OSU football notebook: Oh so close
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Sunday, January 20, 2013
1/25/13 at 2:31 PM
OSU went down to the wire on the nation's No. 1 recruiting prospect before Laquon Treadwell of Crete, Ill., announced Thursday that he will sign with Mississippi. He picked the Rebels over OSU and OU.
What does Mississippi have that OSU doesn't? Anthony Standifer.
Standifer, an Ole Miss defensive back, is Treadwell's former high school teammate.
"Anthony has always been one of my best friends," Treadwell was quoted as saying in the Chicago Tribune. "When he decided to go there I was like, 'Why Ole Miss?' But you never know until you visit a place. I went there a couple times and I fell in love."
Big weekend: From a numbers standpoint, this is OSU's biggest weekend of the recruiting season.
According to GoPokes.com, 19 prospects are scheduled to visit campus. Of those, 16 are already committed to OSU. The three uncommitted visitors, according to GoPokes.com, are defensive end Tyus Bowser of John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas; running back Rennie Childs of Cypress Ridge High School in Houston; and receiver Cody Chancellor of Bishop McGuinness.
Upon further review: USA Today has been naming an All-USA high school team for 30 years. In honor of the anniversary, the newspaper named an all-time All-USA team last week. Among 24 players making the list was running back Thurman Thomas, who, of course, played at OSU while on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Though former OSU receiver Hart Lee Dykes didn't make the cut for the 30th anniversary team, he was USA Today's national offensive player of the year in 1984, when Booker T. Washington's Melvin Gilliam joined him on USA Today's high school All-America team. Gilliam also joined Dykes at OSU.
Pronunciation guide: Oklahoma State entered the weekend with one commitment from a running back, Corion Webster of Atlanta, Texas. Webster's first name is pronounced "Cory-on" (sort of like former OSU basketball player JamesOn Curry).
Signing day countdown
Commitments are non-binding. Prospects aren't bound to the schools that they choose until they sign a letter of intent. The first day - it's referred to as national signing day - recruits can sign a letter of intent is Feb. 6.
OSU will try to hold on to committed recruits while rounding out its class. Keep an eye on Dontre Wilson, a high-profile running back recruit from DeSoto, Texas, who committed to Oregon and appears to be checking out options in the wake of Chip Kelly's departure to the NFL. DeSoto's coach indicated Wilson will visit Ohio State (Jan. 25) and Oklahoma State (Feb. 2)
The rankings
Scout 19th, ESPN 25th, Rivals 23rd
Position watch: Wide receiver
OSU of course would have embraced Laquon Treadwell, but the Cowboys aren't hurting for receivers. They have four commitments from receivers in the class of 2013 and they signed five receivers in 2012. Tracy Moore is expected to return for a "second" senior season because he missed the bulk of the 2012 season with an injury. Michael Harrison, who sat out the 2012 season because he was suspended by the NCAA, stuck around instead of transferring and is expected to play for the Cowboys in 2013. Harrison caught 20 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns in 2011.
