OSU signing day analysis
Published: 2/7/2007 6:58 PM
Last Modified: 2/7/2007 6:58 PM
Analysis of OSU's signing day by Bill Haisten, the World's OSU football beat writer:
BREAKING DOWN THE CLASS
The class: Another strong class for Oklahoma State. The Cowboys signed seven players who were rated by Scout.com as being four-star national recruits. A five-star rating is Scout.com’s highest. As of Wednesday afternoon, OSU’s 2007 class was ranked 23rd nationally. OSU’s 2006 class was ranked No. 16.
Offensive overview: Oklahoma State emphasized its commitment to the passing game by signing four wide receivers and two tight ends. Among the wideouts, Dez Bryant of Lufkin, Texas, seems to have star potential. At one time during the recruiting process, he seemed destined for LSU. The Cowboys also signed an offensive tackle, Nick Martinez of Floresville, Texas, who played in the U.S. Army All-American game. With Bobby Reid having two more seasons of eligibility, Zac Robinson three seasons and Alex Cate four seasons, the Cowboys did not recruit a quarterback.
Offensive needs: Tailback Dantrell Savage has only one remaining season of eligibility, so after the 2007 season, OSU will need depth behind Keith Toston. The Cowboys signed running back Kendall Hunter of John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas. A small, fast back, Hunter is cut from the Savage mold. OSU also signed Adrian Moore of Pine Bluff, Ark. The 6-foot, 205-pound Moore is listed as a safety, but eventually could be shifted to the tailback position. He missed his sophomore season because of an injury and was sidelined as a junior because of a transfer rule. As a senior quarterback, he rushed for nearly 2,300 yards.
Offensive headliner: Dez Bryant. Signing Bryant was a major recruiting triumph for OSU.
Offensive sleeper: Damian Davis. A 6-5 wide receiver, he had 1,082 receiving yards as a prep senior.
Offensive immediate impact: Dez Bryant. Chose Oklahoma State over LSU.
Defensive overview: In Richetti Jones of Dallas Lincoln and Tonga Tea of Snow (Utah) College, Oklahoma State signed two of the highest-rated linemen in the country. Cowboy coaches hope 320-pound Ahmad Jones and 300-pound Quinton Prince can plug holes in the middle. OSU also brought in two additional four-star recruits ' linebacker Jared Glover of Bixby and cornerback William Cole of Cedar Hill, Texas. Kenny Alexander and Marcus Richardson add depth to a young linebacking corps.
Defensive needs: Because of the graduation of Victor DeGrate, Darnell Smith and Marque Fountain, the Cowboys are thin at the end positions. Richetti Jones will have the opportunity to play immediately. Tonga Tea, a 300-pound junior college All-American, may start at tackle. Most prominent among the secondary newcomers is William Cole, who is said to be a tremendous athlete. As a senior quarterback, Cole led his prep team to Texas' Class 5A Division II title. In the championship game, he rushed for 290 yards. His 2006 season totals -- 2,900 rushing yards, 1,600 passing yards.
Defensive headliner: Richetti Jones. Provides blazing speed off the edge.
Defensive sleeper: William Cole. He may be too good to keep off the field.
Defensive immediate impact: Tonga Tea. Already enrolled and should be a difference-maker in the middle.
Q&A WITH RECRUIT RICHETTI JONES
A SuperPrep All-American defensive end from Dallas Lincoln, Richetti Jones signed with Oklahoma State on Wednesday. He spoke with the World's OSU football beat writer Bill Haisten:
After you announced your commitment to OSU in September, how persistent were recruiters representing other schools?
"The last couple of weeks, people have been leaving me alone. They knew I was going to Oklahoma State. When I got hurt, Oklahoma State was still with me. After I got hurt, nobody else called except for Oklahoma State. I always knew where I stood with Oklahoma State."
You sustained a dislocated hip during the 2006 season. What is your status?
"My rehab is going great. My hip is progressing really fast. I get better every day."
Talk about your relationship with OSU assistant coach Curtis Luper, who was most prominent in the Cowboys' recruiting of you, and head coach Mike Gundy.
"Two of the coolest coaches I met during this whole thing. I can see myself playing hard for those guys -- putting it all on the line."
What are your expectations for your freshman season?
"My first priority is to get my hip back in shape. After that, I want to play."
Do you expect to be on the field when the Cowboys open the 2007 season at Georgia?
"I don't want to just be on the field. I want to make an impact in that first game."
Q&A WITH BEAT WRITER BILL HAISTEN
What was the big news of the day?
The signing of four-star national recruits out of Texas – defensive end Richetti Jones (Dallas, Lincoln), wide receiver Dez Bryant (Lufkin, Texas) and cornerback William Cole (Cedar Hill, Texas).
Will any of these guys play immediately?
Each of the three has a chance to play in the 2007 season-opener at Georgia. If Jones recovers completely from a dislocated hip, he could start in the Georgia game. Bryant and Cole have the basic football talent to start right away but may need more time to learn the system. With Jones, there’s no system to it. Just explode at the pop of the snap and go.
Oklahoma State has made a strong recruiting push in Texas and landed some big names again. How strong was the Texas connection overall?
Of the 23 players signed on Wednesday, 16 are from Texas. Since Gundy became the head coach, 46 of 72 players signed have come from Texas.
What did Mike Gundy say about Ryan Broyles (who signed with OU after committing to OSU)?
Gundy didn’t specifically mention Broyles by name, but he did say, however, that he was not surprised by anything that happened all Wednesday morning.
OSU SIGNINGS LIST
x-Kenny Alexander LB 6-1 210 Fr. McKinney, Texas (North)
Hubert Anyiam, WR, Garland, Texas (North)
Jamie Blatnick, DE, Celina, Texas (Celina)
Desmond Bryant, WR, Lufkin, Texas
William Cole, CB, Cedar Hill, Texas
Josh Cooper, WR, Mustang
Damian Davis, WR, Mart, Texas
x-Deron Fontenot S 5-10 200 Fr. Grand Prairie, Texas (South)
Grant Garner, OL, Mesquite, Texas (North)
Jared Glover, LB, Bixby
Kendall Hunter, RB, Tyler, Texas (John Tyler)
Ahmad Jones, DL, Silsbee, Texas
Richetti Jones, DE, Dallas, Texas (Lincoln)
Nick Martinez, OL, Floresville, Texas
Adrian Moore, S, Pine Bluff, Ark.
Quinton Prince, DL, Oklahoma City (Heritage Hall)
Jacolby Reed, DB, Houston, Texas (Jersey Village)
Marcus Richardson, LB, Seguin, Texas
Jonathan Rush, OL, Killeen, Texas
x-Tonga Tea, Jr. DL 6-0 315 Jr. Anchorage, Alaska (East HS/Snow JC)
James Thomas, DB, La Marque, Texas
Marc Yerry, Deep Snapper, Waxhaw, N.C. (Weddington)
Wilson Youman, TE, St. Martinville, La. (St. Martinville)
x-Already enrolled at OSU
Written by
Mike Strain
News Editor
