Power Lunch Chat with Mike Baldwin
Summing up Sooners’ signing day
CAMPUS CORNER — Much appreciation to Bob Stoops and his staff for having signing day virtually completed by noon local time.
I think they’re done, although some fans are already chattering that the Sooners have a chance with Davonte Neal. It would be a big surprise, at this point. I know Tim Kish has that connection with Neal, from Phoenix, but I would be surprised if he wound up somewhere other than Ohio State. Neal is expected to sign in the next couple of weeks. He’s working on his own timeline, which is fine. If it starts to heat up with him in February, we’ll let you know.
But let’s talk about who is here, so to speak.
The themes …
** JUCO
It’s what jumps out first, to me. I’ll find this out this afternoon, but this has to be a new record for junior college players in the Stoops era. Right? Maybe not. I know the Josh Heupel class leaned heavily on them, as well. But doesn’t that indicate where OU is right now? It needs immediate help, because of transfers and others who did not work out.
I remember Stoops telling us after the bowl game that OU rarely goes after junior college players, but it typically gets good ones when it does. Not sure all of these signees will be stars, but I’ll be two-thirds are. My guesses on top contributors … latter three over the former three. Look for good things from Will Latu, Courtney Gardner and Damien Williams. Not to say the other trio will not help, but the last three could make the bigger splash in 2012.
** National reach
I haven’t been here long, but this has to be the fewest Texas commitments/signees in a while. OU has a total of five from the Lone Star State, not counting the early enrollees (Trey Metoyer, Jordan Wade). That’s two offensive linemen, John Michael McGee and Kyle Marrs. Marrs’ fellow San Antonio native Trevor Knight is another. Cornerback signee Zack Sanchez, from Keller, is the another. Athlete Daniel Brooks, from Port Lavaca, is the other. There will be a tug of war over where Brooks will play. Corner would be the most likely place he’ll land; he could return, as well.
Here’s the state breakdown of this class, geographically: California (3), Florida (4), Kansas, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio (2), Nevada, Oklahoma (3), Pennsylvania, Texas (7).
What’s the tell ya? It’s an evolving approach at OU. Two more kids (originally) from San Diego, continuing that pipeline.
** Filling the needs
While the guys on ESPNU are talking ad nauseum about the SEC and Southern Cal and Notre Dame, Oklahoma very quietly got what it needed out of this class (though, I guess we’ll have to wait and see if that’s true, to some extent). I think the Sooners signed so many receivers and tight ends – and even a couple of running backs – that it figured all won’t pan out, but some really will in a big way. And, with the JUCO players, the wait might be shorter.
** Best on the board: WR Durron Neal. That’s why we wrote about him today. He seems to think he’s underrated; we don’t, and I know OU doesn’t. His impact could be somewhere between Kenny Stills and Kameel Jackson in their first years.
** Most underrated: CB Gary Simon. If everyone’s calling you underrated, are you really underrated? Still, Simon is a middle-level recruit, according to those scouting services, so we’ll deem him under the radar. Simon could develop into an all-conference kind of player, if things shake out right. Simon and Sanchez signing smoothed over the losses of De’Vante Harris and Kevin Peterson.
** Most surprising: Nothing’s really come out of left field, really. The Sooners got the players this week that they were after. They recognized a while back, I feel like, that players such as Dorial Green-Beckham, Nelson Agholor, Zach Banner weren’t coming, so they focused on guys who were seriously considering OU.
** Don’t forget about: Metoyer. He was highly regarded in the last class, and he won’t be talked about much today because of the receivers who signed. But he’s big (6-2, 198) and should make the biggest impact of any of the new receivers.
= Trav
Courtney Gardner: The many travels of a JUCO standout the Sooners swiped from Arkansas
News that California junior college wide receiver Courtney Gardner signed with Oklahoma can’t be sitting too well with Arkansas. First the Hogs lost out on the nation’s top prep receiver (Dorial Green-Beckham) to Missouri. Then, in Gardner, they lost the nati0n’s top JUCO pass catcher to the Sooners.
But its cause to celebrate in the Sooner coaching offices. Co-offensive coordinator Jay Norvell has restocked his receiving corps quite well.
Here’s the receivers on the OU roster before classes were in session: Kenny Stills, Jaz Reynolds, Trey Franks and Kameel Jackson. That’s it.
Here’s the receiving corps Norvell and the Sooners since have signed:
– Trey Metoyer, perhaps the nation’s top receiving recruiting last year, returns to Norman from Hargrave Military Academy as the top prep school recruit. The five-star recruit probably has a different perspective on campus life now, having worn a military uniform to class last fall.
– Duron Neal of St. Louis spent his prep career playing in DGB shadow and comes to Norman with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, looking to prove he’s underrated — hence the Twitter handle @UnderratedNeal. Norvell calls him a student of Sooner football history and one of the favorite kids he’s ever recruited.
– Those of us who have watched Sterling Shepard’s career and know his background wonder if Norvell wasn’t actually talking about the Heritage Hall star, who signed Wednesday. Norvell made it clear in his segment on OU’s signing day webcast that he was looking for ways to the ball in the hands of late Sooner receiver Derrick Shepard soon.
– Derrick Woods of Inglewood, Calif. grew up just blocks from the Fabulous Forum, former home of the Los Angeles Lakers. Norvell enjoyed talking about Woods’ Los Angeles roots, and holding off a late charge from USC to sign him.
– And then there’s Gardner, who along with fellow juco standout Damien Williams (a running back from Arizona Western) provided the Sooners with a couple pleasant signing day surprises.
Norvell said when he was in the NFL for six years as an assistant he spent time looking for receivers like Gardner, a 6-foot-3, 215-pounder with speed. The guy was a state champion in the long jump (25-7) and triple jump (48-6). Other measurables: 10.67 100 meters, 21.4 200 meters, 315 bench, 425 squats.
You can watch him in action in the video above.
And after watching him and seeing Norvell’s words its natural to wonder what a guy like that is doing at Roseville (Calif.) Sierra Community College. Academic eligibility issues usually play a role for juco standouts. In Gardner’s case, the impact of Hurricane Katrina can’t be dismissed in his travels, which took him from Louisiana, to Reno, Nev., to prep school in North Carolina to the northwest outskirts of Sacramento and now, apparently, to Norman, Oklahoma.
Beyond signing day, this is the kind of story we like to tell in The Oklahoman and on NewsOK. Looking forward to learning more about Courtney Gardner.
Noon update: Sooners close class with JUCO RB Williams
CAMPUS CORNER — Oklahoma finished its 2012 recruiting class the way it started it, by signing a pair of junior college players.
The additions of receiver Courtney Gardner of Sierra College in California and running back Damien Williams of Arizona Western brought the Sooners’ total to 25 signees. Only Florida tight end Laith Harlow‘s is outstanding. Harlow is recovering from a back injury.
The athleticism of Gardner and Williams has been very highly regarded. Both have good size for their respective positions. Gardner is 6 foot 3 and 215 pounds. Williams is 6 foot 1 and 215 pounds.
The players become the fifth and sixth junior college players in the class. They join defensive back Kass Everett, tight end Brannon Green and defensive end Chaz Nelson, who all enrolled in January. This week, offensive lineman Will Latu committed, before Gardner and Williams’ decision.
ESPN reporter that Gardner, originally pledged to Arkansas, committed Tuesday night to the Sooners. Williams was choosing between OU, Texas Tech and Arizona State.
= Trav
10:30 a.m. update: Sooners snag WR Gardner
CAMPUS CORNER — There aren’t many big signing-day ceremonies for junior college transfers, but that did not reduce the impact this morning of Courtney Gardner‘s decision to join the Sooners.
The receiver from Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif., sent in his LOI to OU at 10:22 a.m. He had committed to Arkansas in December, but the Sooners felt more and more as if he was leaning their way. Turns out he was. It’s a good signing-day get for OU. Arkansas was already dealing with the top-ranked receiver, Dorial Green-Beckham, choosing Missouri over it.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Gardner joins a loaded WR class for OU. Seventeen letters are in today (not counting the players who enrolled in January), and four are from receivers. Derrick Woods, though, could wind up playing defense. Sterling Shepard and Durron Neal are the others. Neal’s letter was the first in this morning, at 7:01 a.m.
Twenty-three total letters are in, leaving only a couple out there – a couple of Florida prospects, TE Laith Harlow and LB Eric Striker. They’re thought to be firm commitments. The only other prospect that OU is really in the mix with is Arizona JUCO RB Damien Williams, who will choose between Texas Tech and the Sooners.
Curious to hear Bob Stoops later today about the JUCO aspect of this class. It’s rare OU would lean this heavily on that route, but it could turn out to be very productive in the near future, this year and next.
= Trav
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.
Pledger collects Big 12 honor
Oklahoma junior guard Steven Pledger has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week after scoring 30 points in a 63-60 win at then No. 22 ranked Kansas State.
For the week, Pledger averaged 23.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, including a loss to No. 6 Baylor.
Pledger, among the league scoring leaders, averaging 17.8 points a game, shot 56.3 percent in OU’s two games last week. He’s had six games with 20 or more points this season after having just three 20-point games his first two seasons.
One of the top 10 free throw shooters in the country, Pledger is 24-of-24 at the line in conference play and has missed only six free throws all season.
From NT: Transferring OU TE speaks
Former OU tight end Austin Haywood
CAMPUS CORNER — Some good stuff in this story about Austin Haywood from the Norman Transcript.
Of particular interest to me, though you had to read a ways to find it, was Haywood accepting blame for how things turned out at OU.
“The main reason was I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do,” Haywood said. “I just had a bad attitude about things. It was my fault it didn’t work out.”
It’s nice to hear young people – heck, anyone – taking responsibility. We reported that, as a final straw, Haywood got into a shouting match with his position coach, Bruce Kittle. He left the team, attempted to come back and then ultimately told us he was heading to Central Arkansas.
I thought the Central Arkansas coach’s comment about what happened at OU was interesting, also.
“It was addressed directly,” Clint Conque said. “We are all human. We all make mistakes. But we live in a society of second opportunities. But his situation at Oklahoma was addressed directly.”
Tight end already would have been a recruiting priority for the Sooners, who lost James Hanna and Trent Ratterree to graduation, but Haywood’s departure made it an even bigger need. Freshman Taylor McNamara, who was cleared Wednesday for enrollment, is expected to help, as is JUCO transfer Brannon Green. OU is still targeting other tight ends, both in the 2012 and 2013 classes.
= Trav
