AnniePokely
03-02-2008, 08:12 AM
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
3/2/2008
Gundy says Richetti Jones may never be 100 percent physically.
STILLWATER — Only minutes after Oklahoma State beat Indiana in the Insight Bowl, Cowboy safety Andre Sexton looked ahead to the 2009 season and predicted an immediate and profound contribution from Richetti Jones.
“We can’t wait to see him next year with his speed and strength,” Sexton said. “Coming off that edge, he’ll give a lot of guys trouble. He’ll be a force on the outside.”
A defensive end and the most highly rated member of the Cowboys’ 2007 recruiting class, Jones was redshirted last year because of dislocated hip he had sustained during the 2006 season at Dallas Lincoln High School. After signing with OSU, Jones predicted he would be physically ready for the 2007 opener. Instead, he spent the season as a dominant presence on the scout team.
And while Jones watched from the sideline on Saturdays, the Cowboys managed only 11 sacks in 13 games.
While it might have been presumed that Jones would be totally healthy by Monday’s start of spring practice, OSU coach Mike Gundy is the bearer of potentially bad news.
Most players who sustain a serious hip injury never completely recover their
full speed and mobility, Gundy said.
“I don’t pretend to be an orthopedic surgeon, but I don’t think he’ll ever be 100 percent with the injury that he had,” Gundy said of the 6-foot-4, 240- pound Jones. “I think he’ll show up some this spring. His mental makeup and discipline will determine whether he can maintain good practices all the way through (15 spring practices).
“He still has to prove himself, but he does have the physical ability to do it.”
Gundy has not made Jones available for interviews. As a high school senior, Jones was rated by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 5 defensive line prospect.
Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
3/2/2008
Gundy says Richetti Jones may never be 100 percent physically.
STILLWATER — Only minutes after Oklahoma State beat Indiana in the Insight Bowl, Cowboy safety Andre Sexton looked ahead to the 2009 season and predicted an immediate and profound contribution from Richetti Jones.
“We can’t wait to see him next year with his speed and strength,” Sexton said. “Coming off that edge, he’ll give a lot of guys trouble. He’ll be a force on the outside.”
A defensive end and the most highly rated member of the Cowboys’ 2007 recruiting class, Jones was redshirted last year because of dislocated hip he had sustained during the 2006 season at Dallas Lincoln High School. After signing with OSU, Jones predicted he would be physically ready for the 2007 opener. Instead, he spent the season as a dominant presence on the scout team.
And while Jones watched from the sideline on Saturdays, the Cowboys managed only 11 sacks in 13 games.
While it might have been presumed that Jones would be totally healthy by Monday’s start of spring practice, OSU coach Mike Gundy is the bearer of potentially bad news.
Most players who sustain a serious hip injury never completely recover their
full speed and mobility, Gundy said.
“I don’t pretend to be an orthopedic surgeon, but I don’t think he’ll ever be 100 percent with the injury that he had,” Gundy said of the 6-foot-4, 240- pound Jones. “I think he’ll show up some this spring. His mental makeup and discipline will determine whether he can maintain good practices all the way through (15 spring practices).
“He still has to prove himself, but he does have the physical ability to do it.”
Gundy has not made Jones available for interviews. As a high school senior, Jones was rated by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 5 defensive line prospect.
Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com