TU football: 2010 recruiting bios
BY ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Feb 3, 2010
2/03/10 at 1:15 PM
JAKE ALEXANDER
Position: Offensive lineman
Height: 6-2
Weight: 274
High school: Jenks
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: The Tulsa World Metro Player of the Year has kept true to the commitment made before his junior season. He’s rated the country’s 10th-best center recruit by Rivals.com.
Immediate impact: Alexander, arguably the top player in this recruiting class, may be asked to produce immediately on an offensive line that needs additional talent and depth.
ZIK ASIEGBU
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
High school: Bowie High School (Arlington, Texas)
Scout ranking: None
Rivals ranking: None
Fast facts: Asiegbu was a signing-day pickup for the Golden Hurricane and comes from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which is stocked with talent.
Immediate impact: Asiegbu led his team in tackles as a senior and will battle for playing time in a recruiting class filled with defensive backs.
BRENTON BOGAR
Position: Defensive back
Height: 5-9
Weight: 170
High school: Muskogee
Scout ranking: 2 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: Bogar’s speed and explosiveness made him a target during the recruiting process. He was a playmaker on defense and special teams for Muskogee.
Immediate impact: Getting bigger and stronger may be the goal for Bogar in his first season. He does provide athleticism to the defensive backfield.
RELUS CHANCE
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Position: Defensive end
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
High school: Waxahachie, Texas
Scout ranking: 2 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: Chance was an all-state selection and considered the 33rd-best defensive end prospect nationally by Rivals.com.
Immediate impact: Chance’s speed and size are intriguing and he was a defensive force in high school. He could provide depth to the defensive line.
JA'TERIAN DOUGLAS
Position: Running back
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180
High school: Lamar (Arlington, Texas)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: Douglas rushed for 3,812 yards and 53 touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons. Rivals.com ranked him the 41st-best running back nationally.
Immediate impact: Douglas’ quickness could make him a candidate for carries in his freshman season. TU lacked a consistent run game last season.
DURRELL FINCH
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6-4
Weight: 220
Junior college: Chabot Community College (Hayward, Calif.)
High school: Castro Valley, Calif.
Scout ranking: None
Rivals ranking: None
Fast facts: Finch had 55 tackles last season, including 12.5 tackles for loss and a conference-leading eight sacks for Chabot.
Immediate impact: A very late addition to this year’s recruiting class, TU’s coaches wouldn’t have taken a chance on him unless they felt he could produce.
QUENTIN GEORGE
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Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220
High school: Van Buren, Ark.
Scout ranking: 2 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: George played three different positions in high school — defensive back (sophomore), outside linebacker (junior) and middle linebacker (senior).
Immediate impact: George was an anchor of Van Buren’s 3-5-3 defense, patrolling the middle. His size, strength and speed make him a possible contributor next season.
DERRICK HALL
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Position: Athlete
Height: 5-10
Weight: 210
Junior college: Navarro Junior College (Corsicana, Texas)
High school: Central (Beaumont, Texas)
Scout ranking: 1 star
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: Hall originally signed with Texas A&M and was an ESPNU Top 150 prospect nationally. He rushed for 1,011 yards and 14 TDs as a sophomore at Navarro.
Immediate impact: Hall, as expected from all junior college transfers, will make an immediate impact wherever the coaches decide to put him on the field.
DONNELL HAWKINS
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
High school: Copperas Cove, Texas
Scout ranking: 1 star
Rivals ranking: None
Fast facts: Hawkins has already enrolled and is on campus after graduating from high school at mid-semester. He had 92 tackles and two sacks last season.
Immediate impact: Hawkins will take part in spring drills and be ahead of all of the high school players that join the team in August.
KALEN HENDERSON
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Position: Quarterback
Height: 6-2
Weight: 192
High school: East St. John (LaPlace, La.)
Scout ranking: 2 stars
Rivals ranking: 2 stars
Fast facts: The lone quarterback in this year’s class, Henderson threw for 1,734 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for 534 yards and 11 TDs in his senior year.
Immediate impact: Henderson’s athleticism fits TU’s brand of offense. Perhaps a redshirt year, with three quality quarterbacks already on the depth chart?
ALEC HENRY
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Position: Defensive line
Height: 6-3
Weight: 304
High school: Union (Tulsa)
Scout ranking: 2 stars
Rivals ranking: 2 stars
Fast facts: Henry played on the offensive line for two-time defending champion Union, but will shift to the defensive line for Tulsa.
Immediate impact: Getting stronger and maturing fast could draw attention from the defensive line coaches, who are looking for depth.
TRES HOUSTON
Position: Defensive back
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
High school: Banneker (College Park, Ga.)
Scout ranking: 2
Rivals ranking: 3
Fast facts: One of Tulsa’s final pickups, Houston was beginning to draw late interest from Auburn and Clemson. He will play cornerback for TU.
Immediate impact: Houston will be one of many helping shore up the Hurricane’s secondary and has nice size for a cornerback.
MILTON HOWELL
Position: Defensive back
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
Junior college: Navarro Junior College (Corsicana, Texas)
High school: South Houston
Scout ranking: 2 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: Howell was Navarro’s QB before suffering a season-ending injury. He had 399 rushing yards and threw for nine scores in four games last year.
Immediate impact: Howell, who is already on campus, will shift to defensive back. His athleticism will mix well with the Hurricane’s aggressive defensive style.
BRION JAMES
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Position: Defensive back
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200
High school: Hahnville (Boutte, La.)
Scout ranking: 2 stars
Rivals ranking: None
Fast facts: Versatile athlete that’s a hard-hitter from his defensive back spot. His athleticism showed this season when he kicked a 48-yard field goal.
Immediate impact: James was a strong player in talent-rich Louisiana and has nice size that fits into Tulsa’s 3-3-5 defensive scheme.
DEWITT JENNINGS III
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Position: Defensive back
Height: 5-10
Weight: 200
High school: Bixby
Scout ranking: 1 star
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: Tulsa World readers picked Jennings as the Tulsa World metro player of the year. The running back had 3,078 career rushing yards and 242 tackles.
Immediate impact: Jennings’ focus will be on defense, where coaches will try to mold his athleticism into its aggressive scheme. Jennings could earn early time.
DEONTE MORRIS
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-4
Weight: 230
High school: Union (Tulsa)
Scout ranking: 1 star
Rivals ranking: 2 stars
Fast facts: Morris only had 11 catches heading into state title game, but broke out with three-reception state title game against Jenks, including a touchdown.
Immediate impact: Morris may be an ideal blocking tight end in Tulsa’s offensive scheme and could make timely catches, similar to Jake Collums.
MARCO NELSON
Position: Defensive back
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
High school: Glenpool
Scout ranking: 1 star
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: Nelson rushed for more than 4,700 yards and 62 touchdowns during his career, but will transition to defense in college.
Immediate impact: Nelson’s team-first attitude is readily accepted by TU’s coaches. The star high school running back has no problem playing defense.
MITCHELL OSBORNE
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Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
High school: Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
Scout ranking: 1 star
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: Osborne had an interception return for a TD for the East squad in last month’s Max Emfinger’s All-American Bowl Classic, a national all-star game.
Immediate impact: Linebacker is a point of emphasis in this year’s recruiting class, and TU received a solid commitment from Osborne.
JAMES ROBERSON
Position: Defensive back
Height: 6-2
Weight: 188
High school: Union (Tulsa)
Scout ranking: 2 stars
Rivals ranking: 2 stars
Fast facts: Roberson shifted to defensive back this season and was a solid contributor during Union’s regular season before becoming injured late in the year.
Immediate impact: Roberson will fight for some early playing time, but the key will be to get bigger, faster and stronger while staying healthy.
THOMAS ROBERSON
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-3
Weight: 196
High school: Union (Tulsa)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Roberson One of the top wide receivers in the state, he had 62 catches for 827 yards and 10 touchdowns. His TD kickoff return in last year’s 6A title game set the tone for a Union win.
Immediate impact: Roberson could make an instant impact for Tulsa, with his playmaking ability and an offense that spreads the ball to its receivers.
LUKE SNIDER
Position: Defensive back
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
High school: Union (Tulsa)
Scout ranking: 1 star
Rivals ranking: 2 stars
Fast facts: Snider is a hard-hitting safety that pursues the football well. His biggest benefit will be playing in Union’s 3-3-5 defensive scheme similar to Tulsa.
Immediate impact: The key for Snider may be taking advantage of a redshirt season to build strength for the transition to the college game.
ELDON THOMPSON
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-3
Weight: 238
High school: Warren, Ark.
Scout ranking: 2 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: The 16th overall prospect in Arkansas, Thompson brings very good size and strength to Tulsa’s linebacker corps.
Immediate impact: Thompson, with a strong August camp, could find himself on the playing field on defense or special teams if he can prove himself early.
TYRUNN WALKER
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6-3
Weight: 265
Junior college: Jones County Junior College (Ellisville, Miss.)
High school: Westgate (New Iberia, La.)
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: Walker was named a 2009 NJCAA first-team All-American after logging 50 tackles, seven sacks, four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Immediate impact: Walker will vie for instant playing time and will help a TU defensive line put pressure on quarterbacks off the edge.
COLE WAY
Position: Punter/kicker
Height: 6-8
Weight: 205
High school: Union (Tulsa)
Scout ranking: None
Rivals ranking: None
Fast facts: Way is also an outstanding baseball pitcher for the Redskins. His brother Tress was one of the nation’s top punters at Oklahoma last season.
Immediate impact: It’s probably likely that Way could redshirt because TU is solid at punter and kicker. He could also grayshirt to explore pro baseball options.
DARRELL ZELLARS
Position: Defensive lineman
Height: 6-2
Weight: 291
Junior college: Hutchinson (Kan.) Junior College
High school: Westside (Anderson, S.C.)
Scout ranking: 2 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast facts: A two-year starter for Hutchinson, he had 67 tackles — including 26 tackles for loss — and four sacks in his sophomore season.
Immediate impact: Coaches are excited about Zellars, who is already on campus. His ability to blow up plays could be a big boost to the TU defense.
