experience, Bob Stoops said recruiting a quarterback in the 2010 class is a priority. "It's always a priority," he said. The Sooners currently appear to be in good with Connor Wood of Houston Second Baptist. According to Rivals.com, Wood lists Georgia, Missouri, LSU, Texas and Texas A&M among his favorites, along with OU, Stanford and TCU — the last three of which, the Web site reports, have offered scholarships. (Tulsa World)
LB (****) Tom Wort (New Braunfels HS) New Braunfels, TX
UPDATED
Coach Bob Stoops on OU's Signing Day
"Exciting day and a good day for us here on signing day. We are announcing 22 new signees and one more just pending paperwork. It is just a formality, one other guy just finishing up and making sure things are the right way. We don't expect anything to go wrong in that area. So 22 right now and one pending with a little bit of paperwork yet to be completed.
"Speaking of those guys I really like the class and really feel like, as usual, we have a very diverse class where we have recruited all positions. We really filled some needs where we have had graduation, whether it be this year or we have some graduation that we are realizing this coming season. I really feel like our staff really worked hard and did an excellent job. Throughout the year, more and more players are making their decisions early. We had a good number of commitments early, even before the fall season began. Then we worked it through the fall and here through the winter months to really sign an excellent class.
"Again more than anything this is a class that addressed the needs for our football team and we are at the right number at this point with 23 signees. Sometimes people are signing 27-28 players to their class. We were able to hit the numbers right where we wanted to.
"In this class we have probably the biggest need graduating, five offensive linemen. We signed four, with two of them being junior college guys. Really all four guys are big talented guys that are the body types we are used to working with. We really feel they are going to help us and they are the style of players we are used to getting.
"Outside of that on offense, the 10 offensive players we signed include a quarterback in Drew Allen that again is our style of quarterback. We are really excited about Drew, who is here on campus already and again really fits our profile at quarterback. He is an excellent thrower, excellent athlete, a good size guy. We are excited to have him on campus.
"Then in the backfield with him we have Jonathan Miller, a running back. An exciting guy, really explosive, fast and has good speed. Another guy Marshall Musil, who is similar to Matt Clapp in that he is an excellent athlete and a rangy big guy that is a fullback slash H-back. So a very similar body to a Matt Clapp or a Brody Eldridge. A very versatile guy and again love the size, toughness and athletic ability of Marshall. He is a good running back and tough guy that could play linebacker, but we anticipate using him somewhere on the offensive side.
"Again we love guys like Matt Clapp and Brody Eldridge that we can use and move all over, whether they block, pass receive or are great special teams players. Marshall fits that profile. Another guy that is similar to that is Gabe Ikard. He is a tight end from Oklahoma City. Gabe is also an excellent athlete, an all-around athlete at his school that does a great job in everything that he participates in. He was a great leader on his team at tight-end.
"Then a couple of receivers, Jaz Reynolds and Cameron Kenney. A couple of guys with excellent speed, explosiveness, great hands and really good athletes. Again we really feel like they will help us at receiver.
"That is the ten offensive guys to address. The 12 defensive players currently, pending one. Again I felt that we met the needs. Our biggest needs initially were at linebacker, where we signed four guys, Ronnell Lewis, Tom Wort, Gus Jones and Jayden Bird. Three of them are here already and that is exciting because they get to go through the entire winter and go through spring. Not only did we go through the season thin at linebacker, we have four graduating seniors coming up this following year. So even though we signed four, for those recruits out there listening for next year, we are still going to be thin next year. That is with four leaving. All these guys are athletic players, they all have range and size. All of them have played really well at the schools they have been in.
"We also addressed strong needs at defensive back. We felt like we have been short in our numbers there and I really believe this group of players have some size. Guys like Kevin Brent and Javon Harris, who is already here working with us. Bigger and stronger guys and anticipate them to be in some safety positions. Then Demontre Hurst and Gabe Lynn, that are not here, but are very athletic and fast players. They are explosive, have good hands and are good athletes.
"Outside of that, up front we've got Jamarkus McFarland. A well talked about recruit, but again a guy that we are really excited about. I truly always believe that defense starts inside, with your players inside. Jamarkus comes in here with a similar style of play. He is very physical, has excellent feet and just a very tough and hard playing guy that is along the same molds as a Gerald McCoy, Tommie Harris and those type of guys that really anchor our defense from inside out. Jamarkus is a really talented player, a highly recruited player that we are awfully excited about.
"Along with him we have three guys that are very athletic. Jarrett Brown, Justin Chassion and Terry Franklin are all defensive ends that have excellent range, are very athletic and have good speed. They are good rushers on the outside. We feel that with those four guys up front we addressed our needs.
"Where everybody is from, we have five from Oklahoma, 11 from Texas, two from Kansas and then we have everything in there. We have Missouri, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada and three junior college players. It's a strong class and more than anything I feel like we really addressed our needs and am excited to get ready to work with these guys. I really believe they will continue to keep our future here at Oklahoma bright and on the championship path." (More at SoonerSports.com)
Jarrett Brown verbally commits to OU: OU got a verbal commitment for 2009 from defensive end Jarrett Brown on Sunday, a 6-foot-4, 242-pound senior from Bowie HS in Arlington, Texas. Rivals.com reported later Sunday that linebacker Brandon Mahoney of Fossil Ridge HS in Keller, Texas, has decommitted from OU and verbally committed to Texas Tech. (Tulsa World)
Randle considering Oklahoma: Coach Bob Stoops was in Bastrop, La., on Thursday night, for an in-home visit to Rueben Randle, the nation's No. 1 high school wide receiver -- and Rivals.com's No. 2 overall player -- in a late attempt to convince Randle to play next season with Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford instead of LSU. Stoops spent Wednesday in Las Vegas, presumably visiting Chaisson as well as future prospects. (Tulsa World)
Kenney verbally commits to Oklahoma: Four-star junior-college wideout Cameron Kenney committed to Oklahoma over Georgia on Sunday night, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Kenney, who grew up in the Atlanta suburbs but attends Garden City (Kan.) Community College, made his decision shortly after visiting Georgia over the weekend. "The official visit to (UGA) went great, it was better than I could ever imagine," Kenney told the Journal-Constitution. "However, I just couldn't pass on the opportunity to play with the Heisman Trophy winner and, more importantly, for the team many pick to win the national championship next year. (The Oklahoman)
Darius Jones switches commitment from OU to Baylor: Three-star athlete Darius Jones of Marshall, Texas, told the recruiting Web site Rivals.com Tuesday that he has switched his commitment from OU to Baylor and intends to sign with the Bears. "My heart was never into Oklahoma," Jones said. "I've been down to Baylor a lot of times this past summer, and every time I went down there it got better and better." (The Oklahoman)
Bradford knew he was coming back: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford was never close to leaving college. "He wanted to come back to OU for at least one more year all along," said Sam’s father, Kent Bradford. Sam Bradford’s decision caught some by surprise. He was being touted as one of the top two quarterback prospects, along with Georgia's Matthew Stafford, and depending on his draft position would have signed a contract with a set-for-life guarantee. Father and son had lunch together just before the end of the regular season to discuss options, and that's when Sam said he would go through the NFL evaluation process, but "felt he still had plenty of room to improve his game and get bigger and stronger before he made the jump," Kent Bradford said. (KC Star)
Ward switches commitment from OU to Texas Tech: Wichita Falls Rider senior wide receiver Eric Ward has switched allegiance within the Big 12 South, opting to play football next year at Texas Tech instead. "I felt like I could do better at Tech," said Ward, who was named the Times Record News' Large School Red River 22 MVP in 2008. "I just wanted what was best for me. I'm happy with my decision, and I hope people will support me with my decision." Ward caught a team-high 46 passes for 737 yards and five touchdowns, and was Rider's second-leading rusher with 356 yards. He also earned the District 5-4A MVP for the district-winning Raiders. (Times Record News)
Sam Bradford Day in Oklahoma City: Mayor Mick Cornett will declare Jan. 13 "Sam Bradford Day" in Oklahoma City at the city council chambers at 8:30 a.m. today. The proclamation is to recognize the Oklahoma quarterback's winning of the Heisman Trophy. Bradford is a 2006 graduate of Putnam City North High School. (The Oklahoman)
Jenks' Gabe Lynn verbally commits to OU:Gabe Lynn, the No. 1 player on the most recent Oklahoman Super 30 list, announced his decision to commit to Oklahoma during a ceremony Thursday afternoon at Jenks High School. Lynn (6-foot, 185 pounds) chose the Sooners over Oklahoma State and North Carolina. Lynn's numbers weren't overwhelming but that's largely due to teams avoiding going Lynn's way. (The Oklahoman)
OT Jeff Vison commits to Oklahoma: Lackawanna Community College offensive tackle Jeff Vinson has committed to play football at Oklahoma in 2009 according to Rivals.com. "That was the best fit for me," Vinson told Rivals. "The program speaks for itself, the tradition of a wonderful, wonderful offensive line. I'm trying to be a part of that."The Sooners will be losing four starters off this year's offensive line, including award-winners Jon Cooper, Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson. Vinson will give the OU an experienced option next season."I've got to come up there with a head of steam because we still want to keep the tradition going," Vinson said. (The Oklahoman)
REPORT: Prospect Williams to de-commit from Sooners: Under Armour All-American cornerback Steve Williams has decommitted from the Sooners and could join California's Class of 2009, ESPN affiliate Web site OUInsider.com reports. When asked if he was a solid pledge, Williams responded, "I don't want to lie to you guys, but I don't think so. I think I am going to go to California and I am going to decommit from Oklahoma." He continued, "It is not really about Oklahoma it is just that I like California better. I just don't see myself as an Oklahoma Sooner as far as the system of playing cornerback."(More at ESPN.com)
Venables a candidate for K-State job? OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables, a former K-State player and assistant, had already been a message-board candidate to replace (Ron) Prince. Asked if he expected the Wildcats to call about any of his staff, Stoops said: "If they do, they do. I have always encouraged my guys ... put my guys in front of anybody, not just there. You're starting a story when there isn't one now. I'm not going there. "My guys are open to everybody in the country. That's pretty obvious. I've had quite a few go on. I've got no problem with it if they do." (Tulsa World)
Four-star prospect looking at OU: Jheranie Boyd, a four-star wide receiver out of Gastonia, N.C., is expected to announce his commitment today. Many believe Boyd is deciding between Oklahoma and Missouri, though he also said he is considering Illinois, North Carolina and North Carolina State. Boyd is the No. 32-ranked player in the nation, according to the recruiting Web site Rivals.com. (The Oklahoman)
Report: Four-star safety Kevin Brent verbally commits: SI (Sooners Illustrated) has been able to confirm via a text message that Kevin Brent, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound safety from South Oak Cliff High in Dallas, Texas did indeed make a commitment to the Sooners. Brent is a top 100 prospect and currently rated as the fourth best safety in the country and a four-star prospect by Scout.com. "He is super big, strong, and fast," Scout.com's Baron Flenory informed. "He is a five-star type of player just because of his physical attributes." (Sooners Illustrated)
OU picks up McGuinness commitment: Gabe Ikard's recruitment went all the way to the top. A Saturday morning meeting between Ikard, his family and University of Oklahoma president David Boren might've been the deciding factor in the McGuinness tight end orally committing to the Sooners on Sunday. "They should have every recruit they want go talk to him," Ikard said. "He was really, really good about explaining to me how doors would be open for me if I came to OU." Ikard, a 6-foot-3, 240-pounder, grew up a Sooners fan but wanted to go through the recruiting process and consider all of his options before deciding. (More at The Oklahoman)
Nation's No. 4 receiver Jheranie Boyd visits Norman: WR Jheranie Boyd (6-3 185) of Gastonia, NC made an official visit to Oklahoma last weekend, and the experience pushed the Sooners up the top of his list and to co-favorite status along with Clemson, North Carolina, Florida, NC State, Missouri and Illinois. "It was a real good visit," Boyd said. "I connected with the coaches real quick. I liked the players and the campus. Everything is right there." Boyd will take an official visit to NC State this coming weekend. He then has visits starting October 11th on three consecutive weekends with Illinois, Florida and Missouri. Boyd was not sure of their order. (Spartanburg Herald-Journal)
Bradford and McCoy among Oklahoma team captains: Sam Bradford, Jon Cooper, Brody Eldridge, Nic Harris and Gerald McCoy have been named Oklahoma's team captains for the upcoming football season. The players were selected in a vote taken by the team. Bradford, a quarterback, Cooper, a center, and Eldridge, a tight end/fullback are the offensive captains. Harris, a safety, and McCoy, a defensive tackle, are the defensive captains. Cooper and Harris are seniors. Eldridge a junior and Bradford and McCoy redshirt sophomores. (SoonerSports.com)
Louisiana prep star considering OU: According to Louisiana prep running back Eddie Lacy, some coaches have told him his running style reminds of Adrian Peterson. Interestingly, OU is among a list of elite schools who have offered the Giesmar, La., prospect, along with Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Tennessee, Nebraska, Florida State and others. Lacy, who ran for 1,800 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior, appears in no hurry to commit. He told Sporting News Today that he'll watch the teams he's considering this season, then make a decision. (The Oklahoman)
Oklahoma receives verbal commitment from QB Drew Allen: Drew Allen, a three-star prospect from San Antonio's Alamo Heights High School, committed to the Sooners Sunday.Allen is the first quarterback in the Sooners' 2009 class, giving OU a third scholarship quarterback for 2009 to go with Sam Bradford and Landry Jones.A 6-foot-5, 209-pound prospect, Allen passed for 2,589 yards and 28 touchdowns a year ago, adding 254 yards and five touchdowns rushing.Allen chose OU over Oklahoma State, Colorado, Kansas State, Mississippi, Vanderbilt, Purdue and Wake Forest. (The Oklahoman)
DeMarco Murray returns to practice: Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray has returned to practice at full speed this week. He was hobbled by an ankle sprain throughout the first week. "I did some of the practice stuff, but I haven't really been able to go all out until this week," Murray said following Tuesday's practice. "It's good to get back out there." OU coach Bob Stoops said Murray isn't showing any lingering effects. "He looked fine today," Stoops said. "That (ankle injury) was a minor deal." (Norman Transcript)
Jaz Reynolds verbally commits to OU: Monday night, Oklahoma got a commitment from Jaz Reynolds, a three-star receiver out of Aldine (Texas) Eisenhower High School. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Reynolds chose the Sooners over a host of schools, including Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska and Virginia. "I had been up to OU a couple of times, saw them play A&M, went to their junior day," Reynolds said. "When they offered, I just wanted to be a Sooner." Reynolds was recruited by first-year OU wide receivers coach Jay Norvell. (The Oklahoman)
Mensik back after hamstring injury: Assistant coach Kevin Wilson said he hasn't identified the third player to go with Jermaine Gresham and Brody Eldridge in his three-tight end set just yet. It likely will be Eric Mensik, but he's been out with a sore hamstring. Mensik returned to practice this week. "It's kind of a weird deal," Wilson said. "It's not a pull. It's kind of like where it attaches to the bone. They keep looking at it. It's a pain tolerance deal." (Tulsa World)
Defensive backs Jones and Trice commit to Oklahoma: The Sooners secured pledges from Marshall's Darius Jones and Mesquite's Marcus Trice, according to SoonerScoop.com. OU has 16 commitments in a class that so far tilts heavily to defense. To date, 11 of the commitments are projected for the defensive side of the ball. Jones is actually listed among the nation's top "athletes." For good reason. Jones has played quarterback and wide receiver during his two seasons at Marshall High in Texas, yet is being recruited as a cornerback by the Sooners. (The Oklahoman)
Scheelhaase verbally commits to Illinois: Oklahoma is still looking for a quarterback from the Class of 2009. Four-star dual-threat quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase of Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst announced on a Kansas City TV station Wednesday evening that he is going to Illinois. Scheelhaase chose the Fighting Illini over Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Last month, the Sooners lost out on two quarterbacks: Josh Nunes, who is heading to Tennessee, and Jacob Karam, who committed to Texas Tech. The Sooners currently have three quarterbacks on scholarship in starter Sam Bradford, senior Joey Halzle and true freshman Landry Jones.(The Oklahoman)
Musil commits to Oklahoma: Three-star recruit Marshall Musil of LaCrosse, Kan., committed to Oklahoma on Thursday evening, bringing the Sooners' overall commitment total to 15. Musil said he chose OU over Colorado State, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisville, Missouri, TCU and Tulsa. Musil is expected to play tight end for the Sooners. "When we first got there, it felt comfortable for my whole family," he said. "We felt it was a fit for us." Musil first visited Norman a couple of weeks ago during OU's football camp. "They liked how I moved for my size," said Musil, who is 6-foot-2, 220 pounds. "I probably won't play my first year because they have a lot of good tight ends, but they said they liked my size and speed for special teams." (The Oklahoman)
Four Sooner commitments among Rivals top 250: Four OU commitments made the latest Rivals.com top 250 list, which was revised last week. Dewar linebacker Ronnell Lewis , OU's first commitment, is ranked 99th in the nation, according to Rivals. Defensive end Justin Chaisson (169), linebacker Tom Wort (240) and defensive back Steve Williams (244) also made the top 250. OU currently has 13 overall verbals and could have 14 soon if Missouri 3-star offensive lineman Tyler Evans commits in the coming days as expected. (The Oklahoman)
Josh Aladenoye verbally commits to Oklahoma: For the second day in a row, the Oklahoma Sooners got a commitment for an offensive lineman for the Class of 2009. Josh Aladenoye of Mesquite, Texas, a 6-foot-5, 340-pound offensive lineman, has committed to the Sooners, according to Rivals.com. “On my way home from camp, I gave them a call and they offered me. I think that is great. OU would be a great opportunity for me to be a Sooner. I have not committed to the Sooners, but a commitment to OU will be coming soon," he told OUinsider.com. (The Oklahoman)
Tyler Evans to verbally commit to Oklahoma: [Tyler] Evans, the 6-foot-6, 300-pound Strafford High School junior, plans on committing to the University of Oklahoma on Saturday, he told the News-Leader. After attending a three-day camp in Norman, Okla. this past weekend, he said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops offered him a full scholarship. Evans told Stoops he wanted to talk it over with his family and will commit when he receives the paperwork on Saturday. "It's a totally different experience. I'm going to get to do something most kids from (this area) will never get to do," Evans said. (News-Leader)
Jones verbally commits to Oklahoma: Gus Jones didn't waste time on making the biggest decision of his life so far. One day after the Wagoner High School linebacker made his trip to the University of Oklahoma, he made a verbal commitment to play for the Sooners on Friday. "It fit me and I thought it would be the one. I didn't want it to slip away," the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder said after making visits to Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State and Arkansas. "The thing that impressed me about Oklahoma is their coaches," Jones added. "They're a lot similar to our coaches here. We run the same kind of defense and I kind of compared (Wagoner defensive coordinator) Guy Gaylor to Brent Venables (OU's defensive coordinator). They're both hardcore and I like that. They're really competitive." Jones also had offers from North Carolina, OSU, Texas Tech, Missouri and Wyoming before choosing the Sooners. (Muskogee Phoenix)
Recruit Josh Jarboe charges reduced from felony to misdemeanor: Felonies charges against Oklahoma football signee Josh Jarboe were reduced to misdemeanors in DeKalb County, Ga., Superior Court on Thursday. According to spokeswoman Jada Hudspeth of the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, Jarboe pleaded guilty to both bringing a gun to school and carrying a pistol without a license on Tuesday. Under Georgia's First Offenders Act, Judge Michael Hancock reduced the charges to misdemeanors, since Jarboe had no prior convictions. Jarboe will serve 24 months probation and undergo 80 hours of community service. The ruling should significantly enhance Jarboe's chances of making it to Norman by next football season. (The Oklahoman)
Skyline DB Steve Williams commits to Oklahoma: Skyline cornerback Steve Williams (5-10, 170) has given an oral commitment to Oklahoma. Williams said he was also considering Auburn and Miami. Oral commitments are nonbinding. The earliest a member of the class of 2009 can sign a football letter of intent is February 2009. (Dallas Morning News)
Josh Jarboe HS coach defends player: Football coach Ray Bonner still can't believe what transpired March 6. Josh Jarboe, one of his favorite players, was arrested at Cedar Grove High School, accused of bringing a stolen gun to school. Now Jarboe faces two felony gun charges in DeKalb County, Ga., and the possibility of losing his football scholarship to Oklahoma. "I'm so frustrated right now because he is a really good kid," Bonner said. "To paint that kid as an outlaw, that's not right." "It happens so frequently in schools today that you don't have to be the person doing anything," Bonner said. "You can be around a person with a gun and it's like you have it." Said Avery, "Josh learned a valuable lesson. Be careful who you hang around." Sooner coach Bob Stoops has declined to comment on the case. But according to the OU Board of Regents policy, no student-athlete charged with a crime can participate on a Sooner athletic team while the charges are still pending. Still, Jarboe is finishing up the last two classes he needs for his high school degree online with hopes that he'll somehow make it to Norman. "He feels like he let his family down, his teammates down," Bonner said. "But he refuses to let any of this get the best of him. He's working on his classes and going to the gym. I know he's learned from this. "I just pray and hope it's done the right way. That they don't destroy a person just to destroy a person. Because Josh really is a great kid." (The Oklahoman)
Bishop McGuinness' Ikard offered OU scholarship: Bishop McGuinness tight end Gabe Ikard received an offer from Oklahoma after Sooners assistant coach Kevin Wilson attended the Irish's intersquad scrimmage Friday. "It's very exciting," said Ikard, who has been a standout for the Irish on the football field and basketball court since his freshman year. "It's something I've wanted since I was a kid." A fan of the Sooners since childhood, Ikard said the offer meant a lot, but the senior-to-be will take his time and explore all his options before committing to a school. "I plan to take my visits then make a decision," Ikard said. "I'm not leaning (toward any school) right now." (The Oklahoman)
DB Will Ford commits to Oklahoma: Defensive back Will Ford of Abilene Cooper (Texas) High School confirmed that he committed to Oklahoma on Monday, bringing the Sooners' 2009 commitment total to 11. Ford (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) also had scholarship offers from Baylor, Texas Christian and Texas Tech. (The Oklahoman)
Dotson and Baker the latest OU free-agent signees: Former Oklahoma defensive end Alonzo Dotson has agreed to terms on a free-agent contract with the Washington Redskins. Dotson is the sixth undrafted Sooner to be picked up by an NFL team. He joins Lewis Baker (San Francisco), Joe Jon Finley (San Francisco), Garrett Hartley (Denver), Marcus Walker (Minnesota) and D.J. Wolfe (Atlanta). (The Oklahoman)
Wort commits to OU over LSU, A&M, Miami and others: New Braunfels linebacker Tom Wort decided he couldn't wait any longer. After taking informal visits to three college campuses, Comal County's reigning Defensive Player of the Year announced Wednesday morning that he was committing to play college football with the Oklahoma Sooners. "It was a big day for me today," he said. "I've been talking with (New Braunfels head football coach) Caniford and my family about this the last couple of days. I couldn't stop thinking about my visit to Oklahoma and I made my decision a few days ago. "So this morning I pulled the trigger and decided to go to Oklahoma." Wort, a 6-0, 210-pounder, transferred to New Braunfels from Rhode Island last spring and impressed New Braunfels coaches right off the bat. Wort was the District 26-4A and Herald-Zeitung's top player on a unit that allowed just 244.2 yards per game. He led the Unicorns with 199 total tackles, 104 solos and included 11 for losses. He caused four fumbles, hauled in three interceptions, and recorded five pass breakups, three hurries, four sacks and 16 "big hits." Among the other schools courting the junior were USC, Florida, Nebraska, Miami and Maryland. (The Herald-Zeitung)
Chaisson commits to OU: Justin Chaisson phoned Bob Stoops on Monday to inform the Sooner coach of his commitment to attend the University of Oklahoma. Then, Chaisson made a bold decision. "I was going to wait and keep it low-key," said the four-star defensive end from Las Vegas, Nev. "I wanted to announce it at the U.S. Army All-American Game." Next January. Well, Chaisson barely made it 24 hours. His announcement Tuesday afternoon was so abrupt, his mother didn't even know he'd committed until a certain sports writer called her home to confirm an online report. "I talked it over with my dad and I decided to go ahead and put it out there," Chaisson said. "I didn't want to lead on the other schools recruiting me." Chaisson -- the nation's No. 27 player overall according to Rivals.com -- also held offers from California, LSU, Florida and UCLA, among others. (The Oklahoman)
Plus; Pair of prospects verbally commit: The high-profile commitment capped a big weekend for the OU defense, during which linebacker Brandon Mahoney and cornerback Steve Williams also gave their nods to the Sooners. (The Oklahoman)
OU tops Rivals.com most embarrassing non-conference games: Rivals.com writer Mike Huguenin ranks OU's season opener against UT-Chattanooga as the worst 2008 non-conference game. UT-Chattanooga against Division 1-A are 0-19 losing by an average of 34 points.
Carl Albert's David Oku cut OU from potential schools: Carl Albert running back David Oku has cut several teams, including Oklahoma, from the list of schools he is considering. The junior lists USC, Ohio State, Florida State, Illinois, Tennessee and Michigan as his favorites. West Virginia, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and LSU were among the teams cut from the list. "God and my mom helped me to this decision," Oku said. "I feel like cutting them (OU) is what is best for me right now." Asked if things might have been different had the Sooners approached him in another way, Oku said: "Yeah, I used to see the love (former Carl Albert and OU standout) J.D. (Runnels) got when he came back, and that made me kind of like OU, but they were kind of lax, like ‘we're going to hold out'... things might have been different if they had a different approach." That rocky beginning, combined with the desire to get out of the state, led Oku to officially remove Oklahoma from his list of suitors. (The Oklahoman)
Recruit narrows schools down to five: Justin Chaisson, the No. 27-rated recruit in the nation according to Rivals.com, said he expects OU to be among his final five schools. The defensive end from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas visited OU over the weekend and left after Saturday's scrimmage. He said he and his family enjoyed the trip. "I'm not sure yet, but it will probably be Oklahoma, Florida, LSU, UCLA and Cal," Chaisson said. "That's probably going to be the five." Chaisson hasn't set a timetable for making a commitment. Current Sooners Ryan Reynolds and DeMarco Murray attended the same high school as Chaisson. David White, who was Bishop Gorman's head coach two years ago, is now a graduate assistant with OU. (The Oklahoman)
University of Oklahoma Football Second Scrimmage stats and quotes at SoonerSports.com
Box may return next weekend: Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said Box might return to noncontact work next week. Venables also said it was important for Reynolds to be back. "He's not 100 percent," Venables said, "but he needs to be out there to get some of the positioning down as much as anything, get a presence about him." (Tulsa World)
Recruits visit Norman: Centennial Frisco (Texas) High School quarterback Ryan Mossakowski was one of several blue-chip recruits in attendance. Mossakowski, the No. 53-ranked player in the nation according to Rivals.com, was accompanied at the scrimmage by Las Vegas defensive end Justin Chaisson, who is the No. 27-rated prospect in the country. Four-star cornerback Gabe Lynn of Jenks saw his second OU scrimmage. He was in Norman last weekend as well. Linebacker Tom Wort of New Braunfels, Texas, and tight end Greg Brown of Bixby were also in attendance Saturday. (The Oklahoman)
Bradford on the no huddle: Telling the Tulsa World "Today was about as game-like as we've had with the no-huddle as far as the referees and the clock and everything going," Bradford said. "I think we did move the ball pretty well. We did have some penalties that hurt us, but I thought our tempo was good today and guys for the most part, we were on the same page."
Lawton MacArthur prospect Javon Harris commits to OU: Much like the 2007 season a player from Lawton MacArthur High went from a virtual unknown to an Oklahoma Sooner commitment overnight. As reported yesterday Javon Harris did indeed pick up an official offer from the Sooners this afternoon and then he committed on the spot. (SoonersIllustrated) Javon Harris, safety 6'0/190lbs 4.5
Sooners add verbal commitment WR Eric Ward: Rider wide receiver Eric Ward verbally committed Saturday to play football for the University of Oklahoma. The junior still has his senior season to play for the Raiders and he would join the Sooners in the fall of 2009. "The timing was right, and when I went there it felt like home," Ward said of his decision to commit early. "And it's not too far away from home, so my family and friends can still come see me play." Ward, a 6-1, 195-pounder, is a two-year starter at wide receiver for the Raiders where he has 77 catches for 1,390 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 206 yards on 28 carries and five touchdowns. He also has a kick return for a touchdown. He helped lead the Raiders to a 12-win season in 2007 and to the Region I-4A championship game where they fell to Everman 21-19. His numbers for the 2007 season were 55 catches for 1,082 yards and 15 touchdowns; 14 rushes for 108 yards and four scores; and a kick return for a touchdown. (Times Record News)
Jaydan Bird verbally commits to OU: High school linebacker Jaydan Bird (Conway Springs, Kan.), who's in Norman this weekend, committed to the Sooners on Saturday morning before OU first's open scrimmage. "OU is a school with great tradition, the coaches are cool and laid back," Bird said. "OU has a good academic program. I felt really comfortable with the school." The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Bird has scholarship offers from Kansas, Kansas State and Miami. (The Oklahoman)
Offensive line backups compete for playing time: OU returns all five starters on the offensive line from last season. But OU coach Bob Stoops said that doesn't mean the backups won't have a chance to compete for playing time during spring drills. "There are a lot of guys that are coming on that are going to have a chance to compete," Stoops said. "Cory Brandon, Brian Simmons, Donald Stephenson and Jason Hannan are coming back. There are a number of guys that really have a chance. We've got to get them out there and get them working, and they'll have a chance to do that." (The Oklahoman)
Five-star wide receiver eyes Oklahoma: Marlon Brown the 6-foot-5, 205-pound five-star wide receiver from Harding High School in Memphis, Tenn., finished his junior season with 41 catches for over 860 yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed for 60 carries and 630 yards and 10 scores. Brown, Scout.com's No. 2 wide receiver nationwide, has over 20 scholarship offers, but denies a favorite. "Right now I'm really wide open," he admitted. "I'll probably have a top five or six during the summer. I'm just taking things slow and not worrying about it right now." While Brown isn't sure if he's going to visit Oklahoma during the summer, he admits they meet his criteria. "Coaches are really important to me and coach Bob Stoops and his staff are some of the best coaches in the country. Every year Oklahoma is in the race for the national championship." (Scout.com)
Reminder Spring Break: OU is off this week for Spring Break. The Sooners will resume practice March 24.
Bobby Jack Wright happy with defensive talent: Bobby Jack Wright is pleased, especially with cornerback Brian Jackson. "We're pretty happy with where they're at," Wright said. "Brian Jackson has had his hands on a ton of balls in four days. Brian knows this is his big opportunity and he's making the most of it. "Same thing with Dominique Franks and Jonathan Nelson. Those three have had four great practices. We don't feel we're missing a beat." (The Oklahoman)
Recruiting Update; Sooner Connections: The Sooners have already benefited from a former player helping them land a verbal commitment in the 2009 recruiting class. Mansfield (Texas) Legacy High School defensive end Terry Franklin committed to OU, following in the footsteps of his high school coach and former Sooner quarterback Chris Melson. OU could be hoping a second Sooner connection will pay off in another 2009 commitment. Plano (Texas) wide receiver Kris Lott, the son of former OU wishbone quarterback Thomas Lott, is interested in the Sooners along with Plano RB Rex Burkhead and QB Carson Meger, their high school coach Jaydon McCullough said. (The Oklahoman)
Carl Albert's Daytawion Lowe receives OU offer: Carl Albert safety Daytawion Lowe has received offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Texas Tech, Missouri and others. "OSU is No. 1 right now,” Lowe said. "OU is No. 2 then Texas Tech.” OU was the most recent offer for the junior, who has led the Titans in tackles the past two seasons. "I was pretty excited,” Lowe said of the OU offer. Often overlooked because he plays on the same team as standout running back David Oku, Lowe has seen his recruiting pick up since signing day in February. (The Oklahoman)
'08 signee Josh Jarboe's recent arrest just 'a speed bump': Oklahoma football signee Josh Jarboe told an Atlanta television station Thursday that he's still planning on coming to OU despite being charged with two felony gun counts late last week. "I still have my scholarship, I'm still going to Oklahoma," Jarboe told JaQuitta Williams of WSB-TV. "If I don't go to Oklahoma, I'm going somewhere. "This isn't fixing to just stop me." Jarboe, 18, was charged in DeKalb County, Ga., with theft by receiving a gun and carrying a weapon within a school safety zone stemming from a March 6 arrest. "If you know me, (you know) I'm a good person," Jarboe said. "This is just a speed bump that has slowed me down. "I'm going to get up out of this and go on doing what I'm supposed to be doing."(The Oklahoman)
Police report in Josh Jarboe arrest released: According to the police report, Dekalb assistant principal Karl Moton asked one of the school's police officers last Thursday to search [Josh] Jarboe, [James] Davis and their vehicle, a yellow Geo Storm, after watching Jarboe pull a black and silver hand gun out from underneath a spare tire cover in the back of the car. Jarboe then stuffed the gun in the waistband of his pants, police said. When he saw police officer J.P. Brooks approaching, Jarboe tried to hide the gun underneath the driver's seat of the car, where the gun was eventually found, police said. The gun -- a. 380 cal. automatic pistol -- was loaded, police said. A serial number check revealed that the pistol was stolen out of nearby Clayton County, according to police. (The Oklahoman)
Stoops aware of Josh Jarboe's arrest; offers no comment: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is aware of Jarboe's arrest but has no comment, according to Kenny Mossman, a senior associate athletics director for communications at Oklahoma. "He isn't going to make a public comment until the matter moves further along, and then only if it's necessary,'' Mossman said . "For now, the best thing to say is that he has knowledge of it and is monitoring it. ... I don't know if he's spoken to [Jarboe].'' In addition to the felony charges, Jarboe also could face expulsion from school under DeKalb schools policy. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
'08 signee Josh Jarboe arrested: Oklahoma Sooners signee Josh Jarboe was arrested Thursday evening for receiving stolen property and having a weapon on school property -- both felony charges for one of the nation's top college recruits. Online jail records show Jarboe, 18, was booked into the DeKalb County Jail along with 17-year-old James Davis, who was charged with the same two counts. Both were arrested by DeKalb school system police officers. The school system has not released any information about the arrests or about the two young men. Jarboe, a standout wide receiver from Cedar Grove High School, is ranked by Rivals.com as the 10th-best wide receiver nationally in the Class of 2008. He committed last month to play for Oklahoma, choosing the Sooners over Florida, Georgia and LSU. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Jonathon Miller third '09 verbal commitment: Jonathon Miller, a 6-foot-0, 180-pound running back from Namaan Forest High in Garland, Texas was receiving plenty of interest form schools nationwide, but he pulled the trigger with a commitment to Oklahoma this afternoon. "I have offers from Kansas, Arizona, and Oklahoma," Miller said. "But I just committed to Oklahoma today. I just like their program and I wanted to stay close to home." (Sooners Illustrated)
Sooners participate in limited NFL Scouting Combine: OU wide receiver Malcolm Kelly told reporters in Indianapolis on Friday that he is not going to run or lift at the NFL Scouting Combine because of the quad injury that kept him out of the Fiesta Bowl. Kelly said he originally thought his injury was just a thigh bruise, but it turned out to be a mild strain and that he hasn't been getting proper treatment for the injury. Kelly traveled to Indianapolis to meet with team officials, take the Wonderlic test and get a physical. Several NFL Draft analysts predict Kelly will be taken in the first round, though missing the combine could damage his stock. Kelly is expected to conduct a private workout for scouts in April. OU tight end Joe Jon Finley only participated in the bench press at the combine after injuring his hamstring in the East-West Shrine Game. Running back Allen Patrick isn't expected to participate in any of the speed drills after suffering a mild MCL strain during the East-West Shrine Game. (The Oklahoman)
Bryce Brown picks Miami over OU: That trend continued last week when Miami got a commitment from the top running back in the nation in Bryce Brown, following older brother Arthur Brown, a linebacker who signed with the Hurricanes earlier this month. OU, among other schools, had offered scholarships to both Browns. Miami signed one of the nation's top-5 recruiting classes in February and could repeat that feat again next year with Bryce Brown already on board. (The Oklahoman)
Franklin verbally commits to Oklahoma: Mansfield (Texas) defensive end Terry Franklin committed to Oklahoma on Thursday, giving the Sooners their second commitment for the 2009 class. Franklin, who started for Mansfield Summit High School as a sophomore, now attends Mansfield Legacy High School, which opened its doors in the fall. As a new school, Legacy's 2007 football schedule consisted of mostly junior high teams. The school switch kept Franklin off the radar of a lot of schools, but that didn't deter OU defensive ends coach Chris Wilson and the Sooner staff from offering him a scholarship. OU first learned about Franklin from Legacy head football coach Chris Melson, who played quarterback at Ada High School and for the Sooners in the early 1990s. (The Oklahoman)
OLB Ronnie Lewis verbally commits to OU: The Sooners received their first commitment of the 2009 class in Dewar High School outside linebacker Ronnell Lewis. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Lewis starred on both sides of the ball last season as a junior for Class B Dewar, which has been playing 8-man football for the last four years. On offense, Lewis rushed for more than 2,300 yards and scored 40 touchdowns; on defense, he had more than 100 tackles and also intercepted 11 passes. Lewis helped lead Dewar into the Class B state championship where the Dragons suffered their only loss of the season to perennial powerhouse Morrison. For his efforts, Lewis earned honorable-mention All-State honors by The Oklahoman. (The Oklahoman)
Ibiloye like the hairstyle: Free safety Joseph Ibiloye got everyone's attention at South Garland's signing ceremony just by removing his baseball cap. Ibiloye had the "OU" logo sheared into his hair on the back of his head. "I wasn't going to do it," said Ibiloye, who signed with Oklahoma, "but I was talking to my barber and just threw my hat down and said, 'Let's do it.'" Ibiloye's teammates ribbed him about having to shave the logo off before school started, since attention-getting hairstyles are against school policy. (Dallas Morning News)
Coaches on the theatrics at signing ceremonies: Muskogee's Stacy McGee and Jameel Owens announced together, with McGee picking up an OU cap and placing it on his head, leaving Owens to pick up an OSU cap, only to pull an OU cap from inside the Cowboy cap. "Some of these kids, you want to slap 'em once they sign,” Barry Switzer said on Jones' radio show Wednesday. It all gets silly, which made Guthrie's Kye Staley a throwback Wednesday when he simply walked into his ceremony wearing an OSU cap. "I wouldn't say it bothers me,” Bob Stoops said of theatrics at recruiting announcements. "It's not my kid, not my young man. But you kind of set yourself up in those situations.” (The Oklahoman)
Where OU Ranks Nationally
Scout.com: #13 ESPN/Scouts Inc.: #8 It added teammates ESPN 150 WR Jameel Owens (Muskogee, Okla.) and Stacy McGee (Muskogee, Okla.) down the stretch to an already impressive class. Right now we believe RB Jermie Calhoun (Van, Texas) is special and will join an already outstanding stable of Sooners running backs and contribute quickly. However, DE R.J. Washington (Keller, Texas/Fossil Ridge) is right on his heels as the premier player in this class.
Rivals.com: #5 The Sooners did their usual sterling job, cleaning up in-state and going into Texas for some top players. They also signed top-ranked players from Georgia, New Jersey and New Mexico.
Tom Lemming, CSTV: #5 Texas players are key to recruiting, and the Sooners secured them very early and kept them: R.J. Washington, arguably the best pass rusher, RBs Jermie Calhoun and Justin Johnston, and OLs Ben Habern and Stephen Good.
SuperPrep: #6 Texas routinely supplies the Sooners with some of their finest talent. This year Bob Stoops raided the Lone Star state for five-star RBs Jermie Calhoun and Justin Johnson as well as highly regarded DE R.J. Washington and OLs Stephen Good and Ben Habern.
Jones opts for Alabama: Julio Jones, the nation's top-ranked wide receiver prospect in the class of 2008, has committed to Alabama on National Signing Day Wednesday. Jones, the No. 2 player in the nation according to ESPN.com, made his committment on ESPNU at 12:30pm EST. The Foley (AL) native will stay in-state, becoming the highest-touted player in the Nick Saban regime with the Crimson Tide. "Alabama just felt like home," said Jones. "It's where I felt most comfortable." (TransworldNews)
Julio Jones to announce decision on ESPNU: All eyes will be on Foley, Ala., today, to see if Alabama can cap off a celebrated football recruiting season with a national signing day commitment from the consensus top player in the state.Foley High School wide receiver Julio Jones, rated a Top 5 national prospect by the various recruiting services, will make his final college choice at 12:30 p.m. (ET) today in a news conference to be broadcast live on ESPNU.The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Jones has been mostly silent on his destination, but has publicly narrowed his choices to Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.Tom Luginbill, national director of recruiting for ESPN Scouts Inc., said late last week that the race for Jones has been all but narrowed to two programs."It's down to Oklahoma and Alabama, in my opinion," Luginbill said on ESPNews. "He's got to make a choice -- does he stay in state... or does he go to Oklahoma, where I think it's more of a ready-made offense right now? It's going to come down to those two. I think he'll stick with Alabama."(Ledger-Enquirer)
Report: Harris commits to Oklahoma: It's been widely considered that Gilmer, Texas, defensive back Lamar Harris would join high school teammate Justin Johnson at Oklahoma. However, his camp has been mostly mum about it until Tuesday when Gilmer coach Jeff Traylor told Sooners Illustrated that Lamar Harris will be a Sooner. (SoonersIllustrated.com) Subscription required Johnson Ready to Run for OU: SoonerSports.com
Julio Jones at 'Bama hoops game: Julio Jones, the wide receiver from Foley, Ala., who's ranked by some services as the No. 1 player in the nation, reportedly took an official visit to Alabama this weekend for the Crimson Tide's basketball game against LSU. During a second-half timeout, Tide fans reportedly began chanting Jones' first name as he sat with Foley teammate Robert Lester and previous verbal commitment Burton Scott. (Tulsa World)
Sooners offense and Bradford recognized by NCAA: Each year the NCAA sends out certificates to recognize statistical champions for the sport of football. For all its success and probably due to its balance, Oklahoma has been something of a rare recipient. That changed this year when Sam Bradford finished as the nation's leader in passing efficiency and OU's team topped the nation in the same category. Bradford finished with an efficiency of 176.5 to outdistance Florida quarterback and Heisman winner Tim Tebow, who finished at 172.5. As a team, Oklahoma finished at 170.6 with Florida second at 170.1. Oklahoma had not won an individual statistical championship since 1979 when running back Billy Sims led the nation in scoring with 138 points. (SoonerSports.com)
Seven Former Sooners invited to NFL Combine: Over the weekend, the NFL Combine released its invite list, which includes receiver Malcolm Kelly, linebacker Curtis Lofton, cornerback Reggie Smith, running back Allen Patrick, cornerback Marcus Walker, tight end Joe Jon Finley and safety D.J. Wolfe. The combine will take place Feb. 20-26 in Indianapolis. (The Oklahoman)The NFL combine will be televised on NFL Network.
Junior day at OU: It's the last weekend senior prospects can make campus visits before Wednesday's signing day, but with several dozen juniors on campus for OU's official "Junior Day," there are no official visits scheduled for this weekend. Among those in Norman: Bryce Brown, a running back from Wichita, Kan., who might project as the No. 1 back in the country next year; David Oku, the 5-foot-8, 176-pound running back from Midwest City Carl Albert (widely considered the top back in the state next season), wide receiver Greg Timmons of Aldine, Texas, who's widely considered one of the top wideout prospects in Texas, and Thomas Ashcraft of Cedar Hill, Texas, who may rank as the top offensive lineman in Texas. (Tulsa World)
J. Jones to commit on ESPNU on National Signing Day? From the ESPN media release: ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, will headline ESPN’s robust multimedia coverage of National Signing Day with a seven-hour special, ESPNU Recruiting Insider: National Signing Day Special presented by 76, Wednesday, Feb. 6, from noon to 7 p.m. ET. The show will be highlighted by exclusive live player announcements, in-depth analysis, news and highlights of top recruits and collegiate programs from around the country. Several players ranked by The ESPN 150, a nationwide ranking of top prep football prospects compiled by ESPN Scouts Inc., are expected to announce their decision live, including #2 Julio Jones (Foley High School, Ala.), #4 Terrell Pryor (Jeannette High School, Pa.), #9 Darrell Scott (St. Bonaventure High School, Calif.) and #28 Brandon Harris (Booker T. Washington, Fla.). Guest interviews also include: Clemson recruit #1 Daquan Bowers (Bamberg-Ehrardt High School, S.C.), University of Florida recruit #37 Omar Hunter (Buford High School, Ga.), University of Southern California recruits #68 Khaled Holmes (Mater Dei High School, Calif.) and junior quarterback Matt Barkley (Mater Dei High School, Calif.), LSU head coach Les Miles, Miami (Fla.) head coach Randy Shannon, University of Georgia head coach Mark Richt, Clemson University head coach Tommy Bowden, University of Texas head coach Mack Brown and Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis. ESPN.com will stream the entire seven-hour ESPNU Recruiting Insider: National Signing Day. (ESPNU PR)
Julio Jones remains quiet; He may not visit Texas Tech: From SI.com: SoonerScoop (subscription required) published a brief interview Monday about [Julio] Jones' visit to Oklahoma with Foley teammate Robert Lester. "I don't know why [Jones] has been so quiet," Foley coach Todd Watson said Monday, "other than he's a quiet person." Jones declines most interviews, and his trusted advisors provide information on a need-to-know basis. For example, Watson disputed a since-retracted report in the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun today that Jones was sent home early from Florida because he was recruiting for Oklahoma. The report, which caused a minor meltdown among Alabama fans, was wrong. Jones wasn't sent home early, and he wasn't pitching the Sooners. (SI.com) In addition, today the Press Register reports, Jones said Friday that he has narrowed his choices to five: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. He went to Oklahoma for a visit this weekend and said he wasn't sure whether he would take a final trip to Texas Tech as planned on Feb. 2. (Press Register)
Recruiting prospects attend OU women's game: Among the familiar faces in the crowd Sunday sat Julio Jones, the nation's No. 1 wide receiver and Oklahoma's No. 1 recruiting target heading into National Signing Day on Feb. 6. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder from Foley, Ala. arrived Saturday for an official visit with teammate and fellow recruit Robert Lester, a four-star safety. OU quarterback signee Landry Jones sat near the two Alabamans throughout the game. (The Oklahoman)
Burton Scott's Norman visit canceled: Five-star athlete Burton Scott (Prichard, Ala.) was scheduled to be in Norman this weekend for an official visit. But after junior-college linebacker J.R. Bryant committed to the Sooners on Friday, the OU coaches decided to not bring in Scott after all. According to Rivals.com, one of the Sooner coaches called Scott's high school coach on Friday and told him they had cancelled Scott's visit. "They told me that they just received a commitment from a kid that has basically pushed their class close to full,” Vigor High School coach Kerry Stephenson told Rivals. (The Oklahoman)
More recruits visit Norman: Lamar Harris, a four-star defensive back/athlete from Gilmer, Texas, has committed to Texas A&M but is also scheduled to visit OU, according to Rivals.com. Zaviar Gooden, a three-star defensive back from Pflugerville, Texas, is in Norman this weekend, according to Scout.com. He visited Missouri last week (he reports high interest in the Tigers) and Oklahoma State on Jan. 11. Kendall Wright, a football-basketball standout from Pittsburg, Texas, canceled a visit last week and was scheduled to be in Norman this week. (Tulsa World)
J.R. Bryant commits to Oklahoma: Throughout his recruiting, J.R. Bryant did something most college students only practice in the classroom. He took notes. The four-star linebacker from Garden City Community College (Kan.) brought a notebook on every visit. At each stop, Bryant jotted down pros and cons -- such as which coaches he liked and disliked and which roster needed him the most. Which stadium felt like home. Thursday night, the 6-foot-3, 228-pounder pulled out the notebook and looked over his work, weighing each plus and minus among his favorite schools -- OU, OSU and Texas Tech. Friday, he picked the Sooners. "My mom told me I should take notes wherever I went," said Bryant, who hails from Jessup, Ga. "(Schools) are going to show you their best, but you have to look and think about everything. "I looked at Oklahoma, and I thought, ‘Why not play for the best?' They had a lot of pros." Bryant locked up his college decision, and Oklahoma locked up its top recruiting target from the junior college ranks. A big outside linebacker with sub-4.5 speed, Bryant is the No. 34 overall juco recruit, according to Rivals.com. (The Oklahoman)
Recruits Jones, Scott and Lester to visit Norman: Three of the nation's top football recruits, all from Alabama, are scheduled to visit Norman this weekend, according to SoonerScoop.com. That includes five-star receiver Julio Jones (Foley, Ala.), five-star athlete Burton Scott (Prichard, Ala.) and four-star defensive back Robert Lester (Foley, Ala.), the latter two having already verbally committed to the Crimson Tide. Jones is considered to be the top wide receiver prospect in the country. Scott, the No. 28-ranked player in the nation according to Rivals.com, could play either slot receiver or cornerback in college. Lester, high school teammates with Jones, will probably play safety. (The Oklahoman)
Allen Patrick injured at East-West Shrine game: Former OU running back Allen Patrick was injured during the East-West Shrine Game on Saturday night in Houston. Patrick left the game in the first quarter with an apparent knee sprain, though the injury didn't appear to be too serious. The injury came as disappointing news for Patrick who had impressed scouts during the workouts leading up to the game with his ability to find running lanes. Patrick is expected to be drafted between the fourth and sixth rounds. OU tight end Joe Jon Finley also missed time with an apparent hamstring injury. (The Oklahoman)
Sims commits to Oklahoma; to start at free safety: David Sims enjoyed the breakfast in front of the Pacific Ocean amid a lavish beach setting lined up by San Diego State. He appreciated the camaraderie of the small town atmosphere in Pullman, Wash., specifically how it was so similar to Chico, during his recent visit to Washington State. But Sims' trip to Norman, Okla., over the weekend actually led to the standout Butte College free safety giving his verbal commitment to Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners on Sunday afternoon. The decision ended a two-month long process that began with Mississippi, Kansas State and San Diego State emerging as frontrunners, before an avalanche of other major programs came calling with the Feb. 6 signing day deadline looming on the horizon. "I think my list looks pretty good right now considering I just gave Oklahoma a commitment," Sims said on his cell phone Sunday while boarding a plane back to Northern California.. "It looks like I'm going to start at free safety, return kickoffs and also punts next year," Sims said about his role in Oklahoma's 2008 plans. "They told me they definitely want me on special teams, too." (Chico Enterprise Record) More on OU Football Recruiting.
Another JUCO recruit commits to OU: Sunday, the Sooners got instant help with commitments from junior-college linebacker Mike Balogun (Scranton, Pa.) according to SoonerScoop.com. (The Oklahoman)
Defensive prospects to visit OU Campus: With Reggie Smith's early departure to the NFL and the graduation of Marcus Walker and D.J. Wolfe, the Sooners will need immediate help in the secondary. That help could be on an official visit this weekend. According to Scout.com, David Sims, a 5-11, 205-pound four-star defensive back who played at Butte College in Oroville, Calif., and reportedly runs a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, indicates a high interest in OU. Victor Johnson, a 6-1, 175-pound safety from Waco, Texas, and Lamar Harris, a 6-0, 170-pound cornerback from Gilmer, Texas, are also visiting. (Tulsa World)
Muskogee pair commits to Oklahoma: Even as Muskogee's Jameel Owens joked with teammate Stacy McGee, a crimson bill of an OU cap peaked out from under an Oklahoma State one on the table in front of the pair, hinting at the decision to come. In the end, both donned OU caps and announced their commitment to the Sooners on Tuesday before a wrestling match at Ron Milam Gymnasium. The commitment is non-binding. The pair will sign on National Signing Day, Feb. 6. (The Oklahoman)
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes Sooners' Harris honored: Oklahoma junior free safety Nic Harris has been selected to the 16th annual Good Works Team, chosen by the American Football Coaches Association to recognize football players’ involvement in their communities. There are two 11-man teams, one for Division I-A and one for all other college football divisions.Harris was president and is an active member of Bridge- Builders, an African-American Student-Athlete network group at OU. He helped BridgeBuilders foster relationships with students at Madison Elementary School and residents of Brookhaven Nursing Center, and teamed with Norman’s Food for Friends Community Action Agency to serve lunch to the less fortunate in the community. BridgeBuilders also raised money to provide Thanksgiving dinners to needy families in the Norman area. (Tulsa World)
Caleb out: OU co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin confirmed that second-string receiver Brandon Caleb will not play Saturday. Caleb, a sophomore, suffered what coach Bob Stoops called a slight knee sprain during practice last week. Coaches have offered no timetable for Caleb's return. (NewsOK.com)
Report: Sooners add Fuller commitment: Jeff Fuller, a wide receiver from McKinney, Texas, has given a verbal commitment to Oklahoma, according to recruiting Web site Rivals.com. The 6-4, 200- pound Fuller, who attended last week’s victory over Miami, reportedly announced he would not take scheduled visits to Florida and Ohio State.(Tulsa World)
Stoops "stunned" about shooting death of Herman Mitchell: A 19-year-old Louisiana man has been arrested and charged with murder in the shooting death of a Houston-area high school football standout who had orally committed to play at the University of Oklahoma next year. Herman Mitchell, 17, a senior linebacker for Westfield High School, died Friday at Ben Taub General Hospital of multiple wounds, said Lt. John Martin of the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Emile "Rusty" Lewis was taken into custody after the shooting. He was being held in a Harris County jail. Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops was "stunned" by the news of Mitchell's death, school spokesman Kenny Mossman told the Houston Chronicle. (Dallas Morning News)
Dispute over pit bull: [Sgt.] Pair said Mitchell and Lewis -- who lived in the same complex in the 14300 block of Cornerstone Village Drive -- had been in conflict for some time over the ownership of a tan-and-white pit bull, which at the time of the shooting was in Lewis' possession. On Friday, Mitchell and three friends were headed out around 4:30 p.m. to play in a football scrimmage when he saw Lewis, who had the dog with him, Pair said. A verbal confrontation escalated into a fistfight. "The victim apparently got the better of the suspect," Pair said. Lewis, also charged with possessing a controlled substance, is accused of then leaving the scene, returning moments later with a rifle and shooting Mitchell. He was struck multiple times and later taken to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. (Houston Chronicle)
Jermie Calhoun talks to the DMN about his Oklahoma opportunity: Jermie Calhoun admits adjusting to small-town life was tough. At 6-0, 210 pounds, with sprinter's speed and 4,234 yards in three seasons, Calhoun is ranked 10th on the rivals.com Rivals100 national recruiting list and is the top player in Texas. He committed to Oklahoma on March 10, spurning Florida, LSU, Alabama and Texas A&M, among others. Calhoun met Peterson on a recruiting visit to Oklahoma. Calhoun said he felt tiny next to Peterson. "He's a beast," Calhoun said. "He makes me look bad. I saw muscles I never knew we had on our bodies." Calhoun said he doesn't want OU fans to expect another Peterson. Calhoun said he's more of a finesse runner, while Peterson attacks. "You can't compare someone to another man," he said. Going into his junior season, Calhoun never thought he'd be the No. 1 running back in the state. When Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops visited Van High School, "It kind of hit me hard," Calhoun said. The school for which Calhoun grew up wanting to play – Texas – didn't offer a scholarship because of academic concerns, [Blake] Pennington said. (In parts and more at Dallas Morning News)
Oklahoma's Incoming QB Commitment Jones unfazed by NCAA: His [Landry Jones] commitment to play football at Oklahoma remained firm. His respect for the coaching staff and players didn't budge. He was prepared. "It didn't bother me at all," Jones, a four-star prospect from Artesia (N.M.), said of the penalties levied by the NCAA against OU. "The coaches had already told us what was going to go on through all of this." The prospect continued by saying, "There are three guys battling for a position this year. If I want to come in and hopefully start my freshman year, I have to be focused in the offseason." (NewsOK.com)
Muskogee wide receiver prospect, Jameel Owens told The Oklahoman quote:
"At first I was thinking pretty hard on it. OU is going to be one of the top schools on my lists, but if they would have lost any bowl games, I would have had to change my list. But what they got hit with, it didn't really affect me. Losing two scholarships just means they have to do a better job of recruiting.”
Four Sooner Commitments invited to play ESPN's All-American Game: National recruiting analysts and talent evaluators from ESPN Scouts, Inc., will select players for both team rosters from among The ESPN 150, a nationwide ranking of top prep football prospects. A total of 80-84 players will be invited, with all players having the opportunity to also participate in a multi-faceted skills competition, which will be televised Friday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, will provide extensive coverage of the event throughout the week, including team practice sessions. (ESPN PR)
List of players scheduled/confirmed to play..
Dwayne Allen TE Fayetteville, NC
Blake Ayles TE Orange, Calif.
Jonathan Baldwin WR Aliquippa, Pa.
Brandon Barnes ATH Louisburg, N.C.
Xavier Brewer CB Jacksonville, Fla.
Ramon Buchanan OLB Melbourne, Fla.
Jermie Calhoun RB Van, Texas
Nigel Carr OLB Jacksonville, Fla.
Braxston Cave OC Granger, Ind.
Taylor Cook QB Eagle Lake, Texas
Keanon Cooper OLB Dallas, Texas
Aundre Dean RB Katy, Texas
Vaughn Dotsy OG Ventura, Calif.
Dee Finley FS Auburn, Ala.
Daniel Franklin LB Clarkesville, Ga.
A.J. Green WR Ridgeville, S.C.
Braden Hanson QB Charlotte, N.C.
Brandon Harris CB Miami, Fla.
Antoine Hicks ATH Arlington, Texas
Will Hill ATH West Orange, N.J.
Jarvis Humphrey DT Cedar Hill, Texas
Julio Jones WR Foley, Ala.
Landry Jones QB Artesia, N.M.
Neiko Lipscomb DB Tucker, Ga.
Tyler Love OT Birmingham, Ala.
Jon Major OLB Parker, Colo.
E.J. Manuel QB Virginia Beach, Va.
Michael Matt FB Jeanette, Pa.
# Antoine McClain OT Anniston, Ala.
Terrance Parks DB Fairborn, Ga.
Burton Scott WR Prichard, Ala.
Jamoris Slaughter FS Stone Mountain, Ga.
Kye Staley RB Guthrie, Okla.
Andrew Sweat LB Washington, Pa.
Carlton Thomas RB Frostproof, Fla.
Chase Thomas DE Atlanta, Ga.
Brandon Thompson DT Thomasville, Ga.
Courtney Upshaw DE Eufaula, Ala.
Deion Walker WR Christchurch, Va.
Charles Whitlock ATH Chester, S.C.
Christian Wilson LB McKees Rock, Pa.
R.J. Washington DE Fort Worth, Texas
E.J. Woods FS Culver City, Calif.
Players verbally committed to the Sooners in 2008.
Sooners on Maxwell watch list: Two players from Oklahoma and one from Oklahoma State are among those receiving consideration for this year's Maxwell Award. Sooners running back Allen Patrick and wide receiver Malcolm Kelly join Oklahoma State wide receiver Adarius Bowman on the list of 65 players on the watch list for the award given to the college football player of the year. (AP/KOTV)
Mitchell commitments to Oklahoma: Oklahoma continued its string of recent commitments, landing Spring (Texas) Westfield safety Herman Mitchell late Wednesday. The three-star prospect amassed 121 tackles during his junior season in which he was named to the All-Texas team. He holds offers from several other Big 12 schools. Mitchell's announcement marks the 14th commitment for the Sooners this recruiting season, doubling the number of commitments Bob Stoops had garnered by this time last summer. (NewsOK.com) Oklahoma Sooners recruiting commitments.. Why Oklahoma has recently lost its luster and more: SI.com
University of Oklahoma reports violations, distributing banned supplements: Football players at Oklahoma were given two nutritional supplements banned by the NCAA before the school's compliance department detected the error and stopped the practice. According to documents obtained Tuesday through an open records request by The Associated Press, Oklahoma self-reported to the Big 12 Conference that it committed a secondary violation of NCAA bylaws last fall by providing "two nutritional supplements that contained impermissible substances." Oklahoma blamed one violation on a nutritional company inadvertently shipping a banned substance it identified as "an identical product bearing the same name" as a legal product that had been ordered by the university. In the second instance, Oklahoma reported the football program's strength and conditioning staff failed to review the ingredients of a new nutritional supplement. Both supplements were given to athletes before the mistakes were detected during a routine check by compliance staff. The remainder of the supplements were returned to the company that provided them. (AP/ESPN.com)
OU also reports improper contact: Oklahoma also reported that it committed a secondary violation when co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin called a football prospect the same week coach Bob Stoops had telephoned him and another when three prospects were shown lockers with jerseys featuring the numbers they wore in high school. (AP/ESPN.com)
Sooners land two more Texas recruits: Bob Stoops and Oklahoma just keep getting commitments out of Texas. The Sooners landed two more recruits from the state -- both from the Dallas/Fort Worth area - getting oral commitments from Garland defensive tackle Casey Walker (6-2, 290) and South Garland safety Joseph Ibiloye (6-3, 195). Oral commitments are nonbinding. The first day a recruit in the class of 2008 can sign a national letter of intent is Feb. 6. Walker chose the Sooners over Wisconsin, Boise State, Colorado and Ole Miss. Ibiloye went with the Sooners over Miami, Fla., Southern Cal and Texas A&M. (Dallas Morning News)
Reggie Smith on Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list: Oklahoma cornerback Reggie Smith has been named to watch list for the 2007 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football by the Football Writers Association of America. Smith is one of 49 players on the initial list. A junior, Smith was a first-team All-Big 12 selection by the Associated Press and a second-team pick by league coaches. (NewsOK.com)
