Incoming TU recruits Rodriguez and Davis could fill void at defensive end

BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Sunday, January 27, 2013
1/30/13 at 11:53 AM

When time expired on the University of Tulsa's Liberty Bowl triumph over Iowa State, it marked the conclusion of the greatest season of pressure defense in Golden Hurricane football history.

In 14 games, TU finished with a program-record total of 53 sacks. From senior defensive ends Cory Dorris and Jared St. John, the Hurricane got combined totals of 17 1/2 sacks and 24 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Who fills the void left by Dorris and St. John? The current roster includes six ends - junior Brentom Todd, sophomore Derrick Alexander, redshirt freshman Damian Gibson, junior Chris Hummingbird, sophomore Trevor Toliver and redshirt freshman Cory Rahmings. They have a combined career total of six sacks.

After getting extensive playing time in 2012, Todd and Alexander are expected to be the 2013 starters. Gibson seems destined for a nice career, but he hasn't experienced game heat since the 2011 season at East Central High School.

On passing downs, defensive coordinator Brent Guy likes to use speed personnel - pulling the tackles and putting four ends on the field. There are playing-time opportunities for inexperienced ends, including two who are expected to sign with TU on Feb. 6.

In December, Union's Dalton Rodriguez rescinded his commitment to Oklahoma and announced his plan to sign with the Hurricane. On Friday, Broken Arrow's Frankie Davis confirmed that he had switched his commitment from New Mexico to TU.

During the 2010 Union season, Rodriguez's defensive position coach was Adam Blankenship. At TU, Blankenship works with defensive ends.

"I saw TU getting all of those sacks," Rodriguez said. "I knew Adam Blankenship and he knew me, and that was a big deal in my decision to commit to TU. I watched the Liberty Bowl. I liked what I saw.

"I already know so many of the players at TU, so it's a cool thing and a good thing. You already have some chemistry going in. When I was a sophomore at Union, coach Adam Blankenship told me that I would be recruited by a lot of schools. He was right, and now he'll be my coach again."

Davis says he was offered a TU scholarship last summer, but was hesitant to make a commitment.

His Tulsa opportunity seemed to dissolve in November, when the Hurricane received a commitment from defensive end Donnie White of De Smet Jesuit in St. Louis. Davis committed to New Mexico. However, White's TU commitment recently wavered.

Last week, he switched to New Mexico. Hurricane coaches and Davis reestablished their dialogue, and Davis switched from New Mexico to TU.

"When I got a second chance with TU, I had to take advantage of it," Davis said. "I'm happy that it worked out like it did.

"I'll get there and learn the defense from coach Blank (Adam Blankenship) and go to work. Hopefully, I can get on the field and make some plays."

TU COMMITMENTS (20)

Pos.	Player	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown/last school
CB	Will Barrow	5-9	170	Dallas (Skyline)
DB	Joe Bean	6-1	195	Hooker
OL	Rob Boyd	6-4	285	Vian
DT	Jesse Brubaker	6-3	260	Wylie, Texas (East)
CB	Ray Crockett	6-0	170	Southlake, Texas (Carroll)
DE	Frankie Davis	6-3	230	Broken Arrow
LB	C.J. Gooden	6-1	215	Ashdown, Ark.
FB	Chris Hall	6-0	240	Tulsa (Union)
LB	Jake Hanks	6-2	230	Fort Collins, Colo.
QB	Jaylen Lowe	6-0	180	Owasso
WR	Keevan Lucas	5-11	180	Abilene, Texas
OL	Blake Mejia	6-3	280	Tulsa (Union)
ATH	Ben Oberste	6-0	200	Sallisaw
RB	Jonathan Parker	5-9	170	St. Louis (Christian Brothers)
DT	Lionel Phillips	6-2	285	Garland, Texas (Naaman Forest)
DE	Dalton Rodriguez	6-6	255	Tulsa (Union)
LB	Devin Rolan	6-0	220	McAlester
QB	Ryan Rubley	6-4	185	Mountain Vista, Colo.
OL	Zac Uhles	6-4	250	Norman
DT	Zach Webb	6-2	276	Tulsa (Metro Christian)

Original Print Headline: Recruits could help fill void at defensive end

Bill Haisten 918-581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com

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Rodriguez