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CoSooner
11/7/2005, 10:30 PM
The following article is from ESPNinsider
By Craig Haubert
Scouts Inc.


Pack up the wagons because this national recruiting trip is pulling into Oklahoma, and it looks like we will get there a little early. All jokes aside, Oklahoma is a state to not be taken lightly in the world of college football recruiting. Although Oklahoma is not the biggest state and doesn't have a huge population, it annually turns out top talent.


This state shares a great football tradition in the college and high school ranks. The University of Oklahoma is a major player on the college football landscape and boasts a deep history. The Sooners have had four Heisman trophy winners, won seven national titles and Oklahoma is also the home of the Boz, the Bootlegger Barry Switzer and the wishbone. Fellow Big 12 member Oklahoma State was home to possibly the greatest running back in the history of college football, Barry Sanders. The state has been the birthplace of five Pro Football Hall of Famers including legends Steve Largent, Dan Hampton and Lee Roy Selmon. One of those Hall of Famers was America's first great athlete, Jim Thorpe from Prague.

Several Oklahoma natives are NFL stars today, like tight end Jeremy Shockey, guard Will Shields and safety Mike Minter. Football is a major part of residents' lives in Oklahoma, and Friday nights in this state rival that of any other. Oklahoma has several top prospects in the 2006 class, including three players in the ESPN 150.



Players to Watch
Gerald McCoy is the No. 2-rated defensive tackle in this class. McCoy, out of Southeast High in Oklahoma City, has a wonderful combination of size and quickness. He can control a gap for a defense but is athletic enough to get penetration. He plays hard and pursues to the ball. He is also a dangerous pass rusher who can defeat blockers with moves or just get push.

Another top prospect that plays along the defensive line is end Derek Burton out of Muskogee. Burton, the No. 75-rated prospect, is an explosive and physical player. He plays with a motor and can control the line of scrimmage at the point of attack.

The third ESPN 150 player is Jermaine Gresham from Ardmore. Right now, he is a 'tweener between the tight end and receiver positions, but he will probably grow into a tight end in college. Gresham has excellent athletic ability and height. He can stretch the field and create mismatches for a defense.


Defensive end Chase Nelson out of Tulsa (Tulsa Union) is another top prospect along the defensive line. Nelson has great size and is explosive out of his stance. He possesses good running ability but also shows that he can control the line of scrimmage.

The state also has talent in the defensive secondary with three good corners. One is Dominique Franks, a teammate of Nelson's at Tulsa Union. Franks is a rangy, smooth player who is a solid cover guy and is also good in run support. He displays good quickness, footwork and speed.

George West is a good corner out of Northeast High in Oklahoma City. He is undersized, but is a tough, feisty playmaker who plays bigger then he is. He is also an explosive punt returner.

Laron Moore (Midwest City) is an excellent overall athlete who we feel will project best as a corner in college. He is exceptionally fast and quick.

Staying on the defensive side of the ball, Brandon Crow out of Comanche is a good linebacker prospect. Crow has good quickness and very good running ability and a nose for the ball.


Turning our attention to the offensive side of the ball, we take a look at a talented player in the trenches. It is not always easy to find a high school center that has Division I size and ability, but Chad Roark (Ada) is one. Roark is a very versatile player who could play anywhere along the line. As a center, he has the size to anchor down versus nose tackles and the leg drive to add push in the run game.

Another good big man is Myron McKinney out of Putnam City North in Oklahoma City. He is an athletic lineman with good size who could be a nice fit at several spots along the line.

Wide receiver Kenny Brown, a teammate of McKinney's, is a natural pass-catcher with great size. He is a pretty polished player that excels at catching the jump ball. He's a player with a bright future ahead of him.

Another talented offensive member of Putnam City North High is quarterback Sam Bradford. He is a tall, lanky player with excellent field vision and a quick release. Bradford is a proven winner and leader and those are always qualities you like in your signal caller.

A pair of talented running backs in the state are Mossis Madu (Norman) and Josh Johnson (Ponca City). Johnson is a back who surprises with his versatility as both an inside and outside runner. He is always moving north and south. Madu could play several positions and his athleticism and speed make him a big-play threat at all times.


Sleeper Player
Dakota Lewis out of Sulphur High could be considered a sleeper. He might never be a among the college football elite, but the instate schools might be sorry they let Lewis slip away to Big 12 rival Kansas. Lewis is a football player. He flies around the field and he has a physical nature and an aggressive style. He can contribute on defense and special teams and, depending on team needs, could also develop into a good fullback.


Collegiate Recruiting Landscape
Top programs across the nation will always keep an eye on Oklahoma for top prospects. An example of that is the verbal comittment that George West gave Notre Dame. However, this state is owned by its three instate schools (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tulsa) and the rest of the Big 12. Oklahoma leads the way with three commitments from instate players. Chad Roark, Sam Bradford and Brandon Crow have all given verbals to the Sooners. Oklahoma really fought for two of its instate commitments: Both Roark (Florida State) and Crow (Texas Tech) committed to other schools, but Oklahoma was able to get them back. Talk about protecting your turf.

Tulsa and Oklahoma State each have one verbal from an instate player. The Cowboys landed hometown guard Jacob Secrest (Stillwater) and Tulsa has a verbal from tight end Logan Cawyer (Commerce).

Texas A&M came into Oklahoma and stole away receiver Kenny Brown. Another Big 12 school with a commitment out of Oklahoma is Iowa State with quarterback Randy Palmer (Tulsa, East Central). Arkansas has also landed a prospect from Oklahoma in offensive tackle Myron McKinney.



Craig Haubert is recruiting coordinator for Scouts Inc.

jreed13
11/7/2005, 10:45 PM
Anyone know why OU hasnt offered LaRon Moore?

Harry Beanbag
11/8/2005, 06:56 AM
Probably because he's really small. Sounds like they're reevaluating him now though so it may happen.

oumartin
11/8/2005, 08:51 AM
I say we recruite another roy williams, antoine savage, josh norman, curtis fagan, damian mackey, josh heupel, q, rocky calmus, teddy lehman and derris straight.

Harry Beanbag
11/8/2005, 09:39 AM
I say we recruite another roy williams, antoine savage, josh norman, curtis fagan, damian mackey, josh heupel, q, rocky calmus, teddy lehman and derris straight.

Okay, but only two of those guys were from Oklahoma.

jkm, the stolen pifwafwi
11/8/2005, 01:52 PM
and humorously only one of them was on a top 150 list. the question is can you name him?

Spray
11/8/2005, 02:38 PM
Savage?

Harry Beanbag
11/8/2005, 03:06 PM
and humorously only one of them was on a top 150 list. the question is can you name him?
If I had to guess I would say Mackey or Savage.

Savage was a QB in high school so he was a wasted scholarship anyway. ;)

Widescreen
11/8/2005, 03:07 PM
TGRW? Wasn't it Roy that was being recruited and he got Mackey in too? Or was it the other way around?

OUthunder
11/8/2005, 03:16 PM
Nice read.

BASSooner
11/8/2005, 03:54 PM
it's either calmus or strait

jreed13
11/8/2005, 04:10 PM
and humorously only one of them was on a top 150 list. the question is can you name him?

Mackey?

jkm, the stolen pifwafwi
11/8/2005, 06:05 PM
nope, josh norman as a fullback...

jkm, the stolen pifwafwi
11/8/2005, 06:14 PM
whoops, looks like that was JOHN norman, his brother. there isn't a single one of those guys on any of the national 100 lists although rocky is listed as an honorable mention at linebacker (as the 35 best linebacker).

BillyBall
11/8/2005, 06:16 PM
Didn't John Norman go to Texas Tech?? I thought I remember hearing something about that when OU went down to Lubbock in 99. I believe they are from the Midland/Odessa area....

jkm, the stolen pifwafwi
11/8/2005, 06:24 PM
yeah, he was the #4 rated DB in the state his senior year (#54 in the nation). he spent his entire career at linebacker.

southern sooner
11/10/2005, 11:07 AM
Do we get any of the top 3???? Any rumors or thoughts?

Herr Scholz
11/10/2005, 02:01 PM
Didn't John Norman go to Texas Tech?? I thought I remember hearing something about that when OU went down to Lubbock in 99. I believe they are from the Midland/Odessa area....
Midland Lee Rebels.