OSU insider in-depth: Larry Stephens
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
With recruiting season in full swing, I will be evaluating all 26 prospects who are currently committed to the Oklahoma State football program. I will go in alphabetical order and will post three or four evaluations per day during the next week.
My evaluations will conclude tomorrow when I rank OSU’s commitments including their chances of having an immediate impact in Stillwater.
Larry Stephens, Galena Park (Texas) North Shore
Position: Cornerback
Ht, Wt: 5-10, 180
Vitals: 4.6 in 40
Picked OSU over… Baylor, Houston, SMU, Miami (Ohio)
Pros: Stephens is a playmaker with excellent ball skills. As a defender, he goes after the ball when it is in the air as if he’s the intended receiver. He has good athleticism, coverage ability and is a willing tackler. Willing to be physical around the line of scrimmage both in pass coverage and the run game.
Cons: Does not possess elite speed.
Expect an impact in… 2011. I’d expect Stephens to redshirt but since the Cowboys need additional depth at cornerback, he could play as a true freshman.
Here are some highlights of North Shore and Stephens:
OSU insider in-depth: Nathan Sorenson
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
With recruiting season in full swing, I will be evaluating all 26 prospects who are currently committed to the Oklahoma State football program. I will go in alphabetical order and will post three or four evaluations per day during the next week.
My evaluations will conclude next Friday when I rank OSU’s commitments including their chances of having an immediate impact in Stillwater.
Nathan Sorenson, Texarkana (Texas) Texas High
Position: Quarterback
Ht, Wt: 6-3, 200
Vitals: 4.5 in 40, 34-inch vertical
Picked OSU over… TCU
Pros: Sorenson is a special, unique talent. He is a passer who can run — not a runner who can pass — which is unusual and difficult to find. Very athletic and a winner. Very good passing skills and solid running skills. Has the potential to be a special player and multi-year starter for OSU.
Cons: It will take a while for him to get used to college football and could use a redshirt year to get comfortable but the Cowboys may not have that luxury.
Expect an impact in… late 2010 or early 2011. It all depends on how quickly he gets familiar with the offense, Sorenson has the physical tools. It will be hard to keep him off the field once he gets comfortable in OSU’s system.
Here is Sorenson in action (jump to the 5 min mark):
And more:
Not a Cowboy (or Cowgirl) was stirring…
By John Helsley
Twas the night before … hold it. Won’t do that to you.
It’s been awfully quiet on the OSU sports front, with Cowboys and Cowgirls focused on finals.
No games. No news. None of the essential buzz we all crave.
Ah, but things are about to stir soon, real soon.
Inside Boone Pickens Stadium, Cotton Bowl prep begins this weekend. Will be interesting to see who’s available (Zac Robinson? Brady Bond?) and who’s in limbo (Donald Booker?).
Expect Robinson and Bond to be ready, sooner or later, and defnitely for the clash with Ole Miss. Booker, however, is another matter with a seriously bum ankle. And that’s a potential major loss for a defense that has ridden his energy and production.
After an eight-day layoff between games, the Cowboys resume their early — and unenthusiastic — schedule at home Sunday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Ugh.
Folks, we don’t know much about these Cowboys and likely won’t until Big 12 play opens Jan. 9 against surprising Texas Tech, which is off to a 9-0 start with an impressive win over Washington.
Even when the Pokes have been somewhat challenged, it’s been on the road, at the Las Vegas Invitational and in Tulsa.
This is a bad non-conference home schedule. More on that in Sunday’s Oklahoman.
In some ways, it has served the Cowboys well. Travis Ford has been able to get a good, long, low-pressure look at his cast of newcomers, some of whom are being counted on heavily. Guys like Ray Penn and Fred Gulley and Roger Franklin and Matt Pilgrim.
But at some point, those guys need to face the kind of heat they’ll be seeing in the Big 12. And it’s just not there.
OSU’s remaining non-con schedule: Pine Bluff, at struggling Stanford, vs. LaSalle in the All-College, home against Pacific, at Rhode Island and home against Coppin State.
There’s a strong chance the Cowboys will be 13-1 heading into that league opener against Tech at Gallagher-Iba.
Ford must hope the record isn’t just fool’s gold.
OSU insider in-depth: Tommie Saunders
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
With recruiting season in full swing, I will be evaluating all 26 prospects who are currently committed to the Oklahoma State football program. I will go in alphabetical order and will post three or four evaluations per day during the next week.
My evaluations will conclude next Friday when I rank OSU’s commitments including their chances of having an immediate impact in Stillwater.
Tommie Saunders, San Antonio (Texas) Madison
Position: Linebacker
Ht, Wt: 6-1, 200
Vitals: 4.5 in 40, 33-inch vertical
Picked OSU over… Oklahoma, LSU, Florida State, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Missouri, Arizona, Utah
Pros: Saunders is a very athletic linebacker who could fit in perfectly in the Cowboys system. He may even be able to play a little safety. He is a hard hitter and physical player. The perfect prototype to play linebacker against the explosive spread offenses in college football.
Cons: Could use a year in the weight room, especially to play linebacker in the Big 12.
Expect an impact in… 2010. I could see him playing right away because his athleticism, aggressiveness and hitting ability, but a year in the Cowboys’ strength and conditioning program would be very helpful.
Here’s Saunders in action:
OSU insider in-depth: Joseph Randle
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
With recruiting season in full swing, I will be evaluating all 26 prospects who are currently committed to the Oklahoma State football program. I will go in alphabetical order and will post three or four evaluations per day during the next week.
My evaluations will conclude next Friday when I rank OSU’s commitments including their chances of having an immediate impact in Stillwater.
Joseph Randle, Wichita (Kan.) Southeast
Position: Running back
Ht, Wt: 6-0, 180
Vitals: 4.4 in 40, 35-inch vertical
Picked OSU over… Iowa, Ole Miss, Missouri, Stanford, Texas A&M, Arizona, Boston College and others
Pros: Randle has excellent quickness and elusiveness. He has good size for a running back and very good feet. A slasher who will be a playmaker for the Cowboys and can catch passes out of the backfield. Good vision.
Cons: Not a physical runner. May need to gain a few pounds to handle the pounding of Big 12 football. Doesn’t possess elite breakaway speed.
Expect an impact in… 2010. I see him making an impact as a true freshman on special teams. He has the elusiveness and vision to be a good kick returner.
Here’s a link to a video of Randle in action (he’s the bigger RB wearing No. 1). **It has explicit language so I’ll just provide a link**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj5INFbSMwM
OSU insider in-depth: Joseph Okafor
By Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
With recruiting season in full swing, I will be evaluating all 26 prospects who are currently committed to the Oklahoma State football program. I will go in alphabetical order and will post three or four evaluations per day during the next week.
My evaluations will conclude next Friday when I rank OSU’s commitments including their chances of having an immediate impact in Stillwater.
Joseph Okafor, Houston (Texas) Bellaire
Position: Defensive End
Ht, Wt: 6-6, 231
Vitals: 4.82 in 40, 305 bench, 405 squat
Picked OSU over… LSU, Nebraska, California, Texas Tech, Arkansas
Pros: Okafor has excellent height and good quickness. He’s perfect for the role Ugo Chinasa currently plays in OSU’s system, i.e. a standup defensive end who can rush the passer and drop into coverage. Despite being 6-6, he plays with good leverage.
Cons: Not as relentless as you’d like to see. Could be more aggressive and physical at the point of attack.
Expect an impact in… 2011. If he improves his pass rush skills, he could play right away because 6-6 pass rushers are hard to find. If not, he’ll redshirt and enter the defensive line rotation as a redshirt freshman.
Here are some clips of Okafor in action (#3 in red or white):
OSU insider in-depth: Montra Nelson
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
With recruiting season in full swing, I will be evaluating all 26 prospects who are currently committed to the Oklahoma State football program. I will go in alphabetical order and will post three or four evaluations per day during the next week.
My evaluations will conclude next Friday when I rank OSU’s commitments including their chances of having an immediate impact in Stillwater.
Montra Nelson, Arlington (Texas) Bowie
Position: Receiver
Ht, Wt: 6-3, 221
Vitals: 4.5 in the 40
Picked OSU over… Kansas, Nebraska, TCU
Pros: Nelson is a big, physical receiver who uses his body well and could develop into a key third down and red zone receiving threat. Has very good body control and is a good runner after the catch. Has the size to create instant mismatches against cornerbacks and safeties.
Cons: Not exceptionally fast or quick.
Expect an impact in… 2011. Nelson has the size to play right away but the Cowboys depth and youth at receiver should allow him to redshirt during his first year on campus.
Here’s a short clip of Nelson in action (#9 in orange):
OSU insider in-depth: Steven Maeweather
By Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
With recruiting season in full swing, I will be evaluating all 26 prospects who are currently committed to the Oklahoma State football program. I will go in alphabetical order and will post three or four evaluations per day during the next week.
My evaluations will conclude next Friday when I rank OSU’s commitments including their chances of having an immediate impact in Stillwater.
Steven Maeweather, Houston (Texas) Sharpstown
Position: Linebacker
Ht, Wt: 6-2, 203
Vitals: 4.6 in the 40, 245 bench, 38-inch vertical
Picked OSU over… UCLA, Arkansas, Missouri, Houston, Texas Tech, Arkansas and others.
Pros: Maeweather is an excellent athlete who pursues well to the ball. Active player who is always around the ball. A solid tackler with solid technique who puts himself in good position when approaching a ball carrier.
Cons: Plays high at times which hurts his change-of-direction ability and how quickly he can react to what he sees. A bit undersized for the linebacker spot.
Expect an impact in… 2011. Maeweather looks like a redshirt candidate but has the athletic ability to play his way out of a redshirt, especially with all three starters at linebacker graduating.
Here is Maeweather in action (** there is explicit language on this video, so I will just provide a link for you):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg1HokOo9jA
OSU insider in-depth: Chris Littlehead
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
With recruiting season in full swing, I will be evaluating all 26 prospects who are currently committed to the Oklahoma State football program. I will go in alphabetical order and will post three or four evaluations per day during the next week.
My evaluations will conclude next Friday when I rank OSU’s commitments including their chances of having an immediate impact in Stillwater.
Chris Littlehead, Sequoyah-Tahlequah
Position: Defensive tackle
Ht, Wt: 6-2, 305
Vitals: 335 bench, 485 squat, 4.6 shuttle, 25-inch vertical
Picked OSU over… Nebraska, Missouri, Ole Miss, Kansas, North Carolina and others.
Pros: Littlehead is athletic and quick. He could probably play either offense or defense for the Cowboys. Has good initial quickness off the ball and displays good strength and a mean streak. His strength also makes him tough to move out of the middle.
Cons: Not as explosive as elite defensive tackles but gets the job done. Redshirt candidate.
Expect an impact in… 2011. I’d expect Littlehead to redshirt then fight for a spot in the defensive tackle rotation as a redshirt freshman. He has the potential to be a solid starter by his junior year at the latest.
OSU insider in-depth: Shaun Lewis
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
With recruiting season in full swing, I will be evaluating all 26 prospects who are currently committed to the Oklahoma State football program. I will go in alphabetical order and will post three or four evaluations per day during the next week.
My evaluations will conclude next Friday when I rank OSU’s commitments including their chances of having an immediate impact in Stillwater.
Shaun Lewis, Missouri City (Texas) Hightower
Position: Linebacker
Ht, Wt: 6-1, 205
Vitals: 4.5 in the 40, 315 bench, 485 squat
Picked OSU over… Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Notre Dame, UCLA and others
Pros: Lewis is an explosive football player who is ideal for the linebacker position currently manned by Andre Sexton. He’s a bit undersized but he’s athletic with great acceleration and play making ability. His exceptional quickness allows him to navigate through blocks to make plays.
Cons: If he plays the “Star” linebacker spot, he’ll have to get more comfortable in pass coverage. Also could use a year in the weight room.
Expect an impact in… 2010. Lewis is a special talent who I’d expect to play as a true freshman. I think he’ll have an impact on special teams and crack OSU’s two-deep at linebacker during his first year on campus.
Here’s Lewis in action (#11 in white):
And another:
