Tulsa World: Stoops discusses 2009 signing class

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Stoops discusses 2009 signing class

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 2/4/2009 6:30 PM
Last Modified: 2/4/2009 6:49 PM

NORMAN – Oklahoma didn't land a big-time receiver on signing day, but OU coach Bob Stoops said he was nonetheless happy with the class of 22 welcomed into the Sooner family.

"I really like the class," Stoops said Wednesday. "As usual, we have a very diverse class. We really filled some needs where we had some graduations, or some graduations coming up."

Stoops was still expecting to welcome another player, cornerback Marcus Trice, whose letter of intent was received by the school but was held up because of a signature technicality.

The Sooners had held out hope that wide receiver Rueben Randle, the Rivals.com No. 2-ranked overall high school player in the nation, would come to Norman. Instead, Randle signed with LSU. Three other coveted four-star receivers – Terry Hawthorne of East St. Louis, Ill., Joshua Evans of Irvington, N.J., and Tyrece Gaines of Butler County (Kansas) Community College – all went elsewhere. Hawthorne signed with Illinois, Evans with Florida and Gaines with Oregon.

"It would have been great to get another guy or two," Stoops said. "That's the case at any position. But our numbers there are OK."

Oklahoma's class was ranked No. 13 nationally by online recruiting site Rivals.com and No. 9 by Scout.com.

OU signed four offensive linemen, another area of immediate need following the graduation of four starters from last year's national champion runner-up.

"All four are the big, talented, big-bodied guys we're used to working with," Stoops said.

Stoops said quarterback Drew Allen was "our style of quarterback; really fits our style," and said running back Jonathon Miller is an "exciting guy, very explosive, fast, really good speed."

Including Trice, OU landed 13 defensive players and 10 on offense.
<>br/> "We met the needs," Stoops said.

Two of the defense's primary needs were linebacker and defensive back. OU will need to restock both positions over the next three seasons.

Stoops said defensive tackle Jamarkus McFarland brings a good combination of footwork, speed and strength "in the same molds of Gerald McCoy and Tommie Harris."

He said junior college transfer Cameron Kenney is "ready to play" at wide receiver, and expected that incoming freshman Jaz Reynolds would be, too.

OU did get one 11th-hour addition when Demontre Hurst backed away from a verbal commitment to Oklahoma State and pledged to the Sooners on Tuesday night. Wednesday morning, Hurst was one of the first players to fax in his letter of intent.

Stoops said it's never his intent to "steal" a player from a rival school.

"We never operate that way," he said. "He's our style of player and he's gonna make us better."

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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