By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Many Oklahomans are aware of what Jenks quarterback Mark Ginther can do with his arm on the gridiron. On Monday, Ginther pulled the trigger on his college choice, opting to take his talents on the baseball diamond to Oklahoma State.
The 2006 MaxPreps All-State quarterback picked the Cowboys over offers from Arizona State, Oklahoma, Arkansas. As a pitcher and shortstop, Ginther was one of 144 players nationally to get an invite for the 2007 USA Baseball Stars of Tomorrow tournament, held in Cary, N.C.
As a junior, Ginther hit .413 and slugged three home runs for the Trojans. As a pitcher, Ginther was 3-5 on the season with a solid 1.93 earned run average.
Don't be shocked at all if Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy gives Ginther a look as a quarterback. Ginther, who stands at 6-3, has been spectacular in two preseason scrimmages.
Ginther has completed a mind-boggling 76.9 percent of his passing attempts (30 for 39) in just four quarters of action for 594 yards and nine touchdowns in two preseason outings. Jenks were resoundingly victorious in both scrimmages by mauling Mustang 42-12, and destroying Edmond Santa Fe, 49-7.
As a junior on the football field, Ginther threw for 2,136 yards and 27 touchdowns for the 13-1 Trojans, who capped off the season with their eighth Class 6A state title in 11 years. With Ginther operating the controls yet again, Jenks are looking to be shoe-ins to repeat for the first time since 2000 and 2001.
Ginther's breakout performance actually came as a sophomore. In a 66-9 road victory against Bartlesville, Ginther threw for 237 yards and three touchdowns. Ginther also threw for two touchdowns in 2005 in the Backyard Bowl as Jenks upset the defending champions in Tulsa Union, 48-44.
Ginther told both the Daily Oklahoman and the Tulsa World that he wanted to get his decision out of the way to concentrate on his senior season of football, which opens on Friday against Bixby.
Along with Ginther, Jenks feature running back Chris Adkins, defensive tackle Tony Gillespie, and offensive lineman Cory Dorris as potential Division I players. Gillespie had originally committed to Oklahoma State last spring before reopening his recruitment. Adkins, who rushed for 1,345 yards last season, has TCU, Kansas State, Tulsa, and Colorado interested.