Oklahoma 2012 recruiting bios
BY JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Feb 1, 2012
2/01/12 at 7:51 PM
Updated as of noon
Players with an (*) are commitments who have not yet signed with the school.
DANIEL BROOKS
Position: Athlete
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
High school: Port Lavaca (Texas) Calhoun
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: One of the Sooners’ earliest verbal commitments in the 2012 class, Brooks pledged last March.
Immediate impact: Might best project immediately as a defensive back, but good enough to be a future contributor at wide receiver.
TY DARLINGTON
Position: Center
Height: 6-3
Weight: 275
High school: Apopka, Fla.
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Ranked No. 2 in the nation among high school centers by Rivals.com and Scout.com.
Immediate impact: Senior Ben Habern is the starter in 2012, and will again be backed up by Gabe Ikard; likely will compete for job in 2013.
KASSEIM EVERETT
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Last school: Pierce (Calif.) College
High school: Philadelphia (Pa.) Roman Catholic
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Originally committed to Texas Tech in a signing ceremony, but changed his mind later that day, signed with OU and is already in school.
Immediate impact: Will immediately be in the running for the starting boundary corner job vacated by Jamell Fleming (though the Sooners might change to right-left).
COURTNEY GARDNER
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
High school: Sierra (Nev.) College
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Gardner was previously a verbal commitment to Arkansas. He reportedly caught 61 passes for more than 1,100 yards and 14 TDs in 2011.
Immediate impact: Oklahoma needs consistency at the wide receiver position, on and off the field. If Gardner can provide that, he’s good enough to start this fall.
SAM GRANT
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-5
Weight: 240
High school: North Royalton (Ohio) St. Edward
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Committed to OU on Monday, becoming the Sooners’ fourth TE commitment of the 2012 class.
Immediate impact: Regarded as a talented receiver (16-252-3), but helped clear the way for almost three 1,000-yard runners.
BRANNON GREEN
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-4
Weight: 260
Last school: Fort Scott (Kansas) CC
High school: Altamont (Kansas) Labette County
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Nicknamed “Moose,” Green originally committed to Connecticut and is most valued for his blocking; already in school at OU.
Immediate impact: With good bulk and plenty of juco experience, put Green in the starter’s role from Day 1.
TREVOR KNIGHT
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
High school: San Antonio Reagan
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Three-year starting dual-threat QB who ran for 943 yards and 15 TDs and passed for 2,092 yards and 27 TDs (with three INTs) his senior year.
Immediate impact: When Landry Jones finishes, Blake Bell and Drew Allen get the next shot; likely would compete with Kendal Thompson in the future.
WILL LATU
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6-5
Weight: 315
Last school: College of the Canyons, Calif.
High school: Tampa (Fla.) Gibbs
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: No. 1-ranked juco OT in the nation originally committed to West Virginia, then switched to Auburn, then OU on Sunday.
Immediate impact: With two-year starter Donald Stevenson graduated, Latu figures to start immediately either at LT or RT if Lane Johnson switches sides.
KYLE MARRS
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6-6
Weight: 302
High school: San Antonio Brandeis
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Oklahoma’s first verbal commitment of the 2012 class, he pledged on Feb. 2, 2011.
Immediate impact: Coaches like his length and quick feet, but it’s unusual for a freshman to play OL; projects as a future starter.
JOHN MICHAEL McGEE
Position: Offensive line
Height: 6-4
Weight: 260
High school: Texarkana (Texas) Texas HS
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Committed since June, he’s been one of the Sooners’ most vocal and active recruiters on Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere.
Immediate impact: The line is mostly set for 2012, but McGee brings a gritty toughness and attitude that will allow him to compete for a starting job in the future.
TAYLOR McNAMARA
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-5
Weight: 235
High school: San Diego Westview
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Long ranked as the No. 2 prep TE nationally by Rivals, but since has slipped to No. 7 (No. 19 by Scout); already in school at OU.
Immediate impact: McNamara’s pass-catching skills give him a chance to play early if the Sooners continue to utilize multiple-TE formations.
TREY METOYER
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
Last school: Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy
High school: Whitehouse, Texas
Scout ranking: 5 stars
Rivals ranking: 5 stars
Fast fact: Originally a member of the 2011 class, Metoyer had to spend last fall playing prep school ball; academically cleared last week and is already in school at OU.
Immediate impact: Metoyer’s 252 catches ranks him second in Texas HS history; could be OU’s most talented WR, but must adjust to the work ethic and speed of college.
DURRON NEAL
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
High school: St. Louis (Mo.) De Smet Jesuit
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Said via Twitter he would have decommitted if WR coach Jay Norvell had taken the OC job at Wisconsin; Norvell stayed, so did Neal.
Immediate impact: Still needs to adjust to the advanced level of college football, but seems to have the skills and attitude to contribute in 2012.
CHAZ NELSON
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6-3
Weight: 240
Last school: Garden City (Kan.) CC
High school: Columbus (Ohio) Beechcroft
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: First-team junior college All-American who enrolled early and is already in school at OU.
Immediate impact: OU has immediate openings to replace Ronnell Lewis and Frank Alexander; Nelson gets an early look as the starter opposite David King this spring.
MIKE ONUOHA
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6-7
Weight: 230
High school: Edmond Santa Fe
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Onuoha committed late Tuesday night, picking OU over Missouri. He had been recruited previously as a tight end, as well.
Immediate impact: The bottom line on Onuohu is he needs to get bigger and stronger. He has a frame some have listed at 6-7, but his weight also has been listed as 220.
GARY SIMON
Position: Defensive back
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
High school: St. Petersburg (Fla.) Gibbs
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: It’s important to Simon to that he also gets a shot at playing basketball, and he says Bob Stoops told him he could. Simon averages 17 points per game in hoops.
Immediate impact: With what his coach says is a vertical jump of 44 inches to go with good corner skills and great speed, Simon is athletic enough to have a chance to play DB as a freshman.
ALEX ROSS
Position: Running back
Height: 6-1
Weight: 205
High school: Jenks
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Injured most of 2012, Ross rushed for 676 yards and 11 TDs in 6 games; in 2010 he rushed for 1,548 yards (12.7 per carry) and 27 TDs.
Immediate impact: Ross has the athletic tools to play now, but his 2012 impact could be in jeopardy because he has yet to qualify academically.
ZACK SANCHEZ
Position: Defensive back
Height: 6-0
Weight: 172
High school: Keller (Texas) Central
Scout ranking: not ranked
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Sanchez, who said he grew up an OU fan and attended junior camp in Norman last year, was previously committed to Baylor before switching to OU Monday.
Immediate impact: If Sanchez can get his playing weight up to around 185, he could contribute early on special teams.
STERLING SHEPARD
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
High school: OKC Heritage Hall
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Son of former Sooner (and NFL) WR Derrick Shepard, high school teammate with Barry J. Sanders.
Immediate impact: Shepard is instinctive and quick, which puts him in immediate contention to replace Ryan Broyles as the Sooners’ go-to slot receiver.
DAVID SMITH
Position: Running back
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
High school: Midlothian (Ill.) Bremen
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Smith had a limited role in a new offense in 2011, rushing 95 times for 533 yards and six touchdowns.
Immediate impact: With Dom Whaley on the mend, the Sooners might be in the market for an every-down back who runs physical and breaks tackles.
ERIC STRIKER
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
High school: Seffner (Fla.) Armwood
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Ranked as the No. 18 LB nationally by Rivals.com and the No. 61 outside LB by Scout.com.
Immediate impact: Limited LB size means he could start out playing OU’s “Jack” position, a safety/LB hybrid, though a redshirt seems likely.
CHARLES TAPPER
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6-4
Weight: 255
High school: Baltimore (Md.) City College HS
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Also projected as a TE, Tapper chose OU over offers from Miami (Fla.), Penn State and West Virgina, among others.
Immediate impact: The Sooners have spots available, but it’s been historically rare for a true freshman to play DE in Norman.
JORDAN WADE
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6-4
Weight: 290
High school: Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas)
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Signed with the Sooners last year but didn’t qualify academically and had to grayshirt, meaning he didn’t play football but went to school full time.
Immediate impact: OU already has a three-man starting rotation, but all three are seniors. That means Wade (and Jordan Phillips and others) need to start getting playing time.
DERRICK WOODS
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
High school: Inglewood, Calif.
Scout ranking: 4 stars
Rivals ranking: 4 stars
Fast fact: Wants to play WR and projects there at OU, but Scout.com ranks him as the 15th best HS safety in the nation.
Immediate impact: Woods would have to wait on defense but he might contribute quickly on offense; he’ll be in the mix for kick return duties, too.
DAMIEN WILLIAMS
Position: Running back
Height: 6-1
Weight: 215
Last school: Arizona Western College (Yuma, Ariz.)
High school: San Diego Mira Mesa
Scout ranking: 3 stars
Rivals ranking: 3 stars
Fast fact: Led the NJCAA last season with 31 TDs and 1,931 yards (next-best was 1,477) to go with 317 receiving yards and 389 return yards. Williams helped his team to a national runner-up finish.
Immediate impact: Depending on Dominique Whaley’s availability for training camp after a broken ankle, Williams — a quick, powerful, slashing runner — could become a starter early in the season.
