By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Muskogee’s dynamic duo of Jameel Owens and Stacy McGee are supposed to go to Oklahoma, right?
What about the players other than Owens and McGee?
Tulsa head coach Todd Graham has obviously made his own backyard a priority for the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa has picked up 10 players from Oklahoma, led by Bishop McGuinness offensive lineman Gabe Moyer. Watch out for Jenks running back Chris Adkins to make a huge splash after rushing for 1,726 yards and 28 touchdowns for the Class 6A state champions.
Kye Staley of Guthrie stuck with his original commitment to Oklahoma State after a late push by Arkansas. Staley, slated to play running back in Stillwater, visited Arkansas recently and was quoted after his visit as being “50-50."
The player to watch in the entire class is Plainview wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Blackmon is staying in-state to play at Oklahoma State. Blackmon also picked off seven passes last season for Plainview. Tuttle tight end Cooper Bassett will join Blackmon in Stillwater after originally committing to Kansas State.
Bassett originally committed to Kansas State before switching to Oklahoma State. As a senior for Tuttle, Bassett had 17 catches for 195 yards and seven touchdowns. On defense, Bassett picked up 52 tackles and 10 sacks for the Tigers.
Blackmon has All-Big XII potential after his 61 receptions for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns. Staley did it all for Guthrie, who embarked on one of the most memorable runs in state history. Staley rushed for 1,380 yards and 28 touchdowns. Staley also averaged 32 yards per reception for three touchdowns, and added 11 touchdown passes for good measure.
Sequoyah-Tahlequah quarterback Nathan Stanley made the biggest headlines of the day by inking his letter of intent with Ole Miss. Stanley was heavily recruited by Arkansas before new head coach Houston Nutt left for Oxford.
Texas Tech also continued to build on its Sooner State pipeline. Players such as Wes Welker (Heritage Hall) and last year’s freshman All-American Colby Whitlock (Noble) made splashes in Lubbock via Oklahoma. Westmoore’s run-stopping defensive end Joey Fowler, Lawton speedster Cornelius Douglas, Lawton Eisenhower running back Harrison Jeffers, and Putnam City North offensive lineman Joe King are pledged to the Red Raiders.
Speaking of Kansas State, Jenks defensive tackle Tony Gillespie and Tulsa East Central running back Kenny Session are headed to the Little Apple. When Gillespie playing at his potential, there might not be a bigger sleeper in this entire class nationally. Gillespie already has a Division I body, checking in at 300 pounds. As a senior, Gillespie logged 49 tackles and two sacks for the Class 6A state champion. In the playoffs, he was impossible to stop. Session fought off an ankle injury during his senior season to rush for 1,247 yards and 20 touchdowns for Tulsa East Central.
Luther’s Josh Birmingham committed to Wyoming late. Birmingham rushed for 2,144 yards and 29 touchdowns for the Lions as a senior and averaged over 10 yards per carry. Joining Birmingham in Laramie is Edmond Memorial’s David James.
For Oklahoma, McGee is a big undersized for a defensive tackle, but possess a promising upside. McGee registered 93 tackles, six sacks, and two interceptions as a senior. Owens is ranked 66th overall in the nation according to CSTV recruiting guru Tom Lemming. Owens, who participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, caught 56 passes for 975 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Roughers this past season. Way has a strong leg and is accurate from 50 yards in. For Tulsa Union this past season, Way connected on 14 field goals with a long of 47 yards and averaged 38.4 yards per punt.
Oklahoma Signings
Oklahoma
Stacy McGee, DT, Muskogee
Jameel Owens, WR, Muskogee
Tress Way, K, Tulsa Union
Oklahoma State
Cooper Bassett, TE/DE, Tuttle
Justin Blackmon, WR, Plainview
Kye Staley, ATH, Guthrie
Kansas State
Tony Gillespie, DT, Jenks
Kenny Session, RB, Tulsa East Central
Texas Tech
Cornelius Douglas, ATH, Lawton
Joey Fowler, DE, Westmoore *Already enrolled for spring semester
Harrison Jeffers, RB, Lawton Eisenhower
Joe King, OL, Putnam City North
Kansas
John Williams, OL, Tulsa East Central
Texas A&M
K.J. Williams, ATH, Norman North
Ole Miss
Nathan Stanley, QB, Sequoyah-Tahlequah
Tulsa
Chris Adkins, RB, Jenks
Cory Dorris, OL, Jenks
John Flanders, DB, Midwest City
Derrick Jackson, DE, Del City
Gabe Moyer, OL, Bishop McGuinness
Maurice White, DE, Midwest City
Bobby Smith, DB, Putnam City
Zack Wallace, LB, Hilldale
Trent Wilkins, DB, Duncan
Neicko Williams, DB, Lawton MacArthur
Wyoming
Josh Birmingham, RB, Luther
David James, DB, Edmond Memorial
Northern Illinois
Brandon Rogers, QB, Tulsa Union
Ten Juniors to Watch
1. David Oku, RB, Carl Albert
2. Jeremy Smith, RB, Tulsa Union
3. Brandon Webb, OL, Owasso
4. Daytawion Lowe, DB, Carl Albert
5. Gabe Lynn, CB, Jenks
6. Beau Blankenship, RB, Norman North
7. Gabe Ikard, TE/DE, Bishop McGuinness
8. Pearlie Graves, DE, Tulsa East Central
9. Shawn Jackson, LB, Tulsa McLain
10. Terrell Williams, ATH, Tulsa Edison
