snuffy
10-31-2008, 07:48 AM
College football recruiting: OSU a popular destination
Cowboys get commitments from top talent
http://www.newsok.com/college-football-recruiting-osu-a-popular-destination/article/3317464?custom_click=headlines_widget
BY SCOTT WRIGHT
Published: October 31, 2008
STILLWATER — A few weeks back, someone pointed out to Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy how his team often seems to be battling Texas A&M for recruits.
"It seems we end up going against them at the end,” Gundy said. "But we go against Oklahoma and Texas the most.”
Historically, that hasn’t been the case, but Gundy is changing the focus of OSU recruiting. Not only that, he’s having some success along the way.
In fact, one of the most significant markers of his recruiting success is symbolized in 2009 commitments Brandon Webb and Colton Richardson.
Though both were in very different situations, both had ties to OU. Richardson is from Ada, the land of Sooner born and Sooner bred. Webb, an Owasso offensive lineman, is the son of Terry Webb, an All-American and national champion as an OU lineman in the 1970s.
Richardson and Webb are the type of players it’s hardest for OSU to turn to the orange side.
Richardson, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound linebacker and admitted longtime Sooner fan, hadn’t yet received an offer from OU, but he is growing more popular on the recruiting scene, especially in the eyes of Big 12 schools.
And there was no rush for him to commit. He could have waited to see if his favorite school came through with an offer. But he committed to the Pokes last week, and he hopes to take a few Ada folks with him.
"They’ll have to change their colors next year,” he said.
Webb was the real steal for OSU.
"A lot of people just thought it was an automatic deadlock that I was going to OU,” said Webb, rated as one of the top five players in the state by virtually all recruiting services. "My dad never tried to push me on anything. He just told me to choose the place that feels right.”
OSU’s surge into the national spotlight should boost recruiting even more, helping the Cowboys to fill the final 11 or 13 slots in their recruiting class.
The next step for OSU is keeping commitments from guys like Webb. There have been a few cases of commits flip-flopping in favor of rival schools — OU receiver Ryan Broyles being the most recent — before signing day, which is Feb. 4.
But three months out, that doesn’t look like a problem.
"I’ll visit OSU at some point, but I’m not taking any other visits,” Webb said. "I’m locked in on my decision.”
Cowboys get commitments from top talent
http://www.newsok.com/college-football-recruiting-osu-a-popular-destination/article/3317464?custom_click=headlines_widget
BY SCOTT WRIGHT
Published: October 31, 2008
STILLWATER — A few weeks back, someone pointed out to Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy how his team often seems to be battling Texas A&M for recruits.
"It seems we end up going against them at the end,” Gundy said. "But we go against Oklahoma and Texas the most.”
Historically, that hasn’t been the case, but Gundy is changing the focus of OSU recruiting. Not only that, he’s having some success along the way.
In fact, one of the most significant markers of his recruiting success is symbolized in 2009 commitments Brandon Webb and Colton Richardson.
Though both were in very different situations, both had ties to OU. Richardson is from Ada, the land of Sooner born and Sooner bred. Webb, an Owasso offensive lineman, is the son of Terry Webb, an All-American and national champion as an OU lineman in the 1970s.
Richardson and Webb are the type of players it’s hardest for OSU to turn to the orange side.
Richardson, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound linebacker and admitted longtime Sooner fan, hadn’t yet received an offer from OU, but he is growing more popular on the recruiting scene, especially in the eyes of Big 12 schools.
And there was no rush for him to commit. He could have waited to see if his favorite school came through with an offer. But he committed to the Pokes last week, and he hopes to take a few Ada folks with him.
"They’ll have to change their colors next year,” he said.
Webb was the real steal for OSU.
"A lot of people just thought it was an automatic deadlock that I was going to OU,” said Webb, rated as one of the top five players in the state by virtually all recruiting services. "My dad never tried to push me on anything. He just told me to choose the place that feels right.”
OSU’s surge into the national spotlight should boost recruiting even more, helping the Cowboys to fill the final 11 or 13 slots in their recruiting class.
The next step for OSU is keeping commitments from guys like Webb. There have been a few cases of commits flip-flopping in favor of rival schools — OU receiver Ryan Broyles being the most recent — before signing day, which is Feb. 4.
But three months out, that doesn’t look like a problem.
"I’ll visit OSU at some point, but I’m not taking any other visits,” Webb said. "I’m locked in on my decision.”