Justice Hansen wants to enjoy the ride of recruiting; Despite family history, Sooners aren’t favored
Edmond Santa Fe quarterback Justice Hansen is playing basketball after recovering from a groin injury. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Edmond Santa Fe quarterback Justice Hansen got his first college football scholarship offer from Missouri at the school’s Junior Day last weekend, but he isn’t planning on making any decisions anytime soon at all.
The Missouri offer is likely the first of dozens Hansen will receive.
As a sophomore and first-year starter in 2011, Hansen was a force through the air and on the ground as the Wolves went 10-2 and were district champions.
“I’ve got two years,” Hansen said. “I want to go through the ride and see what all happens.”
Hansen grew up an Oklahoma fan, and his dad Dusty was on the Sooners’ 1994 national championship baseball team. He said he dreamed of playing football at OU when he was younger, but now OU isn’t a team he is sitting around waiting for.
“OU isn’t really favored at all,” Hansen said. “I want to weigh all the options I get and go where I can excel the most.”
He said he’s received letters from several schools, but hasn’t had more contact than that with any program except Missouri.
MORE ON THE OFFER
Hansen wasn’t expecting anything more than a campus tour when he accepted an invitation to Missouri’s Junior Day.
But Pinkel made Missouri the first school to offer a scholarship to Hansen, who
“It was pretty crazy,” Hansen said. “I just figured I’d go up there and look around; I didn’t expect anything like that.”
Hansen said Pinkel had seen film of some of the Wolves’ games from last season. The sophomore quarterback added that he thinks the Tigers’ recruitment of defensive end Michael Onuoha, who signed with OU, helped him get noticed.
“I think because they had been breaking down film of Mike, they got interested,” he said.
After Pinkel made the offer, he took in the Tigers’ mens’ basketball game win over Baylor and met with current Missouri quarterback James Franklin.
“I talked to him for a while,” Hansen said. “He was a great guy.”
PLAYING THROUGH PAIN
Hansen admitted that he finished last season with a groin injury, and played through it “the last few weeks of the season.”
Weeks would start out painful on Mondays, and the groin would gradually get worked out throughout the week as he practiced.
Then, the process would start over.
“At first, they were thinking it was a hernia,” he said. “It was probably a pretty bad pull or a slight tear.”
Hansen missed the first part of basketball season because of the injury, but is now back at full strength.
“It’s another game you have to compete for,” Hansen said of playing hoops, adding that the constant running in basketball is helping him stay in shape.
He is pretty fired up, though, to return to the gridiron. The Wolves were 1-9 in 2010, but made a drastic turnaround in Hansen’s first year under center.
“That was the funnest football season I’ve ever played in,” he said. “I can’t wait to get back in there, build on that and see what we can do this next year.”
Jason Kerseyjkersey@opubco.com
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Edmond Santa Fe’s Justice Hansen picks up first offer
Edmond Santa Fe quarterback Justice Hansen picked up a Missouri offer on Saturday. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Edmond Santa Fe quarterback Justice Hansen picked up his first college football scholarship offer from Missouri during a visit there Saturday, he said in a text message to The Oklahoman.
Hansen was one of the state’s top sophomores in 2011 and was a key part of Edmond Santa Fe’s turnaround from 1-9 in 2010 to 10-2 this season.
As a sophomore and first-year starter, Hansen threw for 2,558 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also rushed for 529 yards and eight scores.
Hansen’s offer came during Missouri’s Junior Day, which he was invited to even though he is a sophomore.
Hansen is widely considered one of the state’s top prospects for the class of 2014.
Kooper Ruminer is the Super Bowl picks winner
Deer Creek's Kooper Ruminer correctly picked the final score of Super Bowl XLVI. PHOTO PROVIDED
Out of 28 high school football players who participated in my Super Bowl XLVI picks challenge, Deer Creek linebacker Kooper Ruminer is the only one who correctly picked the New York Giants’ winning score of 21-17.
The Giants were the underdog in these picks; 16 of the 28 guys who participated picked the New England Patriots to win. Besides Ruminer, those who picked the Giants to win were:
Joel Blumenthal (Deer Creek); Landry Chappell (Guthrie); Casey Curtis (Putnam City); James Flanders (Midwest City); Justice Hansen (Edmond Santa Fe); Ry Huff (Edmond Memorial); Blake Jarwin (Tuttle); Jared McElhany (Blanchard); Tyler Melton (Anadarko); Jesse Vester (Stillwater); Josh Way (Wayne).
A big thanks to everyone who participated. That was fun, and I plan to do it again next year. Although next year, I won’t wait until the night before to contact players! Hopefully in the future we have a lot more pickers.
Ruminer was No. 19 on The Oklahoman‘s first Super 30 for the Class of 2013, which ranks the top 30 college football prospects in the state. He led Deer Creek with 125 tackles and 10 sacks as a junior.
Edmond Memorial’s Woodard brothers take over; Jordan to visit Memphis on Saturday
Edmond Memorial's James Woodard had 22 points in a win over Del City on Friday.
Edmond Memorial senior James Woodard knows that as the season goes on, he’s going to be asked to play inside at times, and help to power the team’s rebounding efforts. As one of the tallest players on the team at 6-foot-3, he draws the job almost by default.
His athleticism and long arms help the cause, too. But more than any of those things, it was his pure effort that made the difference on Friday night. He was going to the boards hard on both ends of the floor, and his offensive game was on point, as well.
He and little brother Jordan Woodard put on quite a show, especially in the second half, when they accounted for all but four of the Bulldogs’ points to put Del City away.
Here’s what I wrote about the game for Saturday’s newspaper:
With their team in a tight ballgame against the only team to beat them this year, second-ranked Edmond Memorial’s brother duo of James and Jordan Woodard took control.
The brothers combined for 25 of the Bulldogs’ 29 points in the second half Friday night on the way to a 60-48 win over Class 5A’s No. 1 team, Del City.
“It’s almost tournament time, so coach (Shane Cowherd) preaches to us every day that everybody’s got to elevate our game right now,” said Jordan Woodard, who had 18 points. “We’re just trying to click every game from now on, until the championship game.”
Del City defeated the Bulldogs in December, and Memorial didn’t want to experience that again. James Woodard had 22 points and worked hard going after rebounds.
“When we lost to them, rebounding hurt us,” he said. “We knew we had to play harder than them and hustle harder than them to get rebounds, because that’s how we win.”
Sophomore Brett Cannon led Del City with 15 points.
After the game, Jordan Woodard was scheduled to leave for an unofficial visit at the University of Memphis. The Tigers, along with Oklahoma and San Francisco, have offered the junior a scholarship.
Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger has been out to see Jordan play multiple times, keeping a close eye on one of his prime in-state targets, and Kansas coach Bill Self continues to show strong interest.
Other than the eight-hour car ride in the middle of the night, Jordan was looking forward to the opportunity to check out Memphis, which hosts Xavier on Saturday.
“We’ve been planning this trip for a long time, but the season has been hectic,” he said. “This is the perfect opportunity for me to get out there. It’s gonna feel good going out there after a win. I’m pretty excited.”
Self was in town to see Woodard score 29 points in a win over Edmond Santa Fe two weeks ago. Though Kansas hasn’t offered a scholarship yet, Self told Woodard that he would continue to keep in touch with him, and he wants Woodard to schedule a trip to the campus as well.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK
Sheldon Wilson headlines impressive Northeastern Oklahoma A&M class
Anadarko running back Sheldon Wilson is part of an impressive Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Class of 2012. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Anadarko running back Sheldon Wilson isn’t used to competing for playing time.
After signing Wednesday with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, he’ll have to put in extra work as he fights for carries with other top backs the Norsemen signed.
“I’m gonna love that,” Wilson said. “I’ve never really had to compete for carries, so getting pushed and competing every day will make me better.”
Putnam City running back Casey Curtis, who rushed for 1,805 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior, signed with NEO on Wednesday, as did Edmond North’s Jared Benway and Broken Bow’s Eric Dockins.
Wilson rushed for 3,335 yards and set state records with 57 rushing and 64 total touchdowns as a senior on Anadarko’s first state championship football team.
After the season, he was named The Oklahoman’s 2011 All-State Offensive Player of the Year.
Dale Patterson first recruiting class in his second stint as NEO’s coach was impressive beyond running backs.
NEO signed three top Oklahoma high school quarterbacks in McAlester’s Tony Kiefer, Owasso’s Kason Key and Mustang’s Brandon Taylor.
Four Edmond North seniors — Benway, tight end Troy Davis and offensive linemen Trevor Barron and Will Wiedenmann — also signed with NEO.
Other city-area prospects who signed with the Norsemen include Midwest City defensive back Ronnie Davis, Oklahoma Christian School kicker Keegan Carter and Kingfisher offensive lineman Hunter Endres.
The amount of talent NEO signed has Wilson thinking title.
“Looking at these guys, we might be able to win a little championship up there,” Wilson said.
Wilson will be joined at NEO by two of his Anadarko teammates, offensive lineman Randy Martinez and linebacker Wes Satoe.
“That’s really cool to go up there with teammates I know,” Wilson said. “I don’t have to go up there and feel like I don’t know anybody.”
Jason Kersey
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Mount St. Mary to honor Mike de la Garza at halftime of Friday’s basketball game
Former Edmond Memorial basketball coach and athletic director Mike de la Garza will be honored at halftime of Friday's Mount St. Mary boys basketball game. De la Garza graduated from St. Mary and began his coaching career there. PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Mount St. Mary will honor Mike de la Garza at halftime of its boys basketball game against Oklahoma Christian School on Friday.
De la Garza, who was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame last July, is a 1964 Mount St. Mary graduate. He began his coaching career as the Rockets’ boys basketball coach in 1969 before going on to coach at Edmond for more than 20 years.
He led the school to the 1993 state championship, and was Edmond Memorial’s athletic director when it took home its next boys basketball state title in 2011. He retired in May.
St. Mary will host a reception at 7 p.m. in the school’s Mollman Fitness Center for all of de la Garza’s former Rockets players and classmates.
Michael Onuoha ’50-50′ on decision between Oklahoma and Missouri after visits
When Michael Onuoha walked into Missouri’s facilities last weekend for his official visit, he got some stares.
“A couple people were looking at me like I had something on my face,” the Edmond Santa Fe senior said. “I was like, ‘Why are they staring at me?’”
Finally, one Missouri player spoke up.
“Hey dude, you look like Aldon Smith,” the player said.
Onuoha wasn’t exactly sure who Smith was, but looked him up. After deciding he looks nothing like him — “I think I look like Michael, not Aldon Smith” — he realized what they were talking about.
Smith came to Missouri in 2008 raw, fairly thin and with long arms after getting a late start in his high school football career because basketball was his first love. Just like Onuoha.
In 2011, as a rookie for the San Francisco 49ers, Smith recorded 37 tackles, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and 14 sacks
Onuoha (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) visited Oklahoma this weekend, and said he is “50-50″ on which offer he will sign on Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
“I’m from Oklahoma,” Onuoha said. “Everybody that i met down there said it’s a great place, and said I should stay in Oklahoma because I’m an Oklahoman.”
Onuoha burst onto the recruiting scene after a strong performance at Oklahoma’s summer camp. He didn’t play much his junior year because of an injury.
As a senior, Onuoha recorded 87 tackles and six sacks.
He got his first offer in early December from Missouri, then the Sooners offered just after the new year.
Missouri and Oklahoma each have two current defensive ends commitments in their classes of 2012
Edmond North’s Jared Benway, Troy Davis commit to NEO
Edmond North's Jared Benway has committed to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
The number of Oklahoma high school football standouts committing to begin their college football careers at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M continues to grow.
Edmond North running back Jared Benway and tight end Troy Davis both committed to the Miami, OK, junior college on Saturday.
Benway, who lost his entire junior season to a torn ACL, shared the backfield with speedster Jarion Tudman as a senior. Much of his role was a blocking one, but he also rushed for 574 yards and six touchdowns.
Davis caught 31 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns as a senior. Edmond North finished the season 9-3 with a tough, 17-16 loss in the Class 6A quarterfinals to eventual state champion Tulsa Union.
Edmond North's Troy Davis will also start his college career at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
Benway and Davis’ commitments come after news that Anadarko running back Sheldon Wilson, The Oklahoman‘s 2011 Offensive Player of the Year, and Putnam City running back Casey Curtis were also both committing to NEO.
Oklahoma Christian School kicker Keegan Carter is also starting his college career at the junior college.
Jenkins Award winners named
The Warren Spahn Award Gala organizers announced this year’s winners of the Ferguson Jenkins Awards on Thursday.
The awards honor the state’s best baseball and softball players and coaches.
Baseball winners are Broken Arrow’s Jacob Evans, Carl Albert’s Taylor Hawkins, Stillwater’s Corey Hassel, Deer Creek’s Isaac Hellbusch and Edmond Santa Fe’s Ty Hensley.
Softball winners are Tulsa Union’s Nicole Brady, McAlester’s Taylor Dewberry, Edmond Santa Fe’s Madison Martin, Blanchard’s Leslie Miller and Tuttle’s Caitlin Sill.
Guthrie baseball coach Jon Chappell and Tulsa Union softball coach Jerry Pease won coaching honors.
The awards will be presented at the gala Jan. 26 at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Museum, the same ceremony where Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw will be awarded the Warren Spahn Award.
McDonald’s All-American nominees announced
The nominees for the 2012 McDonald’s All-American game were announced Wednesday.
The 24 boys and girls selected to participate in the All-American Game will be announced at 4 p.m. Feb. 9 on ESPNU. This year’s games will be held March 28 in Chicago, with the girls game tipping off at 6 p.m., followed by the boys at 8:30.
Only Texas and Iowa had more nominations on the girls side than Oklahoma’s 26.
Boys
Nino Jackson, Ardmore
Terrell Savala, Edmond Memorial
Austin Thrash, Cheyenne
James Woodard, Edmond Memorial
Girls
Kate Andrews, McGuinness
Kelsey Barnwell, Kansas
Ashley Clark, Midwest City
Taylor Cooper, Shawnee
Courtney Cowan, Kansas
Alie Decker, Edmond Memorial
Quira Demery, Millwood
I’Knique Gaines, Tulsa East Central
Mariah Gilliam, Tulsa Washington
Daisha Gonzaque, Edmond Santa Fe
LaShanda Green, McAlester
Kelsey Grovey, Shawnee
Elyse Hight, McGuinness
Sydney Hill, Edmond Memorial
Shelley Knight, Wayne
Deena Manning, Wayne
Madison Mercado, Sapulpa
LaNesha Middleton, Stillwater
Bria Pitts, Tulsa East Central
Caitlyn Ramirez, Shawnee
Toni Smith, Del City
Caitlyn Spurgeon, Vinita
Jordynn VanPelt, Snyder
Courtney Walker, Edmond Santa Fe
Antoinet Webster, Western Heights
Adriana White, Midwest City
