OSU football: 2010 recruiting bios
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Feb 3, 2010
2/03/10 at 6:59 PM
GERRON ANTHONY
Position: Guard
Height: 6-3
Weight: 315
High school: John Tyler (Tyler, Texas)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Following an unofficial visit to the OSU campus in July, Anthony became the first offensive lineman to commit to the Cowboys.
Immediate impact: With a 315-pound frame and big weight-lifting numbers, Anthony may be physically more advanced than most incoming freshmen at offensive line positions.
KRIS CATLIN
Position: Outside linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 215
High school: Madison (San Antonio)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Catlin also is a sprinter for the Madison track team and has a 32-inch vertical leap. He was recruited also by Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Colorado, and Arizona.
Immediate impact: It seems likely that Catlin would be redshirted this year, but OSU lost both outside linebacker starters. Catlin will have a chance to impress the coaches in August.
DAVID COLLINS
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Position: Defensive end
Height: 6-6
Weight: 255
High school: Bearden, Ark.
Scout ranking: 2 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Collins was a late addition to the OSU commitment list, and one recruiting Web site reported that the Cowboys "got a massive steal." Bearden led his high school team to two Arkansas Class 2A state titles.
Immediate impact: It's almost a certainty that Collins will be redshirted. If he weighs 240 now, he would weigh 265 or more by the start of the 2011 season.
LAVOCHEYA COOPER
Position: Safety
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
High school: Arp, Texas
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Cooper committed to Oklahoma State in July, but TCU continued an aggressive recruiting campaign into January. He was voted the MVP of his district.
Immediate impact: For 2010, the Cowboys are nicely outfitted at the safety positions. Cooper probably gets a redshirt season, coming back in 2011 with a solid knowledge of Bill Young's defense.
ZACHARY CRAIG
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Position: Safety
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180
High school: Smithson Valley (Spring Branch, Texas)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: In September, Craig switched his commitment from Colorado to OSU. Both of his parents are OSU graduates, so Craig immediately accepted Mike Gundy's scholarship offer.
Immediate impact: OSU probably won't need immediate contributions from first-year freshman safeties, so Craig seems destined for a redshirt year.
JOHNNY DEATON
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Position: Quarterback
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195
High school: Charles Page (Sand Springs)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: After passing for 1,818 yards and rushing for 1,665 in 2008, Deaton entered 2009 as the Tulsa World's top-ranked area high school player. He missed more than half of the season with a collarbone injury.
Immediate impact: Deaton enrolled early at Oklahoma State for one reason – to participate in spring practice and compete with Brandon Weeden for the starting job at QB.
ELI DICKERSON
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6-6
Weight: 280
High school: College Park (The Woodlands, Texas)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: After attending the Nov. 14 Texas Tech-OSU game in Stillwater, Dickerson switched his commitment from Rice to the Cowboys.
Immediate impact: When tackle Parker Graham signed with OSU last year, he weighed about 245 pounds. He now weighs close to 300. Dickerson will be redshirted, benefiting from the Rob Glass weight program that should take him well beyond 300 pounds.
CHRIS DINKINS
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205
High school: Lee (Tyler, Texas)
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: In July, Dinkins switched his commitment from TCU to OSU. He may be the best athlete in OSU's 2010 class. For the Lee track team, he is a sprinter and long jumper.
Immediate impact: OSU's new Dana Holgerson offense can't thrive without speed receivers, and Dinkins reportedly runs a 4.4 40. He'll have a chance to play this season.
JUSTIN GILBERT
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Position: Cornerback
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
High school: Huntsville, Texas
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: At the Fox Sports/Scout.com combine workout in Austin, Gilbert ran a 4.46 40 on a grass surface. After that, he became a hot commodity.
Immediate impact: Gilbert also was a quarterback in high school, but he'll play defense for a Cowboy program starved for cornerback talent and depth.
DEVIN HEDGEPETH
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
High school: Derby, Kan.
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: As a wide receiver in 2009, he totaled more than 50 catches for about 900 yards and eight touchdowns. As a defensive back, he had three interceptions.
Immediate impact: Hedgepeth already has enrolled at OSU, so he'll be in the cornerback rotation during spring practice.
DEION IMADE
Position: Safety
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
High school: Rowlett, Texas
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Imade was among Oklahoma State's earliest commitments, announcing in April that he would sign with the Cowboys.
Immediate impact: Imade has Big 12-caliber speed at the safety position, but a redshirt year is probable. He would be more effective at 200 pounds than at 177.
JACOB JENKINS
Position: Guard
Height: 6-3
Weight: 255
High school: Gilmer, Texas
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Jenkins anchored the offensive line for a Gilmer team that defeated Abilene Wylie in the Texas Class 3A state championship game.
Immediate impact: Having switched his commitment from Missouri, Jenkins will likely play the center position at OSU.
KEVIN JOHNSON
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Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
High school: Cypress Ridge (Houston)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: During the 2009 season, Johnson rushed for 485 yards (7.5 per attempt) and had 24 receptions (17.2-yard average). Scholarship offers came also from Arizona, Arkansas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas and Iowa State.
Immediate impact: Any wide receiver with speed has a chance to play right away in Dana Holgorsen's system. Johnson can run. He reportedly has 4.4 speed.
DAN KOENIG
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6-6
Weight: 260
High school: Cape Coral, Fla.
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Koenig is the younger brother of former OSU linemen Doug and David Koenig. Dan Koenig also had scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee, Nebraska, Missouri, Miami (Fla.) and North Carolina.
Immediate impact: Koenig is the type of fundamentally polished lineman who could wind up starting for three or even four seasons, but it's almost a certainty that he will be redshirted in 2010.
CALEB LAVEY
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Position: Middle linebacker
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
High school: Celina, Texas
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Lavey graduated early from high school and enrolled at Oklahoma State. He will participate in spring practice. He chose the Cowboys over, among others, Florida, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State.
Immediate impact: With above-average speed and tremendous tackling, Lavey was a fantastic high school linebacker. Don't be surprised if he winds up in the rotation as a first-year freshman.
SHAUN LEWIS
Position: Outside linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 210
High school: Hightower (Sugar Land, Texas)
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Having chosen OSU over more than 40 possible college destinations, Lewis was a nominee for the Houston Touchdown Club's defensive player of the year award.
Immediate impact: Because of his speed, Lewis is compared to former Cowboy linebacker Donald Booker. Like Lavey, Lewis has a chance to play right away.
CHRISTIAN LITTLEHEAD
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6-3
Weight: 305
High school: Sequoyah (Tahlequah)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: After flirting briefly with OU in September, Littlehead announced his Oklahoma State commitment.
Immediate impact: If Littlehead is redshirted as expected, it would give him a year to work on his speed and footwork.
STEPHEN MAEWEATHER
Position: Middle linebacker
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
High school: Sharpstown (Houston)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: In June, Maeweather became the first defensive player on OSU's 2010 commitment list. He chose the Cowboys over UCLA, Baylor, Missouri, Houston, Purdue, Texas Tech, and TCU.
Immediate impact: If Maeweather were to weigh 225-235 by the start of August camp, it would enhance his chance at playing this year.
MALCOLM MURRAY
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Position: Cornerback
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205
Junior college: Mt. San Antonio College (Calif.)
High school: Junipero Serra, San Mateo, Calif.
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: The graduation of Perrish Cox and Terrance Anderson, along with a serious neck injury sustained by Andrew McGee, left the Cowboys extremely thin at corner. The coaches were thrilled to find Murray, who already is enrolled at OSU.
Immediate impact: When spring practice begins on March 8, Murray – the only junior-college transfer in the 2010 class – will be on the field with the No. 1 defense.
MONTRA NELSON
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
High school: Bowie (Arlington, Texas)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: On Feb. 28, Nelson and his parents were in Stillwater for a Junior Day tour of Oklahoma State's football facilities. The next day, he announced his commitment to the Cowboys.
Immediate impact: In high school, Nelson was a big, physical slot receiver. That kind of pass-catcher will get immediate consideration in Dana Holgorsen's quick-strike spread attack.
JOSEPH OKAFOR
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6-7
Weight: 250
High school: Bellaire, Texas
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: After watching a Bellaire game last season, a recruiting scout wrote that Okafor "constantly (got) pressure on the quarterback. ... He might be better suited for the inside, where his long arms could cause problems on any passes down the middle."
Immediate impact: Whether he is used at end or tackle, Okafor will be given a chance to play his way into the rotation.
JOSEPH RANDLE
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Position: Running back
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
High school: Southeast (Wichita, Kan.)
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Rated by Scout as the nation's No. 21 running back prospect, Randle committed to OSU in October. New Kansas coach Turner Gill attempted to attract Randle to Lawrence, but Randle stuck to his Cowboy decision.
Immediate impact: In spite of joining the deepest and most talented returning position group in the OSU program, Randle says he wants to earn immediate playing time.
TOMMIE SAUNDERS
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Position: Safety
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
High school: Madison (San Antonio)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: After an expected scholarship offer from Texas A&M didn't come, Saunders committed to Oklahoma State in August.
Immediate impact: The 2010 season likely is a redshirt period for Saunders. When he grows to 210 pounds or beyond, he could be ideal for OSU's star linebacker position.
NATE SORENSON
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200
High school: Texas High (Texarkana)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Sorenson is an outstanding all-around athlete who ran the third leg of Texas High's 2009 state championship 4-by-200 relay team. He also played center field for Texas High's state title baseball team.
Immediate impact: A lefty, Sorenson doesn't arrive in Stillwater until June. He'll be behind Brandon Weeden and Johnny Deaton in terms of learning the new offense, but has the talent to make it interesting in August.
LARRY STEPHENS
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
High school: North Shore (Galena Park, Texas)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Former Cowboy QB Bobby Reid attended North Shore. The 2007 Reid controversy apparently didn't hurt OSU's relationship with the school. From North Shore, the Cowboys have signed two cornerbacks – Andrae May last year and now Stephens.
Immediate impact: Because Bill Young is so anxious to develop depth, all Cowboy cornerbacks – including a rookie like Stephens – will be given the chance to play this season.
JAVIUS TOWNSEND
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6-4
Weight: 280
High school: Madison (Dallas)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Townsend rescinded his Texas Tech commitment after Mike Leach was fired in Lubbock. After visiting OSU on Jan. 22-23, Townsend committed to the Cowboys.
Immediate impact: Line coach Joe Wickline hasn't been afraid to use freshmen, but Townsend may need to add 25 pounds before he becomes a factor at tackle.
DIAMONTE WHEELER
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6-3
Weight: 255
High school: Bowie (Arlington, Texas)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Wheeler says a significant factor in his commitment was that his parents had a positive relationship with OSU assistant coach Doug Meacham.
Immediate impact: If Wheeler remains at a tackle position, he'll need more bulk. A redshirt season seems likely.
