Official Signing Day Thread

[Marklar MM]

What the title says.

[Doug Collins]

What's signing day?

[MajorMike]

Break Down of OSU Signing Day


By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
2/5/2008 5:13 PM
Last Modified: 2/5/2008 5:15 PM


The Class

The Cowboys signed six players who were rated by Rivals.com as being four-star national recruits. A five-star rating is the highest. Frustrated by years of defensive problems, Cowboy coaches seek immediate improvement by signing six defenders from the junior college ranks.

The Offense

For the second consecutive year, Oklahoma State did not sign a quarterback as Kody Spano de-committed and wound up at Nebraska. The Cowboys are expected to sign 12 offensive players and one specialist (Quinn Sharp, rated the the nation's No. 1 kicker prospect). Only one of the 12 offensive players -- running back Beau Johnson -- is a junior college transfer. The 215-pound Johnson is expected to make a strong bid for the starting tailback position. OSU signed three running backs, two tight ends, three wide receivers and four offensive linemen.

The needs: With All-Big 12 tailback Dantrell Savage having exhausted his eligibility, O-State does not have a clearly defined No. 1 tailback. Sophomore-to-be Kendall Hunter was a tremendously productive backup last season, but entering the spring-practice period, junior college transfer Beau Johnson could be the favorite in the competition for the starting role. With record-setting quarterback Zac Robinson, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, wide receiver Dez Bryant and the entire offensive line all returning for the 2008, the tailback position really is OSU's only uncertainty. Incoming freshman Kye Staley was a dominant playmaking QB at Guthrie, but he is expected to play tailback at O-State.

Headliner: Beau Johnson. MVP of juco national title game.

Sleeper: Cooper Bassett. Tuttle tight end has the combination of reliable hands and solid size (6-5, 235).

Immediate impact: Beau Johnson. Georgia native rushed for 1,756 yards last season at Butler County (Kan.) Community College.

The Defense

By far, this seems to be the best group of defenders signed by OSU since Mike Gundy became head coach. Among the 14 defenders signed by the Cowboys are four who garnered four-star ratings by Rivals.com -- defensive backs Victor Johnson, Markelle Martin and Maurice Gray (a junior college transfer), along with tackle Swanson Miller (also a juco product). OSU signed six defensive backs, three tackles, three ends and two linebackers. Cowboy coaches would like to have signed a can't-miss linebacker prospect, but they like the potential of Donald Booker and Alfred Dupree.

The needs: For a program that has struggled defensively during most of this decade, the needs are many. Last season, OSU was 101st nationally in total defense. When the Cowboys begin spring practice on March 3, every starting job is up for grabs. At the tackle positions, the Cowboys have been hurt by a lack of performance and depth. Junior college transfers Swanson Miller and Chris Donaldson (especially the highly regarded Miller) are expected to contribute immediately. In the secondary, newcomers -- particularly the highly rated first-year guys like Victor Johnson and Markelle Martin -- should contend for playing time right away.

Headliner: Victor Johnson. Chose OSU over Oklahoma, Nebraska and Miami (Fla.).

Sleeper: Donald Booker. OSU needs better tackling, and the 225-pound Booker was a juco All-American.

Immediate impact: Swanson Miller. OSU coaches hope the 330-pound Miller can plug the middle.

[samikeyp]

Pryor will not be committing today.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/02/05/pryor.update/index.html?bcnn=yes

[Thunder Dan]

Pryor will not be committing today.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/02/05/pryor.update/index.html?bcnn=yes

that kid is so full of himself, I hope he goes to Penn State and we can each watch him twice a year on National TV, once when they play Michigan and again when they play Ohio State.

He acts like he is the first person in the history of high school recruiting to play both football and basketball. I guess he was too overly busy to take the hour trip to State College to check out a school only his dad wants him to go to. But whatever, atleast he won't be at Michigan :toast

[degenerate_gambler]

signing day is fun to talk about and get excited about the future of your respective school. but at the end of the day, it really doesn't mean all that much.

attrition will take care of 40% of these guys. then after their 4-5 year run at school is over, 50% of the remaining ones will either be characterized as 'guys that didn't do shit' or 'players that lived up to the hype or overachieved'.

[GaryJohnston]

OSU?? Are you serious? What kind of recruiting power is Oklahoma state?

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

that kid is so full of himself, I hope he goes to Penn State and we can each watch him twice a year on National TV, once when they play Michigan and again when they play Ohio State.

He acts like he is the first person in the history of high school recruiting to play both football and basketball. I guess he was too overly busy to take the hour trip to State College to check out a school only his dad wants him to go to. But whatever, atleast he won't be at Michigan :toast


PSU? Nah, I hope he goes to the Zips.

I do agree that the kid is being ridiculous. Just pick a damn school.

[K-State Spur]

OSU?? Are you serious? What kind of recruiting power is Oklahoma state?

it's where 4 star DTs go to die...

[Whisky Dog]

From what I've heard Darnell Scott is going to CU because his mommy told him to.

[Whisky Dog]

HAHAHA, his mommy told him to go.

[Kermit]

What a weird recruiting story. I don't know how Texas gets involved with kids who have nutcase families. This is probably the last incident that Mack can handle. No more OOS recruiting for him.

[Horry For 3!]

Darrell Scott goes to Colorado over Texas :lmao

[Holmes_Fans]

Not to big of a surprise. Colorado has been his #1 from the start, and only considered Texas seriously because Jamaal Charles left. It's also a lot closer and his uncle plays for them aswell.

Texas also signed 2 other 4* running backs

[degenerate_gambler]

Good luck to DScott @ Colo.

UT will just fine with VMcGee and Fozzy back there.

[Kermit]

Word leaking out about CU's recruitment of DS keeps getting uglier and uglier. Mommy Dearest is the closest thing I can come to describing the situation.

[Ballcox]

It would have been nice to get him, but good luck at CU if you can't decide for yourself and have to go with what mommy says.

I feel very good about our RB situation right now. Vondrell looked good last season, hits the hole with authority. Ogbannaya has great skills, can also catch the ball out in the flat. And then we've got both Fozzy and Cobb back there looking for playing time.

[degenerate_gambler]

Word leaking out about CU's recruitment of DS keeps getting uglier and uglier. Mommy Dearest is the closest thing I can come to describing the situation.



No telling what kind of pressure he was feeling about playing closer to home. Hope he does well there.

Anyway, UT was solid w/Hales, who I've seen play & J. Hills.

[MajorMike]

Oh, look, OSU signed Mesquite, TX WR Adrian Richards who, like Kody Spano, was going to enroll in January but asked to wait because we had signed 4 JUCO guys that could help the team now.

I guess Adrian decided it would be better for the school he wanted to attend in the long run and took one for the team; or perhaps his dad isn't an asshat media grabbing whiner like Kody's.

[ReggieF]

or because he doesn't ahave any other offers of note and was probably told up front about the situation, Spano was OSU's first commit but don't let logic get in the way of you trying to prove yourself right.

[MajorMike]

Just saying it like it is.

And your comment on Adrian confirms my belief that you know nothing about recruiting.

[Marklar MM]

McGuffie has finally sent in his LOI to Michigan.

[Brutalis]

Razorbacks rallied a top 25 class with less than half the time other schools had to do it in.

Joe Adams de-committed from USC today and signed with Arkansas. Schweeeet.

If Patrino can do this with just 1.5 months worth of recruiting, I am so thrilled to see what next years class is like.

[johngateswhiteley]

McGuffie has finally sent in his LOI to Michigan.

i really like that McGuffie kid, and was hoping A&M or SC could get him even though it appeared he didn't really consider those schools.

[johngateswhiteley]

imo, the recruiting rankings are pretty accurate and important...considering. how many national championship teams have you seen without a great recruiting class? how many really successful teams have you seen without a great recruiting class? there are exceptions but the vast majority of great teams have great players. duh.

a coach can always lose with great players, but they hardly ever win (and i don't mean 1 game) without them.

[ReggieF]

Just saying it like it is.

And your comment on Adrian confirms my belief that you know nothing about recruiting.

And your comments confirm my belief that you are an idiot. I will put it in terms maybe you can understand. Since you graduated from Okie Lite I will use an example closer to home. Lets say you get a job offer as a cook for a high powered meth dealer, you accept the job but you can't start cooking until 10 months later. During the time you are waiting to start the meth dealer continues to look for better cooks to replace you with. Well the day coems when your dreams come true and you finally get to become a meth cook and you find out they can't hire you for another 6 months, well ally our other cooking offers are now off the table b/c you told everyone else no thanks thinking you had a job sewn up. Would you be pissed or just accept the fact that you weren't good enough or important enough to hire at that time. Spano was completely justified in his feelings. As for Richards his offers were from:

(copied from his rivals profile)
COLLEGE CHOICES INTEREST OFFER VISIT RECRUITED BY
Oklahoma State (signed LOI) COMMITTED
(8/4/2007) None
Vanderbilt None None
Wisconsin None None Kerry Cooks
Boise State None None
Arizona None None Sonny Dykes
Baylor None None
Kansas None None
Minnesota None None Tim Cross

his only option was Okie St if he wanted to be anywhere near his parents and not have to suck for 4 years in Waco. I know plenty about recruiting, but go ahead and make yourself feel like the smartest guy in the room if you need to.

[MajorMike]

Razorbacks rallied a top 25 class with less than half the time other schools had to do it in.


Yes but there are grumblings already about Petrino's recruiting. I guess within a week he told Curtis, Staley, Johnson and Thomas each they would all be his #1 back going into next year and he would use them much like McFadd was used. It came out when Staley's coach supposedly knows someone in Thomas' district who called and asked about his trip. Staley and Thomas both were switching to arK before they heard that.

Recruiting classes and rankings are important to a degree. However, how many recruiting titles did Mack have before VY came along and saved him? Also, go back and check uo's past 5 recruiting classes and Boise's past 5 before that Fiesta Bowl.

I think there as many hits as misses in the recruiting rankings. Wasn't KU's QB a 2-star? I know Rashaun Woods was. So was KU's Talib and OSU's Pettigrew and I believe Wes Welker was as well. Jordy Nelson was a walk-on who cuoldn't get a ship from anyone. The ranking system has its merits, but should be taken with a grain of salt.

[Marklar MM]

If Patrino can do this with just 1.5 months worth of recruiting, I am so thrilled to see what next years class is like.


It is sick thinking what Rodriguez can do as well. The most amazing part about Michigan's recruiting class is that it only lost 2 commits through the whole ordeal...Weinke basically when Rod was hired, and Wilson who felt he wouldn't be used in the offense. Top 10 class during a coaching/philosophy change is amazing.

[NoMoneyDown]

It is sick thinking what Rodriguez can do as well.

Yeah. Just ask the WVU football players and fans.

[Marklar MM]

Yeah. Just ask the WVU football players and fans.


:depressed

[tlongII]

Pryor has said that he will be visiting Oregon. If he does I think they will sign him. He'll be blown away by the facilities.

[johngateswhiteley]

Pryor has said that he will be visiting Oregon. If he does I think they will sign him. He'll be blown away by the facilities.

...he'll also be blown away by USC, revenge tour 2008! stanford and oregon are toast.

[Flo-Rida]

Yes i like the signing of brandon harris

[Marklar MM]

Pryor has said that he will be visiting Oregon. If he does I think they will sign him. He'll be blown away by the facilities.


Too bad he wants to stay close to home.

[Thunder Dan]

Pryor has said that he will be visiting Oregon. If he does I think they will sign him. He'll be blown away by the facilities.

He will end up at Ohio State, don't get your hopes up. tOSU's facilities are just about as nice as Oregon's, it's closer to home, and he picked tOSU to begin with. He is taking these visits because he owes it to the other coaches that have spent a ton of time recruiting him. He picked tOSU, his dad feels he owes atleast a visit to Penn State and Oregon, but he will end up at Ohio State. Michigan is now out of the picture

[JamStone]

Pryor should go to Ohio State or Penn State. Seems like his dad is really pushing for the home state team. He should be a star wherever he ends up but he sure brings a lot of drama.

[johngateswhiteley]

Recruiting classes and rankings are important to a degree. However, how many recruiting titles did Mack have before VY came along and saved him? Also, go back and check uo's past 5 recruiting classes and Boise's past 5 before that Fiesta Bowl.

I think there as many hits as misses in the recruiting rankings. Wasn't KU's QB a 2-star? I know Rashaun Woods was. So was KU's Talib and OSU's Pettigrew and I believe Wes Welker was as well. Jordy Nelson was a walk-on who cuoldn't get a ship from anyone. The ranking system has its merits, but should be taken with a grain of salt.

of course there are many examples where recruiting analysts misjudged someones talent or heart, but in the vast ocean of recruiting you only bring forth a smidgen of examples. there are others, but i am consistently impressed with how accurate these rankings are. they aren't ranking the coaches or chemistry....just the players abilities, and for the most part, do very well.

mack brown isn't a good game coach, but he is a hell of a recruiter...its easy to see why his teams haven't measured up (for the most part).

[MajorMike]

True, but much of it is for show as well. You rarely see a 5-star OL or kicker because they aren't glamor positions and don't need the hype. Even if they are just as gifted or chased they are normally 3-star positions.

[ReggieF]

True, but much of it is for show as well. You rarely see a 5-star OL or kicker because they aren't glamor positions and don't need the hype. Even if they are just as gifted or chased they are normally 3-star positions.

you want to call people out for not knowing anything about recruiting and come with this nugget of info? Rivals had 20 offensive 5 stars this year, 8 of them are OL so I would say your use of the word rarely is way off base. Kicker is not that valued a positino so your point there is correct, the highest ranked kicker is a 3 star this year and just so happens to be heading to Okie Lite. OT is a glamour position, look at the salaries of the top LT's in the NFL.

[MajorMike]

OT is a glamour position, look at the salaries of the top LT's in the NFL.


Right... how many of them have shoe deals or commercials, aside from the one commercial who actually shows how OL are completely NOT a glamor position.

[RonMexico]

"Glamor" is probably the wrong word there, but "well-appreciated" and "valued" aren't too off-base.

[Doug Collins]

Right... how many of them have shoe deals or commercials, aside from the one commercial who actually shows how OL are completely NOT a glamor position.

The Joe Thomas underarmour commercial comes to mind, but it is in no way a "glamour" position just a very important one.

[ReggieF]

if you are talking about glamour then you should have left out the 5 star comment, by your logic QB isn't a glamour position b/c there were only 3 5 star QB's this year. Your backpedaling is getting better though.