TU football recruiting update

BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Sunday, January 20, 2013
1/25/13 at 2:35 PM


News of the week

Weekend visits: Owasso quarterback Jaylen Lowe is one of eight prospects who made official visits to the University of Tulsa campus this weekend.

Four of the visitors are committed recruits — Will Barrow, a cornerback from Dallas Skyline; Ryan Rubley, a quarterback from Mountain Vista, Colo., and the son of former Golden Hurricane QB T.J. Rubley; Joe Bean, a safety from Hooker; and Lionel Phillips, a defensive from Naaman Forest High School in Garland, Texas.

Ryan Rubley committed in June.

Bean committed in September, after attending TU’s victory over Fresno State. Phillips and Barrow committed in December.

Lowe is one of four undecided visiting recruits, the other three being Kolton Shindelar, a tight end from Liberty, Mo., and a pair of Texans — cornerback Ray Crockett of Southlake Carroll High School and defensive tackle Matthew Romar of Port Arthur Memorial.

Crockett is the son of Ray Crockett Sr., a former NFL cornerback who played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions. It is believed that the younger Crockett has a strong interest in the TU program.

The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Romar reportedly has received scholarship offers from Tulsa, Baylor, Houston, Texas Tech, North Texas, Iowa State, Kansas and Utah.

At 6-5 and 240 pounds, Shindelar also is a track star — a 200-meter sprinter, a hurdler and a long-jump athlete whose personal best is nearly 23 feet.

Scheduled to visit Missouri next week, Shindelar recently told Scout.com that he has remained loyal to TU because of his relationship with the coaching staff.

Next weekend also is significant for TU. As many as 10 prospects are expected to visit.

Signing day countdown

The University of Tulsa commitment list currently includes 17 prospects. It is believed that TU could sign as many as 23 prospects. Verbal commitments are non-binding. High school recruits may sign national letters of intent on Feb. 6.

The rankings

Rivals: 66th. Scout: 73rd.

Position watch: Defensive line

During the 2012 season, TU had four senior starters along the defensive front — Cory Dorris and Jared St. John at the end positions, and Daeshon Bufford and Derrick Jackson at the tackle spots. Incoming freshmen will get an immediate shot at working their way into the rotation, and the Hurricane commitment list currently includes four linemen — ends Dalton Rodriguez (Union) and Donnie White (De Smet Jesuit in St. Louis), along with tackles Lionel Phillips (Garland, Texas) and Jesse Brubaker (Wylie, Texas).

With less than two weeks remaining before national signing day on Feb. 6, it is believed that the TU staff continues to aggressively recruit defensive linemen.



Copyright © 2013, Tulsa World All rights reserved.