Wagoner's Peterson switches commitment from OU to OSU
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
1/24/12 at 5:31 AM
Wagoner football standout Kevin Peterson switched his verbal commitment from Oklahoma to Oklahoma State on Monday after visiting Stillwater over the weekend.
"I wanted to make sure I had everything right," Peterson said. "I talked to my parents (Monday night), and we decided it was time to go ahead and make the move."
OSU recruited Peterson as a cornerback and kick/punt returner. He also was a running back, receiver and Wildcat quarterback last season while leading the Bulldogs to their first state championship in Class 4A.
Last month, Peterson was named the Tulsa World's state player of the year. He finished the season with 1,621 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns on only 141 carries. At receiver, he had 12 catches for 189 yards and three TDs. On defense, Peterson had 42 tackles and three interceptions.
He also is a track star, capturing Class 4A state titles in the 100- (10.86 seconds) and 200-meter (22.21) dashes last season.
At 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, Peterson is a three-star prospect, according to Scout.com. Despite being a longtime OSU fan, he verbally committed to OU in mid-December.
The next day, OSU offered, but it wasn't until defensive backs coach Willie Martinez and defensive coordinator Brent Venables left Oklahoma that Peterson started to rethink his choice, said his high school coach, Dale Condict.
"Coach Martinez from OU in particular did a great job of building a relationship with him, felt really comfortable with him," Condict said Monday night. "Then coach Venables came in and started building a relationship with him.
"When those two both left, I think his comfort level really started to waver."
OSU coach Mike Gundy recently traveled to Wagoner for an in-home visit with Peterson and his parents, and then Peterson went to Stillwater on an official visit.
"They had a great weekend," Condict said. "I think Mom and Dad really liked it. He really connected with several of the players."
Telling OU he changed his mind was the hardest part, Peterson said.
"It was tough," he said. "I'm not going to lie."
Peterson said he is glad the recruiting process is finally over.
"I've put so much thought over the last couple months into this, and to get everything done will be great to just relax and go through my senior year without any pressure," he said.
Also on Monday, Jhajuan Seales, a 6-1, 180-pound receiver from Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial, switched his commitment from Houston to OSU, according to GoPokes.com. He is the fifth Cowboy commitment in two days, bringing the total to 21 for the Class of 2012.
Verbal commitments are nonbinding. High school recruits can sign national letters of intent Feb. 1.
OSU 2012 commitments
WR Jhajuan Seales, 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial; CB Kevin Peterson, 5-11, 170, Wagoner; OG Chris Grishby, 6-5, 315, Blinn (Texas) College, Brenham (Texas); OT Michael Wilson, 6-6, 250, Aledo, Texas; WR Chance Allen, 6-2, 190, Missouri City, Texas; DT Calvin Barnett, 6-3, 283, Navarro (Texas) College, Tulsa (Booker T. Washington HS); TE Blake Jackson, 6-4, 232, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College, Gilbert, Ariz.; QB Wes Lunt, 6-5, 205, Rochester, Ill.; WR C.J. Curry, 6-2, 210, Flowery Branch, Ga.; WR Brandon Sheperd, 6-2, 185, Chesterfield, Mo. (Parkway Central); TE Zac Veatch, 6-4, 235, Broken Arrow; DE Trace Clark, 6-4, 225, Wichita (Kan.) Collegiate School; DE Victor Irokansi, 6-3, 220, Pflugerville, Texas; DE Eric Davis, 6-2, 240, Tyler (Texas) John Tyler; DE Emmanuel Ogbah, 6-4, 230, Sugar Land (Texas) George Bush; WR Blake Webb, 5-11, 175, The Woodlands, Texas; OL Paul Lewis, 6-2, 280, Galena Park (Texas) North Shore; OT Greg Brantley, 6-6, 305, Carthage, Texas; LB Dominic Ramacher, 6-3, 225, Denton (Texas) Guyer; S Ashton Lampkin, 5-11, 170, Fort Worth Dunbar; LB Jeremiah Tshimanga, 6-2, 220, Richland Hills, Texas.
Original Print Headline: Peterson switches commitment to Cowboys
Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com
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