Postgame thoughts: OSU, 38 – Texas A&M, 35
OSU's Dan Bailey celebrates after making the game-winning field goal during the college football game between Texas A&M University and Oklahoma State University (OSU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
What a win for Oklahoma State. Dan Bailey boots a 41-yard field goal as time expired to push the Cowboys past Texas A&M. What did you think of the Cowboys’ performance? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Join our OSU-Texas A&M live chat at 5:30 p.m.
Predictions: OSU vs. Texas A&M
Oklahoma State wide receiver Josh Cooper (25) tries to get past Tulsa's Marco Nelson (20) during the college football game between the University of Tulsa (TU) and Oklahoma State University (OSU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Saturday, September 18, 2010. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Texas A&M visits Stillwater tonight to take on the Cowboys. John Helsley says it’s time for receiver Hubert Anyiam to step up against the Aggies again. Jenni Carlson says the Cowboys have moved past Texas A&M in the Big 12 pecking order.
Here are our staff’s predictions:
Brandon Chatmon: OSU, 42-31
John Helsley: OSU, 34-31
Berry Tramel: OSU, 44-34
Jenni Carlson: OSU, 34-24
Jake Trotter: OSU, 37-31
Mike Baldwin: OSU, 41-20
Mike Sherman: OSU, 38-31
Let’s hear your predictions in the comments below. Join our live chat at http://newsok.com/sports/ around game time and chat with Brandon Chatmon, John Helsley and more.
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Cowboy fans weigh in on OSU’s black unis
Justin Blackmon and the Pokes wore black against Colorado in 2009.
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter @BChatmon
Is black in or out? Oklahoma State fans weigh in on their thoughts about OSU’s black uniforms:
“(The focus on orange uniforms in football and not basketball) goes with the “Sea of Orange”. I really think that shows up well in the stands and on TV. It is a little weird to have fans support one color while the team predominately wears another one. (One game exception makes sense. I like doing it on weird game days like Thursdays)”-- Eric Woodworth
“I think having various looks is good marketing…doesn’t get boring.” –Scott Gibson
“I think it calls attention to a game that is not needed. Last year, the jerseys were worn on Senior Night after the seniors voted, that made it special.” — Dave Treece
“Having played some quarterback and not being tall like Weeden, I found teammates in black jerseys very hard to pick out quickly. I think the more contrasting your uniform is to other team and the background on the field the better. I also think black uniforms are very drab.” — Tim Wild
“I’m not crazy about trying to do “blackouts” with the crowd, as the “sea of orange” is what we’ve become known for, but the black uni’s look fresh, and the players I’ve spoken with love to wear them. As a coach I would use them as an incentive.” — Jack Lorenz
“I would like Oklahoma State in the black uniforms at least 2-3 times a year. They look sharp and when the fans see the black it gives us a different emotion for whatever reason. It’s like when we see the black we turn into a different group.” — Ryan Aaron
“I think it would be cool to start a tradition of wearing black uniforms on Thursday games. It might be cool to wear them anytime the game is a weeknight game. The Lakers wearing the white unis every Sunday is a good example. I like the Orange uniforms better, but I think its a good change of pace for the fans and especially the players. If its once or twice a year I am not opposed to it. I really do like the black uniforms, I just like the orange a little more. I feel like OSU has kind of branded itself as a predominately orange school.” — Craig Davidson
“It doesn’t make any difference to me. I’m more concerned with how they play vs. what they are wearing.” — Rod Kelly
“We will always be and should always be primarily orange, but black is nice for a special game.” — Jay Martin
“This vote should come from the players. If the players like them and it gets them fired up, let them wear them!” — Brian Flournoy
“I love the black uniforms. They look great. Most important though, it seems that the team loves them and so do the recruits.” — Chris Anderson
“I would like to see them wear the uniforms once a year. I believe they should pick the biggest game of the year and bust out the black uniforms and use it to get the players AND fans hyped.” –Tristan Brown
“I do not like them. I have played in them and if we are going to wear them make it later in the year. They are notoriously hot when worn in day games.” — Jimmy Green
“I think they are fantastic. I think an alternate uniform is a great change of pace. The players like to wear them because they think they are cool and make the team standout more.” –Mike Shaw
“I think they should wear the black uniforms against A&M. It goes along with last years Thursday night game against Colorado when we wore them for the first time.” – Dale Sheller
“I like black. I think it is more intimidating that orange. If we wear black, we should wear black helmets as well.” –Mike McCrory
“Its like Boise State in Blue on Blue. Black for night games, although orange is also sweet cutting across the field. There’s nothing like a good bright oSu ORANGE day.” – Brent Keisman
“They shouldn’t be a big deal, the players want to look good, I think the Orange Power and Live Orange and Orange to the Bone campaigns made fans proud of the Orange colors but the fans should be able to wear what they want and the players (to an extent) should get to do the same.” — Chris Anderson
“I think that it would be fine to have OSU in black uniforms for their first conference opponent. I hope it motivates them to play at a very high level. Texas A&M will really test the Cowboys unlike the first 3 teams we played.” –Bob Bridges
“Once a year is perfect. Any more occasions than that and they start to lose their significance and unique look. I like the black but I can tell you that a lot of the older fans don’t because of superstition. OSU football has a history of performing poorly in black uniforms.” — Michael Perez
“I like the black better in sunlight than at night. Overall I don’t care for the black, much prefer the solid white.” –Richard McDonald
Power Lunch Chat Recap: Brandon Chatmon
Aggies Talk
Kendall Hunter's success in balancing OSU's offense could be key against Texas A&M.
By John Helsley
follow me on twitter @jjhelsley
As games circled on the schedule go, Texas A&M is the one many have traced in red for Oklahoma State.
Not OU. Not Texas.
A&M.
Why the Aggies? How OSU fares against the crew from College Station always seems to provide an strong indicator of what we can expect from the Cowboys. During the Big 12 era, OSU’s best seasons — including the past two — typically feature wins over the Aggies.
This season begs an indicator, with the Cowboys beating up a series of softies to arrive at 3-0 entering this Thursday night ESPN special.
So this game, against a team holding the same could-be contender status in the South, sizes up a solid forecaster of what’s to come for the Cowboys. And the Aggies, for that matter…
A&M has failed in its recent big moments on the big stage, writes Brent Zwerneman in the Houston Chronicle.
The Aggies are ready to prove they’re improved on defense, writes Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The Austin American-Statesman’s Suzanne Halliburton has this on A&M’s offense, which has been surprisingly pedestrian.
And from A&M’s weekly press conference, here’s what Aggies coaches and players have to say about their matchup with the Cowboys:
HEAD COACH Mike Sherman
On the off week… “I thought we had good preparation. We really worked some long practices. We went out there in full pads three days. We worked on a lot of fundamentals and things we need to get better at, like ball security, special teams play and getting better defensively. I thought it was a very profitable week. I thought they had good preparation yesterday at practice.”
On the atmosphere in Stillwater… “They are right on top of you. We’ve already talked about that element of it, the maturity factor our team has to have. The fans are sitting right behind you, and cheering for their team and against you. We talked about where you can’t lose focus and just allow them to do what they’re doing. We’re not going to change that, but how we handle that is in our control.”
On the importance for the program to get this win… “Obviously, every game has importance. There’s no question about that. This is a conference game. For our fans, there’s no question it’s hugely important because they will all be tuned in and watching. And our players know they are playing a team that is a challenge. I know Bill Young, he’s a great defensive coach and has done a wonderful job up there. The offense, run by (Dana) Holgorsen, is doing a great job. Their special teams are strong. They are at home. They have a lot of momentum going on. From a confidence factor, and I worry more about that for our team–the confidence factor to be able to get over this hump–that’s important for our team.”
On the team’s confidence heading into Thursday… “This team has risen to another level of confidence that we haven’t had before. I feel this team has a lot of confidence in what we’re doing and who we’re doing it with. But in order to take the next step, we have to go on the road against a good opponent like this and play well.”
On 3-0 last year versus 3-0 this year… “I think we’re playing better defense now. We’ve taken a step that way. We’re a year older and a year wiser. I don’t think we’re as fragile as we were a year ago. When things went south in the fourth ballgame last year against Arkansas, and they went south very fast, I don’t think we handled that very well. I think our team is more mentally mature to be able to handle the adversity and the bumps in the road that come in a game. If you can’t handle those things it’s difficult to win games consistently. I never would have drawn the FIU game up the way it turned out, but I think it was a learning experience for our guys knowing how to handle themselves and fight through it. We handled the adversity in that game. We’ve used it to be a teaching moment.”
On the importance of establishing the run game Thursday… “It’s important every week, but more so on the road, with the noise and the crowd and moving the chains and being able to hear the snap count. Against FIU, we had way too many 2nd-and-long and 3rd-and-long situations due to penalties and sacks. We like to have balance. In order to run it you’ve got to throw it, and in order to throw it you’ve got to run it. We have to stay out of long-yardage situations, particularly on the road.”
On the upcoming stretch of games being important for you personally… “I’d have my head in the sand not to realize that it’s important to win football games. We’ve been trying to do that since we’ve gotten here. But along the same lines, we’re trying to get the right pieces in place in order to do that successfully and consistently. I’ve got to be honest with you, and I know it’s coach speak, but I don’t think much past the next game. We’re going to go out there and play our butts off and hopefully play well. I have my own motivation. I feel a responsibility to this university and to the former students. I’m working as hard as I can work, and the players are working hard. We have a good group of kids and I’m excited about this team and this ball game. One game does not make a season, but we’re looking forward to playing it. We have high expectations.”
ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR Tim DeRuyter
On having (OSU Off Coord) Dana Holgorsen’s number… “Oh, no (laughing). Coach Holgorsen does a great job. Everywhere he has been he’s been tremendous. We got lucky last year (at Air Force). We had a really good club, had some tremendous coaches and the kids played really well that day. This year is a different year with different players and he’s done a great job up there. Our guys played well that day last year. I really liked our club last year. I was fortunate to be on a great coaching staff, and it’s the same way here. I think our kids are starting to buy in to what we’re doing. But it’s a totally different year. We’ve got to play well to have a chance. If you don’t, they’ll embarrass you and hang half a hundred on you in a hurry. So no, I don’t have anybody’s number.”
On Holgorsen’s offensive differences between Houston and Oklahoma State… “The big difference is that the run game is much better. A lot of the concepts are the same but when you are handling the ball to (Kendall) Hunter it looks a little different. They do a tremendous job of putting a lot of stress on you.”
On whether he senses the defense is fired up about playing OSU… “I think our guys are excited about the challenge, number one because it’s our first league game. And number two, I think the guys have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder because of how we’ve played in the past. The guys feel we have a chance to be a decent defense. We’ve played decent the first three games but we really haven’t played anyone near the capability that we’ll see Thursday night.”
On the defense better handling adversity… “Well, we had a few turnovers in the last couple of games. When you are a young team like we’ve been, you don’t handle adversity well. This year, we haven’t been perfect but we have handled that much, much better. Part of it is training and part of it is maturity and having been there. They feel better about themselves when adversity does hit them. I like where we’re at, but again we haven’t been on the road. So we have to face that challenge of a hostile crowd and one of the top offenses in the country. Hopefully we’ll handle those situations well on Thursday.”
On whether he’ll temper the defense’s excitement Thursday… “I want our guys excited. Atmosphere and a setting like this are why you play and coach in college football. You play defense with attitude and emotion, and anything that raises that level is good. I think our guys are going to be fired up for this. I know I am, and I know our staff is.”
On how to stop an offense like OSU… “It’s tough. You’ve got to be multiple. You’ve got to disguise things and make it a little bit of a chess game. It’s difficult against this kind of offense which is up tempo, because they force you into things quickly and then check with the sideline. That’s all part of the challenge. But we think we have some good players on our side too, and we look forward to the challenge.”
SENIOR QB Jerrod Johnson
On what to expect from Oklahoma State… “Oh, it’s typical OSU. They are big, fast, athletic, and they run to the ball well. They have playmakers on their team. Anyone in the Big 12 is going to be talented but Oklahoma State especially. If you watch the way they walk off the bus they are very impressive.”
On the battle in the trenches… “It’ll be huge. That is what decides games. The front seven play is the equalizer in every game. That war right there will be huge. Our offensive line has been working really hard and it will be a loud environment. We’ve been working on some things in communication to combat that. I think the up-front war will decide how the game will be won.”
On the first conference game bringing more excitement… “I think it does. You play your first three games, and you don’t want to overlook them, but you play teams you don’t know much about. They probably know more about you than you do about them, and they come out and give it their best shot. But with Oklahoma State, you know about their coaching staff. You know about their players. You have friends on their team. Conference play is a little more exciting because you expect to play teams like Oklahoma State when you come to A&M to play in the Big 12. You look forward to it.”
On whether A&M can be a good road team… “I think so. I don’t think it’s a sense of doing that much more, it’s just a sense of knowing what you’re getting into. Knowing you can’t communicate as well as you are used to. Preparing for adversity basically. It’s going to be a great environment, and it will be very loud. There are so many things you can try and explain (to the young guys), but once you experience it you have a completely different mindset. You learn through experience, and I think we’ll be able to handle that adversity much better this year.”
JUNIOR OL Evan Eike
On getting into a rhythm… “Rhythm is a big part of tempo. We really focus on getting that first first down. That gets everyone going and gives us a chance to move ball and get the defense back on its heels.”
On playing on the national stage Thursday night… “We’re excited. It’ll be a big-time stage, a lot of fun and a fun environment. We want to start fast and well. We want to get into a rhythm and play well offensively from the beginning of the game. We want to play a complete game.”
On the bye week… “We had a great week last week. We feel we corrected a lot of things. We’ve got to come out in a good rhythm and get things going and communicate. If we play well early, we can get it going offensively and hopefully sustain that the rest of the game.”
JUNIOR WR Jeff Fuller
On the OSU offense putting more pressure on your offense than usual in a game… “Yeah that puts a lot of pressure on us. I know our offense has to pick it up, but at the same time I have a lot of confidence in our defense.”
On the atmosphere in Stillwater… “It’s a hostile environment, but I actually like that. I like playing against big crowds. One of my favorite games in high school was playing in a basketball game at Hebron. It was a very hostile environment. That brings a lot of excitement and energy to the game.”
On the importance of getting into a rhythm early… “It’s pretty important to come out strong, complete passes, make big plays and get big runs. But at the same time it’s a four-quarter game.”
On the off week… “I think we cleaned a lot of things up. The offense had a few pretty rough practices, but we picked up the intensity quite a bit. The defense got after us and we answered back.”
On why 3-0 this year is better than 3-0 last year… “I feel like we’re a lot more mature this year. Last year, our offense was a little more explosive at this time. But this year, we’ve gotten a lot better at togetherness, and knowing what needs to be done, and assignments, and coverages. Last year, Big 12 play was a first even for a lot of us starters. This year, I feel like we a lot more know what to expect and will be better prepared.”
JUNIOR DB Trent Hunter
On von miller’s effect… “He’s an All-American. He brings it every game and every day at practice. When you have a guy like that coming off the edge, the quarterback knows he’s coming. The quarterback always has that little thing in the back of his mind that Von is coming. It’s always good for us to have people like him and the guys off the other side up front.”
On the challenge OSU’s No. 1-ranked offense will present… “We’re ready for it. We’ve had a few good weeks but we are ready to prove ourselves against a team that’s putting up big numbers. If we have a big week against them it will put our name out there. We’re ready for the challenge.”
On the challenge OSU’s offense presents as a safety… “I feel like the way our linebackers and defensive line are getting a push up front, I trust the guys up front and put all my faith in them that they’ll do their job. They’ll be prepared for the run and we will be prepared for the pass. We plan to go out there and have a good game.”
On how to stop OSU’s offense… “The previous teams they’ve played haven’t done a good job of defending the big play. You really can’t do that if you want to be a successful defense. If we can defend the deep ball first I think we’ll be ready for anything.”
On being hyped up for Big 12 play… “Definitely. You always have that feeling in the locker room that it’s conference play now. There’s no way we can lose any momentum going into this week.”
JUNIOR LB Garrick Williams
On Kendall Hunter… “Kendall Hunter is a talented back. He’s shifty. But I think our coaches will put us in a good spot to stop them.”
On getting a chance to go against OSU’s run defense… “I’m very excited. I think Coach (Terrell) Williams told me the other day that they were rushing for 200 yards a game. It’s a good offense against a good run-stopping defense. It’s just another chance for the defense to step up and show people what we’re about this year.”
On battling adversity… “That’s the reason why the game against FIU was kind of good for us. It was a game that keeps us humble. We faced adversity, and maybe last year we wouldn’t have gotten out of that. This year, I think we are able to fight through that and we are ready for things like that. Coach Sherman stresses maturity all the time. All those freshmen who got to play last year are sophomores now, but they take the field and think like juniors and seniors. So that’s big.”
SENIOR JOKER Von Miller
On his season so far… “I feel like I’m doing what I need to do for us to be a good defense and win. I’m not really too concerned about my sack totals. I’m concerned in a way, because I want to be the best, but it’s not really on my back.”
On being on television and getting to show the nation their defense… “I’m looking forward to playing on a stage like that. It’s going to be a great game and a great atmosphere. We’re playing OSU, which is a very good team. It can’t get any better. This is what we’ve been waiting for and we finally have a chance to go out there and play a really good team.”
On whether offenses have been double-teaming him… “There really haven’t been many double teams or many chips. It hasn’t been anything different from last year. Coach DeRuyter is doing a really good job of mixing everything up and putting us in position to make plays. That keeps the offense guessing. I really haven’t gotten double-teamed or anything like that, it’s just me playing with this injury. The ankle is getting better every day, that’s all I can hope for.”
On whether the fans are eager for the team to prove itself against bigger competition… “Our aggies want us to win every game. This is conference play, and every game is really like a rivalry game in the Big 12. We want to win all these games and our fans do too.”
On matching up with Oklahoma State’s offensive line… “Their offensive line is very good. They had Russell Okung last year, and the offensive line is doing very well without him. They haven’t allowed too many sacks. Their offensive tackles have some of the same techniques, stances and tendencies that Russell used last year. Russell is one of the best I went against last year. These guys look the same, it’s just a new year. We’re just going to have to come with it.”
On this being A&M’s first TV game… “I’m not too worried about this being the first time we’ve been on. I know we have big games down the road. We’re just taking it one game at a time. As long as we play every game like we’re supposed to, we’ll be where we want to be at the end of the year. It’s okay that we haven’t been on TV, we’ll get our time eventually. We’ve been preparing for our opportunity and when the opportunity presents itself we have to take advantage of it.”
Nothing changes
The Pokes knocked off Texas A&M 36-31 in 2009.
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter @BChatmon
Oklahoma State opens Big 12 play on Thursday when Texas A&M arrives at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Don’t expect Dana Holgorsen to change a thing.
For one thing, the Cowboys ranks among the nation’s leaders in offense, so why would you tinker with that?
But the main reason is because Holgorsen doesn’t focus on how talented the other team’s players are, he focuses on how to OSU in positions to take advantage of its talent.
“We try to get the same thing accomplished regardless who we are playing against,” Holgorsen said.
Texas A&M brings Big 12 preseason defensive player of the year Von Miller at linebacker but Holgorsen doesn’t have anything special in store for the Aggie star.
“We treat everybody the same,” Holgorsen said when asked if Miller is the type of player you must game-plan for. “I don’t get caught up in who’s out there.”
Feeling better
Justin Gilbert: Future Pokes playmaker?
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter @BChatmon
Oklahoma State hopes the Cowboys’ first three games have prepared their cornerbacks for what they will face when Texas A&M comes to town on Thursday. The Aggies will bring fast, talented receivers to Stillwater.
OSU will need their true freshmen corners, particularly Devin Hedgepeth and Justin Gilbert, to hold up against the Aggies and preseason Big 12 offensive player of the year Jerrod Johnson.
Cowboys cornerback coach Jason Jones feels much better about his true freshmen today than he did before the season started. Jones knows how his youngsters will react in game situations and he’s confident they will battle back after any setbacks on Thursday.
“(If feel) a lot better,” Jones said. “You never know how young guys are going to respond when you get in a game in front of 60,000 or when he gets tired or if a coordinator is picking on him. To see them respond and continue to fight is encouraging.”
One of the best developments of OSU’s blowout wins over Washington State and Tulsa was the chance to get those freshmen plenty of reps before conference play opens.
“From a reps standpoint I feel better than I thought I would have through three games,” coach Mike Gundy said. “Those guys have gotten more quality experience than I would have thought they would be able to get.”
Scouting report: Texas A&M
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter @BChatmon
The bye came at an ideal time for Texas A&M. Aggie defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter planned to take advantage of the extra time to game plan against Oklahoma State’s offense.
“Getting the extra time will not hurt us one bit while looking at them,” DeRuyter said. “I want us to work on being more consistent. We are not disguising our coverages and executing out of those disguises as well as I would like. We still have busted coverages. We’ve just got to get more disciplined so we aren’t getting fooled on some things.”
The Aggies are hoping to tighten up their defense heading into Thursday’s game with the Cowboys, who lead the NCAA in passing with 391.67 passing yards.
Click here to watch Texas A&M’s 48-16 win over Louisiana Tech on Sept. 11. It was a great game for Aggie quarterback Jerrod Johnson, who threw for four touchdowns.
And Now, For Something Completely Different… OSU Baseball
By John Helsley
follow me on twitter @jjhelsley
Cowboys baseball coach Frank Anderson likes to keep a quiet approach to who he’s recruiting, with news on signings or offers limited to what flows from the players and their local media outlets.
It’s an effort to keep from providing too much information to scouts, who may look at a player differently, or more closely, if they know he’s going to a school the caliber of OSU.
Anderson isn’t alone in his approach. Some coaches prefer the silent treatment, until the players are securely enrolled and attending school. Some coaches freely and openly talk about their recruits well in advance, even using it as a means to enhance their recruiting of other players.
Well, Anderson’s latest class has finally been revealed, with the addition of 13 newcomers: nine from the Juco ranks, three high schoolers and one Division I transfer who will be eligible immediately. Five were taken in the June MLB Draft.
This stands to be a critical class for the Cowboys, who have failed to make the Big 12 Tournament the past two seasons.
Anderson will be looking to mesh the new faces with a solid core of returning players led by Davis Duren, Mark Ginther, Luis Uribe, Andrew Heaney and Mike Strong.
“This has a chance to be a really special class,” Anderson said. “We were fortunate with how with came out of the draft, both with the new guys and our existing team. There are a bunch of pitchers in the group, and that should really help us.
“Along with the scholarship guys, we brought in a lot of walk-ons, and the competition level in practice is really high. We’ve been doing a lot of evaluation, and we’ve been really pleased with how things have been going.”
The plum of the class is right-handed pitcher Jason Hursh of Carrollton, Texas, a power arm who was taken in the sixth round of the draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Andrew Heck should offer an instant upgrade on offense, after transferring from Duquesne, which dropped its program, making him eligible right away. Heck was a first-team Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team after leading the Dukes in nine offensive categories.
The recruits:
Joel Atkinson, SS, San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente HS) – As a senior at San Clemente High School, Atkinson hit .310 with two home runs and 12 stolen bases. That came on the heels of a junior campaign that saw him hit .391 with 14 doubles and 10 stolen bases to earn first-team all-league, all-county and team MVP honors.
Hunter Bailey, INF, Cedar Park, Texas (McLennan CC) – As a sophomore in the JUCO ranks last season, Bailey hit .384 with 34 RBIs, 16 doubles and 15 stolen bases and was named a North Texas Junior College Athletic Association All-Conference first-team second baseman.
Blake Barnes, RHP, Prosper, Texas (Howard College) – In 17 appearances as a freshman at Howard, Barnes was 9-1 with three saves and a 3.27 ERA and helped the team to a national championship. As a sophomore, he was 2-3 with a team-high three saves and was drafted in the 48th round by the Tampa Bay Rays in June.
Andrew Heck, RHP/OF, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Duquesne) – Heck played his first three seasons at Duquesne, but the school dropped the baseball program after the 2010 season. As a result, Heck transferred to OSU and will be eligible to play in 2011. As a junior last season, Heck earned Atlantic 10 First-Team All-Conference honors after leading the Dukes in nine offensive and four pitching categories. He hit .408 with 10 homers, 15 stolen bases and 49 RBIs and set school records with 91 hits and 25 doubles. On the mound, Heck picked up three wins and tossed three complete games in nine starts. He was named a Top 10 pro prospect in the Jayhawk League by Baseball America following the summer of 2010.
Hunter Herrera, RHP, San Diego, Calif. (San Diego City College) – As a sophomore at San Diego CC last season, Herrera was 9-2 with a 2.54 ERA in 15 appearances, including 13 starts. He tossed two complete games, recorded two saves and racked up 104 strikeouts in 92 innings, and opponents hit just .199 against him. He earned All-America and all-conference honors and was named the Pacific Coast Conference Player of the Year.
Jason Hursh, RHP, Carrollton, Texas (Trinity Christian Academy) – After a standout prep career, Hursh was drafted in the sixth round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 177th overall pick. He has a fastball that reaches the mid 90s to go along with a very good curveball. He was a three-year letterman in baseball and football at Trinity Christian. A two-year starter in baseball, Hursh was 11-2 with a 2.47 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 70 innings as a senior and earned district MVP and first-team all-state honors. He was a first-team all-district selection and honorable mention all-state performer as a junior after a season in which he recorded 48 strikeouts in 28 innings and had a 1.45 ERA. He was invited to the Perfect Game National Showcase and Area Code Baseball Games. Hursh was an all-state kicker and punter during his senior season on the gridiron.
Zach Johnson, INF, San Ramon, Calif. (Ohlone College) – Johnson was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 48th round of the 2010 MLB Draft after earning First-Team All-Coast Conference honors at Ohlone College last season. In 74 regular season games with the Renegades, Johnson hit .375 with 18 homers and 66 RBIs. He led Ohlone in hitting with a .405 batting average and 12 home runs in 2010.
Chris Marlowe, RHP, Spring, Texas (Navarro College) – Marlowe spent time as a pitcher and shortstop at Navarro and was drafted in the 21st round of this year’s MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. As a sophomore, he led all JUCO pitchers by averaging 17.3 strikeouts per nine innings through mid-May, and he finished the season with 61 strikeouts in just 32 innings of work en route to a 4-2 record and a 2.84 ERA. Marlowe pitched in the Prospect League over the summer and was named the fourth-best pro prospect in that league by Baseball America.
Josh Neilson, RHP, Lawton, Okla. (Vernon College) – An Oklahoma native, Neilson starred at Lawton High School before spending the last two seasons at Vernon College, where he earned all-conference accolades.
Gabe Weidenaar, INF/OF, Bozeman, Mont. (College of Southern Nevada) – As a sophomore last season, Weidenaar hit .371 with seven homers and 39 RBIs in a wooden bat league. He also had 13 stolen bases and was named to the All-SWAC second team after leading his team to the 2010 JUCO World Series.
Vincent Wheeland, RHP, Turlock, Calif. (Turlock HS) – Wheeland capped a stellar prep career at Turlock High School by going 13-0 with a 0.74 ERA as a senior. In 85 innings of work, he racked up 147 strikeouts and issued just 18 walks. He earned all-state honors and was named district, league and team MVP.
Jared Womack, C/OF, Tampa, Fla. (Ranger College) – Womack spent his freshman season at Oklahoma State in 2009, where he appeared in 12 games and hit .258 with a homer and six RBIs. Following that season, he transferred to Ranger for his sophomore year and hit .404 with 21 home runs and 54 RBIs and turned in a .918 slugging percentage before returning to the Cowboy program.
Vance Woodruff, RHP, Forney, Texas (Grayson County College) – As a freshman at Grayson, Woodruff pitched in 12 games and was 2-2 with three saves in 23.1 innings. Following a sophomore season in which he made 16 appearances and was 3-3 with 56 strikeouts in 55.1 innings, Woodruff was drafted in the 40th round of the ’10 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins.
