JimBob
02-07-2008, 07:18 AM
OSU lands best class of Gundy era
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
2/7/2008
STILLWATER -- With eight junior college transfers included in Oklahoma State's 27-player recruiting class, Cowboy coach Mike Gundy is hoping for immediate results, and particularly on the defensive side.
The 2007 Cowboys ranked 101st nationally in total defense and 112th in pass defense. Six of the junior college recruits are defensive players, and five of the six already are enrolled and expected to participate in spring practice (March 3-April 12).
"We're very excited about our class," Gundy said. "The specific areas that we were able to address -- I feel like this is the best class we've had since I've been named the head coach.
"We would have liked to have signed one more linebacker. We took a shot on a couple of guys at the end, but couldn't get one. Other than that, we were able to fill all of our needs by position."
Rivals.com has given a No. 27 national ranking to the Cowboys' class, which is Gundy's fourth recruiting class since becoming head coach in January 2005.
Newsworthy on Wednesday was the signing of Guthrie's Kye Staley, who had been committed to the Cowboys since August but recently expressed interest in Arkansas; and the signing of Jamal Mosley, a Memphis, Tenn., tight end who seemed bound for Ole Miss.
Among high school recruits, OSU's highest-rated defensive player is safety Victor Johnson of Waco (Texas) High School. The 6-foot, 170-pound Johnson, rated the No. 1 safety prospect in the state of Texas, had been offered scholarships also by Oklahoma, Nebraska and Miami (Fla.).
"Victor brings to the table one thing I like -- he's a guy that will strike you," Gundy said. "He'll come up and try to really hit you. We need that on our defense."
Of the 6-4, 230-pound Mosley, who has been compared to Cowboy senior tight end Brandon Pettigrew, Gundy said, "I didn't think we were going to get him. Being from Memphis, he was a two-hour drive (from the Ole Miss campus). Coach Meacham (Cowboy assistant Doug Meacham) did a tremendous job on him.
"I watched (Mosley) play basketball last week. I saw him take five steps from one free-throw line to the other free-throw line before he shot a layup. It gives you an idea of what kind of athlete he is. We're really excited to get him."
Gundy also seems enthusiastic about the ability of Johnny Thomas, a safety from Texas City, Texas.
"Johnny Thomas might be the steal of the draft for us," Gundy said. "He can really run."
While OSU assistant Joe DeForest was responsible for the recruiting of Staley, Meachem was the point man on the recruiting of Johnson and Mosley.
"Meacham has been the guy who has closed it just about every year on a guy we thought was going somewhere else," Gundy said. "He has closed on guys who were going to SEC schools. He's got a good knack for closing at the end."
Most prominent among the juco newcomers are two products of national champion Butler County (Kan.) Community College -- running back Beau Johnson and defensive tackle Swanson Miller. They and four additional Cowboy recruits are rated by Rivals.com as being four-star prospects.
Johnson rushed for 1,756 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. In Butler's victory over Snow (Utah) College in the national junior college title game, he ran for 288 yards and four TDs.
If as many as five of the mid-year newcomers are in the two-deep rotation when the season begins, Gundy said, "then we've really hit a home run."
Out of Summit High School in Mansfield, Texas, OSU signed Quinn Sharp, rated by Rivals.com as the nation's No. 1 kicker prospect.
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
2/7/2008
STILLWATER -- With eight junior college transfers included in Oklahoma State's 27-player recruiting class, Cowboy coach Mike Gundy is hoping for immediate results, and particularly on the defensive side.
The 2007 Cowboys ranked 101st nationally in total defense and 112th in pass defense. Six of the junior college recruits are defensive players, and five of the six already are enrolled and expected to participate in spring practice (March 3-April 12).
"We're very excited about our class," Gundy said. "The specific areas that we were able to address -- I feel like this is the best class we've had since I've been named the head coach.
"We would have liked to have signed one more linebacker. We took a shot on a couple of guys at the end, but couldn't get one. Other than that, we were able to fill all of our needs by position."
Rivals.com has given a No. 27 national ranking to the Cowboys' class, which is Gundy's fourth recruiting class since becoming head coach in January 2005.
Newsworthy on Wednesday was the signing of Guthrie's Kye Staley, who had been committed to the Cowboys since August but recently expressed interest in Arkansas; and the signing of Jamal Mosley, a Memphis, Tenn., tight end who seemed bound for Ole Miss.
Among high school recruits, OSU's highest-rated defensive player is safety Victor Johnson of Waco (Texas) High School. The 6-foot, 170-pound Johnson, rated the No. 1 safety prospect in the state of Texas, had been offered scholarships also by Oklahoma, Nebraska and Miami (Fla.).
"Victor brings to the table one thing I like -- he's a guy that will strike you," Gundy said. "He'll come up and try to really hit you. We need that on our defense."
Of the 6-4, 230-pound Mosley, who has been compared to Cowboy senior tight end Brandon Pettigrew, Gundy said, "I didn't think we were going to get him. Being from Memphis, he was a two-hour drive (from the Ole Miss campus). Coach Meacham (Cowboy assistant Doug Meacham) did a tremendous job on him.
"I watched (Mosley) play basketball last week. I saw him take five steps from one free-throw line to the other free-throw line before he shot a layup. It gives you an idea of what kind of athlete he is. We're really excited to get him."
Gundy also seems enthusiastic about the ability of Johnny Thomas, a safety from Texas City, Texas.
"Johnny Thomas might be the steal of the draft for us," Gundy said. "He can really run."
While OSU assistant Joe DeForest was responsible for the recruiting of Staley, Meachem was the point man on the recruiting of Johnson and Mosley.
"Meacham has been the guy who has closed it just about every year on a guy we thought was going somewhere else," Gundy said. "He has closed on guys who were going to SEC schools. He's got a good knack for closing at the end."
Most prominent among the juco newcomers are two products of national champion Butler County (Kan.) Community College -- running back Beau Johnson and defensive tackle Swanson Miller. They and four additional Cowboy recruits are rated by Rivals.com as being four-star prospects.
Johnson rushed for 1,756 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. In Butler's victory over Snow (Utah) College in the national junior college title game, he ran for 288 yards and four TDs.
If as many as five of the mid-year newcomers are in the two-deep rotation when the season begins, Gundy said, "then we've really hit a home run."
Out of Summit High School in Mansfield, Texas, OSU signed Quinn Sharp, rated by Rivals.com as the nation's No. 1 kicker prospect.