Jeffcoat chooses Texas over OU
Published: 1/29/2010 10:16 AM
Last Modified: 1/29/2010 11:08 AM
By John E. Hoover
World Sports Writer
Jackson Jeffcoat is a Longhorn.
The defensive end prospect from West High School in Plano, Texas, and the son of former Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills defensive end Jim Jeffcoat, chose Texas over Oklahoma and Houston Friday during an announcement ceremony from his high school gymnasium.
At the start of the ceremony, with his father seated to his left and his mother to his right, Jeffcoat put on a burnt orange Texas hat, then took questions from the press.
"I felt most comfortable at Texas," he said. "But I definitely felt comfortable at Houston, and I definitely felt comfortable at Oklahoma."
After the press conference, in response to a fan shouting "Texas!" Jeffcoat, wearing his dark blue West letterman's jacket, held up the "Hook 'Em Horns" sign and laughed.
Jeffcoat's father is a University of Houston assistant. There has been much speculation that Jim Jeffcoat might become the Sooners' next defensive ends coach, filling the vacancy created when Chris Wilson took a co-coordinator's post at Mississippi State.
There also was much speculation that his father's possible employment at Oklahoma, and his twin sister's having signed in November to play basketball at OU, might sway Jackson Jeffcoat to the Sooners.
Jeffcoat is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound pass rusher coveted by every college team in the country.
He's ranked as the nation's No. 2 overall prospect by both Scout.com and ESPNU.com, and is ranked 12th nationally by Rivals.com. He and offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson are the only two prospects awarded a five-star rating by all three services.
While the Sooners may have lost out on Jeffcoat, they could be close to getting a commitment from Corey Nelson, a linebacker/defensive end from Dallas Skyline. Nelson is the No. 5-ranked player in the nation according to Scout.com, but is ranked 62nd in the ESPN 150 and isn't among the Rivals100.
Nelson originally committed to Texas A&M. A Friday morning report by OUESPN.com had Nelson de-committing from A&M and committing to OU, but other Web sites refuted that report, which was later taken down from both the OUESPN and the ESPNU Web sites.
Nelson is reportedly trying to decide between OU and A&M and whether he still wants to take a scheduled visit this weekend to USC.
Oklahoma currently has five players from this year's class on campus, and verbal pledges from another 24.
Verbal commitments are non-binding, and prospects can't sign letters of intent until Wednesday.
John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
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John E. Hoover
Sports Columnist
