OSU's 2010 commitment list rated No. 10 nationally
Published: 8/20/2009 10:58 PM
Last Modified: 8/20/2009 10:58 PM
A lot can happen between now and Feb. 3, when college football recruits may sign national letters of intent. It's quite common for a prospect to switch commitments. Last year, Sand Springs offensive tackle Michael Bowie committed to Kansas State and then to Texas Tech before signing with Oklahoma State.
For the time being, however, OSU appears to be on track to sign what would be the highest-rated recruiting class of the Mike Gundy era.
As of Thursday, OSU's collection of 2010 commitments is rated No. 10 nationally by Scout.com. The Cowboy commitment list currently is rated ahead of Southern Cal's, ahead of Tennessee's, ahead of Notre Dame's and ahead of Ohio State's. Nebraska's list is rated No. 50.
And clearly, the OSU emphasis is on defense. New defensive coordinator Bill Young was hired to completely redefine the Oklahoma State defensive product. OSU's current recruiting effort is a reflection of an effort to get it done immediately.
Of the 20 players on the Cowboys' 2010 commitment list, 13 are defensive players. Five of the 13 are rated by Scout.com as four-star national prospects: safety-linebacker Tommie Saunders (Madison High School in San Antonio), defensive tackle Calvin Barnett (Tulsa's Booker T. Washington High School), outside linebacker Shaun Lewis (Hightower High School in Sugar Land, Texas), defensive end Chase Rome (Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Mo.) and outside linebacker Caleb Lavey (Celina, Texas).
The last few days have been sensational for the Cowboys. On Aug. 13, there was the Lewis commitment. On Tuesday, there was a commitment from Diamonte Wheeler, a three-star defensive tackle from Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas. On Wednesday, there were commitments from Barnett and three-star cornerback Devin Hedgepeth of Derby, Kan. On Thursday, there was the Saunders commitment. Saunders is an Andre Sexton type who eventually may be suited for OSU's star linebacker role.
Fifteen of the 20 committed players are Texans.
Even as their 2009 recruiting class was rated 45th nationally by Scout.com and their 2008 class was rated 40th, the Cowboys have surged into the national-title conversation. If their coaches can continue to recruit at this level, they may stay in that conversation for years to come.
-- Bill Haisten

Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer