Rhino
6/22/2007, 01:08 PM
Turner Troup (http://hsoklahoma.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=48500)
Linebacker
6'0", 215 lbs., 4.6
Norman (OK)
Troup had 124 tackles and one sack his junior season.
Video:
http://www.rivals.com/video.asp?&sid=48500&vidtype=prospect&vidid=85719
Quotables:
"He's the heart of their defense," Norman North's Blankenship said. "He makes them go. They just wouldn't be near as tough without him."
On why he wears No. 11 (http://newsok.com/article/2951094): "My role model growing up was Teddy Lehman. I grew up a Sooner fan, and I've always been a linebacker. I just always watched him."
Other schools considered:
Buffalo, UCO, NEO, Northeastern
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/275/turnertroupjd200gd2.jpghttp://img511.imageshack.us/img511/2746/turnertroup65200rq5.jpg
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/2125/ttroupqf1.jpg
Troup looking forward to Oil Bowl, OU (http://www.normantranscript.com/sports/local_story_173005616.html)
By Michael Kinney
The Norman Transcript
Turner Troup didn’t grow up dreaming of playing in the Oil Bowl (http://www.oilbowl.com/). In fact, until he attended his first meeting Tuesday, the Norman High product didn’t know very much about the annual game.
But, after a couple days surrounded by some of the best players in the state, Troup is ready to strap on the pads once again.
“The first practice all we were going was half speed,” Troup said. “But it was so much different than what I’m used to. They are so good. It will probably be the toughest team I have ever played against in my whole life.
“It’s very exciting.”
The 69th annual Oil Bowl is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas.
The game does not attract all the state’s premier players like it used to, but the ones who do make the trip find out in a hurry about the tradition that comes with the contest.
“When I got here, I found out about the tradition,” Troup said. “There have been a lot of players that have played in it.”
Some of those players include Justin Fuente, Travis Wilson, Chris Simms (huh?), Wes Welker and J.T Thatcher.
Troup is one of six area players to make the trip and play for Oklahoma. They include Travis Watson (Norman North), Shantel Mackey (Moore), Ryan Fightmaster (Westmoore), Ian Harrison (Westmoore) and Colby Whitlock (Noble).
Troup and Fightmaster, however, are the only two who haven’t signed national letters of intent to play college football. Troup said he had offers, but only one of those peaked his interest, only to fall through.
“I had offers from Division II schools such as UCO, NEO and Northeastern,” Troup said. “I took a visit to Buffalo University in New York. They are D-I. But it didn’t work out. I thought I was going to get an offer, but they offered it to someone else.”
Still, not ready to give up the game, Troup was without a home. But that was before he spoke to Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables.
“Coach Venables offered me a chance to walk on,” Troup said. “That is my dream and where my heart is. I have always dreamed of playing for OU.”
Troup knows it will take a lot of work to earn his way on the field, but he’s looking forward to putting in the hours.
“If I didn’t think I could make the team, I wouldn’t do it,” Troup said. “It was the best decision for me. It’s what makes me happy.”
Norman standout looking to draw offers from big-name schools as season nears end (http://www.oklahomanonline.net/article/2969335)
By Justin Harper
Staff Writer
NORMAN — Turner Troup is too unassuming. Too modest and too quiet. Too, dare we say, polite. So, he's not exactly getting noticed in the way one would expect after seeing him smear helmet paint on Friday nights.
Well, hold up a minute. For clarification purposes, we're talking about notice from Division I-A coaches.
Opponents? That's a different story. Those guys see Norman High's facemask-bending terror in their sleep before and after games.
Three coaches in District 6A-2 who have watched Troup in a game have said he's as good as they come in the state. Maybe the best in Class 6A, too.
And Norman North, the Tigers' archrival who will hit Harve Collins Field at 7:30 tonight for the first NHS-Norman North postseason football game in history, wouldn't deny that Troup can bring the pain.
"He's a hard hitter," said Norman North standout Beau Blankenship, who has run for a school-record 1,320 yards this season.
So, what's the deal with the recruitment of Troup? The kid has size (6-foot-1, 213 pounds) and room to grow. He's averaged more than 12 tackles per game (124 total), and he's got the ever-important physical tests scores.
Attending the Nike camp last summer (with a pulled hamstring), the senior was top-five among linebackers in vertical jump (33.5 inches) and in the shuttle run. As for speed, well, when he's not throwing the shot or discus for the Norman track team, he runs the 100-meter dash.
"He's got all the tools," Norman coach Butch Peters said. "I don't know what (college) coaches are waiting on."
Having been at Norman High since 1973, Peters has seen a few rather stout linebackers in his tenure — All-Americans and/or All-Staters such as Sonny Feexico, Danny Ledbetter, Kalim Underwood, Teddy McDade, Bruce Compton and Nathan Arnold.
But, of course, one Tigers linebacker stands out above all others — Tyrell Peters. The former Norman and OU star led the Tigers to the 1992 state championship. He is the player all other Norman High linebackers are measured against.
Peters owns the Norman record for single-season tackles at 152 (set in 14 games). Troup logged 140 last season and is at 124 this year. If he maintains his per-game average and fifth-ranked Norman (9-1) makes the Class 6A semifinals, the record will change hands.
Peters, a three-year starter, also holds the career tackles record of 319. Troup, a two-year starter, has 264 stops, 55 behind the record.
"That's a lot of history for what he's done in two years," coach Peters said. "We're stingy with our tackles. Some people give you a tackle if you just touch the pile. You have to bring the guy down to get a tackle with us."
Troup, who considers more-recent Tigers such as Matt Tullius, Scott Secrest and T.J. Leon as role models, is unaccustomed to excess attention. He's playing on the same team with star recruit Ryan Broyles, a defensive back. But, while Broyles is Norman High's most-gifted defender, Troup might be its most valuable.
"He's the heart of their defense," Norman North's Blankenship said. "He makes them go. They just wouldn't be near as tough without him."
The state's directional colleges — Northwestern State, East Central, etc. — are begging for Troup. But he's hoping for something more. Dartmouth, Rice, Kansas and Colorado State have been in touch, but they are giving him the old, "wait-and-see-if-someone-falls-through" speech.
Maybe that will change after this week.
"I've never really gotten that much publicity — and that's fine," he said. "But there was a story about me in the paper before we played Norman North in the first game of the season and another one before we played Midwest City. Both times, I just had more confidence. I was like, ‘I'm being recognized. I have to live up to it.'"
His performance against Norman North in the season-opener: 14 tackles, two pass breakups, a sack and a forced fumble. Against Midwest City: 20 tackles.
As said before, Troup's a modest kid. His numbers just don't comply.
Linebacker
6'0", 215 lbs., 4.6
Norman (OK)
Troup had 124 tackles and one sack his junior season.
Video:
http://www.rivals.com/video.asp?&sid=48500&vidtype=prospect&vidid=85719
Quotables:
"He's the heart of their defense," Norman North's Blankenship said. "He makes them go. They just wouldn't be near as tough without him."
On why he wears No. 11 (http://newsok.com/article/2951094): "My role model growing up was Teddy Lehman. I grew up a Sooner fan, and I've always been a linebacker. I just always watched him."
Other schools considered:
Buffalo, UCO, NEO, Northeastern
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/275/turnertroupjd200gd2.jpghttp://img511.imageshack.us/img511/2746/turnertroup65200rq5.jpg
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/2125/ttroupqf1.jpg
Troup looking forward to Oil Bowl, OU (http://www.normantranscript.com/sports/local_story_173005616.html)
By Michael Kinney
The Norman Transcript
Turner Troup didn’t grow up dreaming of playing in the Oil Bowl (http://www.oilbowl.com/). In fact, until he attended his first meeting Tuesday, the Norman High product didn’t know very much about the annual game.
But, after a couple days surrounded by some of the best players in the state, Troup is ready to strap on the pads once again.
“The first practice all we were going was half speed,” Troup said. “But it was so much different than what I’m used to. They are so good. It will probably be the toughest team I have ever played against in my whole life.
“It’s very exciting.”
The 69th annual Oil Bowl is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas.
The game does not attract all the state’s premier players like it used to, but the ones who do make the trip find out in a hurry about the tradition that comes with the contest.
“When I got here, I found out about the tradition,” Troup said. “There have been a lot of players that have played in it.”
Some of those players include Justin Fuente, Travis Wilson, Chris Simms (huh?), Wes Welker and J.T Thatcher.
Troup is one of six area players to make the trip and play for Oklahoma. They include Travis Watson (Norman North), Shantel Mackey (Moore), Ryan Fightmaster (Westmoore), Ian Harrison (Westmoore) and Colby Whitlock (Noble).
Troup and Fightmaster, however, are the only two who haven’t signed national letters of intent to play college football. Troup said he had offers, but only one of those peaked his interest, only to fall through.
“I had offers from Division II schools such as UCO, NEO and Northeastern,” Troup said. “I took a visit to Buffalo University in New York. They are D-I. But it didn’t work out. I thought I was going to get an offer, but they offered it to someone else.”
Still, not ready to give up the game, Troup was without a home. But that was before he spoke to Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables.
“Coach Venables offered me a chance to walk on,” Troup said. “That is my dream and where my heart is. I have always dreamed of playing for OU.”
Troup knows it will take a lot of work to earn his way on the field, but he’s looking forward to putting in the hours.
“If I didn’t think I could make the team, I wouldn’t do it,” Troup said. “It was the best decision for me. It’s what makes me happy.”
Norman standout looking to draw offers from big-name schools as season nears end (http://www.oklahomanonline.net/article/2969335)
By Justin Harper
Staff Writer
NORMAN — Turner Troup is too unassuming. Too modest and too quiet. Too, dare we say, polite. So, he's not exactly getting noticed in the way one would expect after seeing him smear helmet paint on Friday nights.
Well, hold up a minute. For clarification purposes, we're talking about notice from Division I-A coaches.
Opponents? That's a different story. Those guys see Norman High's facemask-bending terror in their sleep before and after games.
Three coaches in District 6A-2 who have watched Troup in a game have said he's as good as they come in the state. Maybe the best in Class 6A, too.
And Norman North, the Tigers' archrival who will hit Harve Collins Field at 7:30 tonight for the first NHS-Norman North postseason football game in history, wouldn't deny that Troup can bring the pain.
"He's a hard hitter," said Norman North standout Beau Blankenship, who has run for a school-record 1,320 yards this season.
So, what's the deal with the recruitment of Troup? The kid has size (6-foot-1, 213 pounds) and room to grow. He's averaged more than 12 tackles per game (124 total), and he's got the ever-important physical tests scores.
Attending the Nike camp last summer (with a pulled hamstring), the senior was top-five among linebackers in vertical jump (33.5 inches) and in the shuttle run. As for speed, well, when he's not throwing the shot or discus for the Norman track team, he runs the 100-meter dash.
"He's got all the tools," Norman coach Butch Peters said. "I don't know what (college) coaches are waiting on."
Having been at Norman High since 1973, Peters has seen a few rather stout linebackers in his tenure — All-Americans and/or All-Staters such as Sonny Feexico, Danny Ledbetter, Kalim Underwood, Teddy McDade, Bruce Compton and Nathan Arnold.
But, of course, one Tigers linebacker stands out above all others — Tyrell Peters. The former Norman and OU star led the Tigers to the 1992 state championship. He is the player all other Norman High linebackers are measured against.
Peters owns the Norman record for single-season tackles at 152 (set in 14 games). Troup logged 140 last season and is at 124 this year. If he maintains his per-game average and fifth-ranked Norman (9-1) makes the Class 6A semifinals, the record will change hands.
Peters, a three-year starter, also holds the career tackles record of 319. Troup, a two-year starter, has 264 stops, 55 behind the record.
"That's a lot of history for what he's done in two years," coach Peters said. "We're stingy with our tackles. Some people give you a tackle if you just touch the pile. You have to bring the guy down to get a tackle with us."
Troup, who considers more-recent Tigers such as Matt Tullius, Scott Secrest and T.J. Leon as role models, is unaccustomed to excess attention. He's playing on the same team with star recruit Ryan Broyles, a defensive back. But, while Broyles is Norman High's most-gifted defender, Troup might be its most valuable.
"He's the heart of their defense," Norman North's Blankenship said. "He makes them go. They just wouldn't be near as tough without him."
The state's directional colleges — Northwestern State, East Central, etc. — are begging for Troup. But he's hoping for something more. Dartmouth, Rice, Kansas and Colorado State have been in touch, but they are giving him the old, "wait-and-see-if-someone-falls-through" speech.
Maybe that will change after this week.
"I've never really gotten that much publicity — and that's fine," he said. "But there was a story about me in the paper before we played Norman North in the first game of the season and another one before we played Midwest City. Both times, I just had more confidence. I was like, ‘I'm being recognized. I have to live up to it.'"
His performance against Norman North in the season-opener: 14 tackles, two pass breakups, a sack and a forced fumble. Against Midwest City: 20 tackles.
As said before, Troup's a modest kid. His numbers just don't comply.