Dorial Green-Beckham signs with Missouri
Not even the most optimistic Sooner fan started today thinking OU had any chance of signing Dorial Green-Beckham today. And it’s only worth mentioning here because there was a time a month ago when it looked like OU was running strong in the race for the nation’s top receiving recruit.
But the son of Springfield, Mo., has decided to stay close to home, picking Missouri over Arkansas, Texas — and yes, Oklahoma. He made his announcement this morning at his high school.
Apparently, the “MIZ-DGB” chants worked.
9:30 a.m. update: Sooners have 13 LOIs
CAMPUS CORNER – OL Kyle Marrs (9:08 a.m.), CB Gary Simon (9:13 a.m.) and OL Ty Darlington (9:26 a.m.) are in. Simon was in earlier, was off the board while OU waited for additional paperwork and now he’s back, officially. Everyone I’ve spoken with — coaches, analysts — is really high on Simon. Likely the most underrated player in the class. It would be surprising if you don’t hear his name in the coming years.
OU is still waiting on letters of intent from:
-Laith Harlow, TE, Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby
-Will Latu, OL, College of the Canyons
-Alex Ross, RB, Jenks
-Eric Striker, LB, Seffner (Fla.) Armwood
-Derrick Woods, WR, Inglewood, Calif.
OU is still waiting on decisions from:
-Courtney Gardner, WR, Sierra CC
-Damien Williams, RB, Arizona Western CC
= Ryan, Trav
Sooners add Gary Simon
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
One of the pieces of suspense for OU’s recruiting class entering signing day was taken care of pretty quickly when St. Petersburg (Fla.) Gibbs cornerback Gary Simon committed to the Sooners this morning ahead of his official announcement.
Simon (6-foot-1, 177 pounds) chose the Sooners over Iowa State and Arkansas.
Other players who the Sooners could add to their class by the end of the day are juco wide receiver Courtney Gardner and running back Damien Williams.
Other than the official latter from Simon, OU is still waiting on letters of intent from:
-Ty Darlington, OL, Apopka (Fla.)
-Laith Harlow, TE, Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby
-Will Latu, OL, College of the Canyons
-Kyle Marrs, OL, San Antonio Brandeis
-Alex Ross, RB, Jenks
-Eric Striker, LB, Seffner (Fla.) Armwood
-Charles Tapper, DE, Baltimore (Md.) City College
-Derrick Woods, WR, Inglewood, Calif.
Top recruit Mario Edwards Jr. opens door to Sooners
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
Edwards leaving door open to OU
Denton (Texas) Ryan defensive end Mario Edwards Jr., the top player on the ESPNU 150 for the 2012 class, insists he hasn’t withdrawn his commitment from Florida State.
But though he might still be technically committed to the Seminoles, it’s clear he’s not 100 percent sold on signing with Florida State.
“Right now OU is above FSU … I’m VERBALLY committed to FSU, but I’m still open and looking,” Edwards told the Orlando Sentinel in a message.
Edwards was at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday for OU’s blowout win over Texas.
Edwards, the son of former Florida State and NFL player Mario Edwards Sr., is scheduled to be in Austin for Saturday’s Texas-Oklahoma State game, in LSU when the Tigers play Auburn in two weeks and in Norman on Nov. 5 when the Sooners host Texas A&M.
Sooners pick up commit No. 14: Polo Manukainiu
Euless (Texas) Trinity defensive end Polo Manukainiu committed to OU on Monday, according to SoonerScoop.com.
Manukainiu (6-foot-6, 256 pounds) is OU’s 14th commitment for the class of 2012 and the sixth from Texas. He’s also the second defensive end to pledge to the Sooners, joining Baltimore City College High’s Charles Tepper.
Manukainiu chose the Sooners over Baylor. He also had offers from Arkansas, Miami and Nebraska, among others.
Sooners freshman offensive lineman Nila Kasitati is also a Euless Trinity product. The Sooners are also recruiting linebacker Brian Nance from the school. Nance is likely to take an official visit to Norman later this season.
Here’s Manukainiu’s junior highlights:
OU vs. Tulsa Live Chat Recap
Pac-12′s Larry Scott addresses conference expansion
Speaking before Oregon and LSU’s game tonight at Cowboys Stadium, Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said he was open to adding teams to his conference but that his conference isn’t looking to steal teams away.
“Any suggestion whatsoever that out conference is being predatory, that’s just wrong,” Scott said, according to The Associated Press. “We have not had expansion as an initiative, as an agenda for us at all. So to the extent, if there were any conversations going on, you can be sure they’re not the ones we initiated.”
OU president David Boren said Friday that the Sooners weren’t going to be a “wallflower” when it comes to conference realignment.
Scott would not comment on any specific schools that have reached out to the conference.
At the OSU game tonight, Cowboys booster Boone Pickens addressed the conference situation: OSU booster Boone Pickens: We’re looking for another team or we’re moving west
-Ryan Aber
Kenny Stills not out for pregame stretch
No surprise here but wide receiver Kenny Stills isn’t on the field for the pregame warmup.
Stills was arrested for DUI in January and indicated on Twitter earlier this week that he would miss the game.
The sophomore started all 14 games as a freshman last year, catching 61 passes for 786 yards and five TDs.
Linebacker Tony Jefferson, who was arrested for interference with an arrest at the time of Stills’ arrest, is on the field participating in pregame drills.
-Ryan Aber
OU commit Ty Darlington works hard in the classroom as well as on the field
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
OU commit Ty Darlington, a center from Apopka, Fla., was named the top player on the latest update of the Orlando Sentinel’s Central Florida Super 60 list:
Darlington, who committed to the Sooners in June, isn’t only a standout on the field but in the classroom as well.
The last time he got a B in a class was in elementary school and he’s got a chance to be the valedictorian of his class.
His dad, Rick, is his high school coach and his mom, Shelly, was an OU cheerleader in the 1980s.
With Ben Habern entering his junior season at center, having started 24 games there over the last two years, Darlington figures to have another year to develop after arriving in Norman.
Video: Berry Tramel and Jenni Carlson talk about Sports Illustrated report
