OU Announces Another Highly Touted Recruiting Class

February 5, 2003

2003 Recruiting Class Video
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Coach Stoops Press Conference Audio

Norman, Okla. - Football recruiting at the University of Oklahoma has become a little like a broken record, minus the annoyance. Consistency in depth, balance and quality is now the norm for the Sooners and 2003 is no different with the 23 national letter of intent signees announced in this release.

With a class ranked among the top five nationally by several recruiting services, OU met a wide range of needs and added depth to a program that already owns three consecutive bowl victories, including two in BCS games.

"We have another well-balanced class, which seems to be a trademark for us," said Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, who is 43-9 after four seasons in Norman. "We never overload at one position, but always strive for good balance. I believe we've achieved that once again. This is another very athletic class. Many of these athletes play multiple sports and have excellent speed."

As of press time, OU had signed players at nine positions with multiple signees in seven of those. The Sooners signed four defensive and offensive linemen, three players at linebacker, defensive back and running back, two at receiver and tight end and one each at quarterback and punter.

"In the lines, we've added excellent size and strength," Stoops said. "And even though we're getting bigger and stronger with the addition of these players, we still have been able to sign guys who move awfully well," Stoops said"

"The tight ends, defensive ends and linebackers all have great quickness. We've been very successful by recruiting speed and athletic ability at these positions and we've done well in those areas again."

"At the skill positions, we feel there is very good ability in all of the positions when you look at things like speed, size and production through their high school careers. These are players who can change a game in a short period of time."

Players from seven states are represented in the class. Twelve are from Texas, three from Oklahoma, two from California and one each from Georgia, California, Florida, Illinois and Louisiana.

All but two of the signees are high school players. The two junior college transfers are tight end Willie Roberts of Northeastern A&M in Miami, Okla., and defensive back Donte Nicholson of Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) College.

Nicholson, like Lance Mitchell and Pasha Jackson last season, is a mid-year transfer who is already enrolled at OU.

"Donte has fit in very well with our other players," Stoops said. "It's as though he's been here for two years already. His situation, in terms of the way he has fit in, is much like what we saw with Lance (Mitchell) and Pasha (Jackson). We feel he is a player with a very good chance to make an impact on our team."

Off-season conditioning continues for the Sooners. They will hold the first of 15 spring practices on March 10. Spring practices conclude April 12 with the annual Red/White game.

Oklahoma will return 27 players with starting experience, including 14 that started at least half of last season's games on either offense or defense. Among those returnees are several who earned All-America acclaim, including free safety Brandon Everage, defensive tackle Tommie Harris and linebacker Teddy Lehman. The Sooners also welcome back Big 12 Conference honorees such as offensive tackle Jammal Brown, linebacker Lance Mitchell and Derrick Strait.

2003 Oklahoma Football Signing Class

Lewis Baker	LB	6-3	200	Lewisville, Texas (Hebron HS)
Tony Cade	DB	6-2	200	Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS)
Tashard Choice	RB	6-0	200	Lovejoy, Ga. (Lovejoy HS)
Steven Coleman	DL	6-5	275	Dallas, Texas (Skyline HS)
Alonzo Dotson	DE	6-4	215	Alief, Texas (Hastings HS)
Joe John Finley	TE/A	6-6	210	Arlington, Texas (Arlington HS)
Cody Freeby	P	6-3	210	Forth Worth, Texas (Christian HS)
Tommy Grady	QB	6-6	220	Huntington Beach, Calif. (Edison HS)
Jacob Guiterrez	RB	5-7	175	San Antonio, Texas (Madison HS)
Marcus Johnson	WR/A	6-1	175	Abeline, Texas (Abeline HS)
Brandon Keith	OL	6-6	320	McAlester, Okla. (McAlester HS)
Akim Millington	OL	6-6	300	Wheaton, Ill. (North HS)
Donte Nicholson	DB	6-2	210	Walnut, Calif. (Mt. San Antonio JC)
Carl Pendleton	DE	6-6	270	Sapulpa, Okla. (Sapulpa HS)
Demario Pleasant	LB	6-3	210	Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS)
Antonn Reid	OL	6-3	280	Plano, Texas (Plano HS)
Willie Roberts	TE	6-7	240	Miami, Fla. (Northeastern A&M JC)
Tristen Ross	WR	6-1	190	Shreveport, La. (Evangel Christian Academy)
Courtney Tennial	RB	5-10	205	Glenpool, Okla. (Glenpool HS)
Darien Williams	DB	6-0	190	Mesquite, Texas (North HS)
John Williams	DE	6-5	220	Houston, Texas (Lamar HS)
Dane Zaslaw	LB	6-2	241	Edmond, Okla. (Memorial HS)
Brian Zimpel	OL	6-5	310	Broken Arrow, Okla. (Broken Arrow HS)

LEWIS BAKER
LB * 6-3 * 200 * Hebron H.S. * Lewisville, Texas
No. 21 overall player in Texas (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 24 linebacker in the nation/All-American (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 63 player in the nation (Tom Lemming/ESPN.com) - 2003
No. 11 linebacker in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 11 linebacker in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
No. 23 linebacker in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
U.S. Army All-American - 2002
Second team All-American (USA Today) - 2002
First team all-district - 2002
Second team all-district - 2001
Honorable mention all-district wide receiver - 2001
A three year letterman and two year starter ... Played at linebacker and tight end ... Totaled 90 tackles (39 UT, 51 AT), eight tackles for loss, one sack, five quarterback hurries and one interception this year ... Also recovered a fumble ... Missed four games during his final campaign due to a minor injury ... Caught three passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns as well ... Served as a team captain as a senior ... Recorded 123 total tackles as a junior, including more than 85 unassisted stops ... Runs a 4.5 in the 40 yard dash ... Coached by Brian Brazil ... Competes in the sprint relay events on the track and field team ... Also played one year of varsity basketball as a junior.

TONY CADE
DB * 6-2 * 200 * Lewisville H.S. * Lewisville, Texas
No. 48 player in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 1 defensive back in Texas (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 6 player in Texas (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 4 safety in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
Southwest Defensive Player of the Year (SuperPrep) - 2002
All-district - 2001 & 2002
Junior All-American - 2001
First team All-State - 2001
All-area - 2001
A three-year starter at safety ... Also played on special teams and saw limited action as a wide receiver ... Missed three games this year due to injury ... Totaled 54 tackles, two interceptions, eight passes broken up and caused four fumbles in 2002 ... Also blocked two punts and four field goals ... Recorded 71 tackles, two fumble recoveries and eight interceptions and passes broken up as a junior ... Team recorded a 4-6 record this year after finishing 9-2 in 2001 ... Teammates with fellow Sooner commitment Demarrio Pleasant ... Coached by Ronnie Gage ... Played in the U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio, Texas following his senior year ... Runs a 4.43 in the 40 yard dash ... Competed on the basketball team in 2000 and 2001.

TASHARD CHOICE
RB * 6-1 * 205 * Lovejoy H.S. * Lovejoy, Ga.
No. 14 player in Georgia (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 22 running back in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
First team All-State (Atlanta Journal Constitution) - 2002
First team All-Region Player of the Year - 2002
Player of the Week (Atlanta Touchdown Club) - 2002
Area Offensive Player of the Year - 2002
Team Most Valuable Player - 2002
Rushed for 1,200 yards on 129 carries this year ... Also racked up over 600 reception yards out of the backfield in his senior campaign ... Recorded 17 touchdowns (15 rushing and two receiving) during his final season ... Totaled 900 yards on 185 carries for 17 touchdowns as a junior ... Also compiled 482 yards on kickoff returns in 2001 ... Suffered a torn meniscus halfway through his junior year ... Runs a 4.5 in the 40 yard dash ... Coached by Al Hughes.

STEVEN COLEMAN
DL * 6-5 * 275 * Skyline H.S. * Dallas, Texas
No. 37 in the midlands (Rivals.com)-2002
No. 17 best defensive tackle (Rivals.com)-2002
No. 17 best defensive tackle (The Sporting News)-2002
No. 18 player in Texas (Rivals.com)-2002
First team all-district-2000, 2002
Selected to Dallas-Fort Worth Coca-Cola All-Star team-2002 Credited with 38 tackles as a senior ... also compiled two caused fumbles, two sacks, six deflections and four quarterback pressures ... recorded two sacks in the 2002 Dallas-Fort Worth Coca-Cola All-Star Game ... had 30 solo tackles and 20 assists as a junior ... compiled six quarterback sacks and eight other tackles for a loss as a junior ... played right guard as a sophomore and had 72 pancake blocks ... helped Dallas Skyline to the 5A playoffs as both a junior and a senior ... scored a 940 on the SAT ... has a 3.2 GPA through his junior year ... runs a 4.9 second 40-yard dash.

ALONZO DOTSON
DE * 6-4 * 215 * Hastings H.S. * Alief, Texas
No. 25 overall player in Texas (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 38 defensive lineman in the nation/All-American (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 5 defensive end in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 6 defensive end in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
Top 100 Dream Team (Prep Star) - 2002
No. 33 defensive end in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
First team All-State - 2002
Player of the Year (Houston Chronicle) - 2002
First team All-Greater Houston (Houston Chronicle) - 2002
First team all-district - 2002
Second team all-district - 2001
Team Co-Most Valuable Player on defense - 2002
Team ended the 2002 season with an 11-3 mark and as district champs ... Team also advanced four rounds in the state playoffs this year ... Recorded 114 tackles (89 assisted, 25 solo), 15 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his final campaign ... Led team in sacks in 2002 ... Finished his junior year with 36 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and one forced fumble after battling an injury for part of the season ... Nephew of former Green Bay Packers star Santana Dotson and grandson of Alphonse Dotson who played for the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s ... Runs a 4.6 in the 40 yard dash ... Competes in the discus event on the track and field team.

JOE JON FINLEY
ATH * 6-6 * 210 * Arlington H.S. * Arlington, Texas
No. 32 athlete in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
No. 32 athlete in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 29 overall player in Texas (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 24 QB in the nation/All-American (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 14 athlete in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
District Offensive Most Valuable Player - 2002
All-district quarterback - 2001 & 2002
Preseason All-State Utility Player (Dave Campbell's Texas Football) - 2002
All-district tight end - 2000
All-area tight end - 2000
Athletic individual who has played at the quarterback and tight end position in high school ... Started at quarterback as a junior and senior ... Played tight end as a sophomore ... Helped lead team to a 12-2 record his senior year ... Team emerged as district and bi-district champions this year for the second straight season ... Squad also captured area and regional semi-final championships in 2002 ... Passed for 1,626 yards and rushed for 897 yards in 2002 ... Completed 82 of 168 passes and 12 touchdowns this year ... Rushed for nine more scores and sported a 6.6 yards per carry avg. ... Passed for 1,200 yards and rushed for 900 more as a junior ... Runs a 4.8 in the 40 yard dash ... Bench presses nearly 300 pounds and squats 315 pounds ... Served as a team captain his junior and senior seasons ... Coached by his father at Arlington H.S. ... Brother Matt played defensive back at Nebraska ... Also competed in track and field ... Qualified for regionals in the discus events in 2002 for the second consecutive year ... Also qualified for the 110 hurdles event in 2002.

TOMMY GRADY
QB * 6-6 * 220 * Edison H.S. * Huntington Beach, Calif.
No. 3 quarterback in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 3 quarterback in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 2 pro-style QB in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
No. 9 overall player in California (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 55 overall player in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 16 QB in the nation (Tom Lemming/ESPN.com) - 2002
No. 22 QB in the nation/All-American (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 25 overall player in California/Hawaii/Nevada Region (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 3 dropback QB in the nation (StudentSports.com) - 2002
Top 100 Dream Team (Prep Star) - 2002
No. 4 quarterback in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
First team All-State - 2001
Led team to playoffs in 2002 and championship in 2001 ... Passed for 2,474 yards and 15 touchdowns this year ... Completed 177 of 320 passes and was intercepted nine times ... Threw for 2,791 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2001 ... Completed 61 percent of his passes and was intercepted only three times as a junior ... Invited to compete in the prestigious Elite 11 Quarterback Camp in Mission Viejo, Calif., following his junior season ... Brother, Jeff, is a quarterback at Fresno State.

JACOB GUTIERREZ
RB * 5-7 * 175 * Madison H.S. * San Antonio, Texas
All-district - 2001 & 2002
All-city - 2001 & 2002
Offensive Player of the Year (San Antonio QB Club) - 2002
Three year starter ... Finished career with 4,507 rushing yards and 52 touchdowns ... Carried the ball 189 times for 1,815 yards as a senior ... Scored 11 touchdowns this year ... Also caught 11 passes for 123 yards ... Rushed for 1,626 yards on 213 carries as a junior ... Also compiled 18 touchdowns ... Scored 110 points, while averaging 7.63 yards per carry ... Clocked at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash ... Can bench press 395 pounds.

CODY FREEBY
P * 6-3 * 210 * Fort Worth Christian * Fort Worth, Texas
First-team all-USA Today (punter)-2002
No. 2 punter (Insider.com)-2002
No. 10 kicker (Rivals.com)-2002
No. 10 kicker (The Sporting News)-2002
Punter for Army All-American High School Bowl Game-2002
Punter on Max Emfinger's Texas All-State Super Team-2002
All-region (PrepStar Magazine)-2002
Conference special teams player of the year-2002
All-State (punter, defensive back)-2002
All-district (punter, defensive back)-2002
Top 100 Texas prospects (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)-2002
Top 75 area college prospects (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)- 2002
Second-team all-USA Today (punter)-2001
All-district (punter)-2001
All-district (punter)-2000
Averaged 44.5 yards-per-punt with a 4.2 second hang time as a senior ... also compiled 73 tackles and two interceptions playing defensive back ... averaged 42.0 yards as a junior ... was a member of the 2000 state runner-up football team ... is a four-year member of the track team ... has also participated in baseball and basketball ... enjoys fishing and hunting.

MARCUS JOHNSON
WR * 6-1 * 175 * Abilene H.S. * Abilene, Texas
No. 7 athlete in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
No. 7 athlete in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 24 overall player in the Midlands (Rivals.com ) - 2002
No. 19 overall player in Texas (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 32 overall player in Texas (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 40 athlete in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
Third team All-State (Texas Sports Writer's Association) - 2002
District 3-5A Offensive Most Valuable Player - 2001 & 2002
All-Big Country Super Team/Offensive Player of the Year (Abilene Reporter-News) - 2001 & 2002
Team Offensive Most Valuable Player - 2002
Second team All-State (Texas Sports Writer's Association) - 2001
A three year letterman and starter ... Played quarterback his junior and senior seasons ... Started at wide receiver as a sophomore ... Set a Little Southwest Conference record with 2,933 passing yards in his final season ... Completed 188 of 260 passes and tossed 21 touchdowns this year ... Picked off only seven times ... Rushed for 461 yards on 110 attempts for five touchdowns as well ... Served as the team captain this year ... Racked up 2,233 total offense yards as a junior ... Passed for 1,713 yards and rushed for 853 yards in 12 contests in 2001 ... Threw for 14 touchdowns and rushed for 10 more scores ... Runs a 4.4 in the 40 yard dash ... Coached by Steve Warren ... Also participates in baseball and track and field.

BRANDON KEITH
OL * 6-6 * 320 * McAlester H.S. * McAlester, Okla.
No. 2 player In Oklahoma (Rivals.com)-2002
No. 20 offensive tackle (Rivals.com)-2002
Area Offensive Player of the Year--2002
All-state first team (Daily Oklahoma and Tulsa World)--2002
Clocked at 5.1 in the 40-yard dash ... exceeded 70 pancake blocks for the season ... two-year starter ... junior team was 11-1 and reached the state semifinals ... senior team was 8-4 and reached the second round of the playoffs.

AKIM MILLINGTON
OL * 6-6 * 300 * Wheaton North H.S. * Wheaton, Ill.
No. 22 offensive tackle in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
No. 22 offensive tackle in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 30 offensive lineman in the nation/All-American (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 11 offensive lineman in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
First team All-American - 2002 ? First team all-region - 2002
Consensus First team All-State by Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois Coaches Association - 2002
Super Six Recruit by the Chicago Sun-Times -- 2002
All-area - 2001 & 2002
Most Outstanding Lineman in Illinois by high school coaches association - 2002
Selected for Army All-American Bowl. Lettered and started his final two seasons ... Played offensive tackle and defensive end his senior year ... Never gave up a sack his junior or senior years ... Named team's Best Offensive Lineman, Best Blocker and Best Overall Lineman for 2002 ... Graded better than 90 percent for the season ... Recorded 86 pancakes this season ... Broke his wrist in the second quarter of a game early in his junior year, but played out the rest of the game ... Injury forced him to miss seven games in 2001 ... Returned to competition in the second round of the state playoffs that year ... Runs a 5.25 in the 40 yard dash ... Coached by Matt Foster ... Competes in the discus event on the track and field team ... Placed sixth in the district track meet as a junior ... Attends the former high school of Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator Chuck Long.

DONTE NICHOLSON
DB * 6-2 * 210 * Mt. San Antonio JC * Walnut, Calif.
No. 12 junior college player (Rivals.com)-2002
No. 4 junior college defensive back (Rivals.com)-2002
Conference defensive MVP-2001, 2002
J.C. Goodwin All-America second team-2002
All-state-2002 Led Mt. San Antonio in tackles as a freshman and as a sophomore ... logged 85 tackles and four interceptions and recovered three fumbles as a freshman ... team leader on defense according to Mt. San Antonio coach Bill Fisk.

CARL PENDLETON
DT * 6-6 * 270 * Sapulpa H.S. * Sapulpa, Okla.
All-area-2001
All-state-2001
No. 9 Defensive Tackle (Rivals.com)-2002
No. 2 player in Oklahoma (Rivals.com)-2002
Team MVP-2002
Selected to play in the National High School All-Star game in San Antonio, Texas Played as both an offensive and defensive tackle... recorded six sacks as a senior ... clocked a 4.9 second time in the 40-yard dash ... father played football at the University of Tulsa.

DEMARRIO PLEASANT
LB * 6-3 * 210 * Lewisville H.S. * Lewisville, Texas
No. 6 linebacker in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
No. 6 linebacker in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
No. 12 overall player in Texas (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 2 linebacker in Texas (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 94 overall player in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 17 overall player in Texas (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 12 LB in the nation/All-American (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 43 player in the nation (Tom Lemming/ESPN.com) - 2003
Top 100 Dream Team (Prep Star) - 2002
No. 10 linebacker in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
U.S. Army All-American - 2002
Second team All-State - 2002
First team all-area - 2001 & 2002
District 7-5A Defensive Player of the Year - 2002
First team all-district - 2001 & 2002
Lettered in football for three years ... Started two and a half seasons ... Also played on special teams ... Made 138 tackles (10 for loss), four sacks and two fumble recoveries during his senior campaign ... Recorded 88 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and two interceptions as a junior ... Team recorded a 4-6 record this year after finishing 9-2 in 2001 ... Teammates with fellow Sooner commitment Tony Cade ... Coached by Ronnie Gage ... Played in the U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio, Texas following his senior year ... Runs a 4.49 in the 40 yard dash ... Competed on the basketball team in 2000 and 2001.

ANTONN REID
OL * 6-3 * 280 * Plano H.S. * Plano, Texas
All-District first team
Played only one year at Plano Senior High after transferring from Rowlett ... started at left tackle in high school, but is projected at center or guard in college ... helped clear the way for a 1,000-yard rusher ... officer in his high school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter ... has one brother playing basketball at Central State (OH) and a sister who is a shot putter at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.

WILLIE ROBERTS
TE * 6-7 * 240 * Northeastern Oklahoma A&M J.C. * Miami, Fla.
No. 3 overall JUCO player (Super Prep) - 2002
JUCO Top 125 (Prep Star) - 2002
No. 7 overall JUCO player (Insiders.com) - 2002
Honorable mention all-conference - 2002
Will have three years of eligibility left after redshirting a year and graduating on time at the end of his freshman season ... Caught 38 passes for 521 yards and seven touchdowns this year ... Averaged 13.7 yards per catch ... Played in 12 games in 2002 ... Originally signed with the University of Miami out of high school .

TRISTEN ROSS
WR * 6-1 * 190 * Evangel Christian Academy * Shreveport, La.
No. 12 overall player in Louisiana (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 22 wide receiver in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
No. 22 wide receiver in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 25 wide receiver in the nation (Tom Lemming/ESPN.com) - 2002
No. 11 overall player in Louisiana (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 35 wide receiver in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
First team All-State - 2002
First team all-district - 2002
First team all-city - 2002
Two year starter and letterman ... Totaled 96 receptions, 1,482 yards and 12 touchdowns during his career ... Caught 62 passes for 980 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games his senior year ... Recorded a season best 80 yard catch in 2002 ... Missed two games early in his senior season due to injury ... Totaled 500 yards on 34 catches as a junior ... Awarded offensive Most Valuable Player honors at the U.S. Army Combine in 2002 ... Helped lead high school team to a 14-1 record and state championship both years ... His team was also nationally ranked during both seasons ... Runs a 4.5 in the 40 yard dash ... Coached by Dennis Dunn ... Lettered two years in track and field ... Mother graduated from OU.

COURTNEY TENNIAL
RB * 5-10 * 205 * Glenpool H.S. * Glenpool, Okla.
No. 41 running back (Rivals.com)-2002
No. 41 running back (The Sporting News)-2002
Player of the year ( Tulsa World)-2002
Player of the year (Ford of Tulsa)-2002
Player of the year (Okscouting.com)-2002
All-state (Tulsa World)-2002
All-state (Daily Oklahoman)-2002
All-state (Oklahoma Coaches' Association)-2002
Broke the state rushing record as a senior ... ran for 3,486 yards and scored 36 touchdowns as a senior ... ran for 2,285 yards, averaging 11.9 yards per carry as a junior and scored 29 touchdowns ... recorded 46 solo tackles and 10 tackles for loss as a junior ... coached by Steve Edwards ... clocked at 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash ... won two state wrestling titles (2001 and 2002).

DARIEN WILLIAMS
S * 6-0 * 190 * North Mesquite H.S. * Mesquite, Texas
No. 10 safety (Rivals.com)-2002
No. 32 player in Texas (Rivals.com)-2002
First team all-district at both defensive back and running back-2002
Second-team all-district-2001
Selected to play in the Dallas-Fort Worth Coca-Cola All-Star Game-2002 Recorded 49 tackles, caused one fumble, recovered one fumble and had one interception in 11 games as a senior ... scored six touchdowns on 20 carries for 411 yards as a senior ... called team's "most physical tackler" by North Mesquite coach Steve Bragg.

JOHN WILLIAMS
DE * 6-5 * 220 * Lamar H.S. * Houston, Texas
No. 96 player overall in Texas (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 38 defensive end in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
No. 39 defensive end in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 54 defensive end in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
First team all-district - 2001 & 2002
Defensive Player of the Year (Houston Chronicle) -2002
Team Defensive Most Valuable Player - 2002
Three year starter at defensive end ... Team went 9-3 in his final season ... Made 57 stops, including 20 for loss, and recovered a fumble and forced a fumble in 2002 ... Led the team in sacks with 14 this year ... Recorded 12 sacks as a junior ... Runs a 4.8 in the 40 yard dash ... Coached by Tom Knowlen ... Cousin Ben Emanuel plays strong safety for UCLA ... Other cousin Derrick Johnson plays football at Texas ... Also cousins with New York Giants defensive lineman Dwight Johnson and former Rice standout Bert Emanuel.

DANE ZASLAW
LB * 6-2 * 241 * Memorial H.S. * Edmond, Okla.
No. 11 linebacker in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
No. 11 linebacker in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
No. 4 overall player in Oklahoma (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 1 linebacker in Oklahoma (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 26 player in the Midlands (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 11 overall player in the Midlands (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 9 LB in the nation/All-American (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 13 linebacker in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
Blue Chip (Daily Oklahoman) - 2002
Defensive Player of the Year (Edmond Evening Sun) - 2002
6A All-State - 2002
All-State honorable mention (Daily Oklahoman & Tulsa World) - 2002
First team all-district - 2002
First team all-conference - 2002
All-city (Daily Oklahoman) - 2002
Preseason Top 100 in the Midlands (Rivals.com) - 2002
Top 10 Junior Linebackers To Watch (Student Sports) - 2001
Preseason Oklahoma Defensive Player of the Year (Sooners Illustrated) - 2001
Three year starter and letterman ... Played linebacker, defensive end, fullback and punter ... Started his last two years at middle linebacker ... Totaled over 250 tackles and 12 sacks in his final two seasons ... Ended his senior season with 121 tackles (40 UT, 81 AT), six tackles for loss, two sacks and three passes broken up ... Recovered three fumbles and returned one for a touchdown ... Also intercepted a pass and returned it for a score ... Carried the ball 63 times for 301 yards and three touchdowns as the team's I-Back ... Punted 40 times for a 37.5 average ... Made 121 stops, forced three fumbles, intercepted two passes and recorded two sacks during his junior campaign ... Rushed for 250 yards and two touchdowns in 2001 ... Recorded the second best punting average in the state in 2001 with a 41.5 average ... Attended the Nike Camp at Texas A&M in May of 2002 ... Emerged as the top performer in the bench press at the camp with 32 repetitions of 185 pounds which placed him seventh in the nation out of all the Nike Camps ... Runs a 4.6 in the 40 yard dash ... Bench presses 365 pounds ... Possesses a 32.7-inch vertical jump.

BRIAN ZIMPEL
OL * 6-5 * 310 * Broken Arrow H.S. * Broken Arrow, Okla.
No. 5 overall player in Oklahoma (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 1 offensive lineman in Oklahoma (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 50 overall player in the Midlands (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 9 offensive guard in the nation (Rivals.com) - 2002
No. 9 offensive guard in the nation (SportingNews.com) - 2002
No. 22 overall player in the Midlands (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 33 off. lineman in the nation/All-American (Super Prep) - 2002
No. 32 offensive lineman in the nation (Insiders.com) - 2002
Tulsa World & Daily Oklahoman All-State - 2002
District Offensive Lineman of the Year - 2002
All-metro - 2001
Made 35 pancake blocks as a senior and 28 as a junior ... Helped lead team to an 11-3 record this year and the state 6A championship game ... Runs a 5.3 in the 40 yard dash ... Bench presses 330 pounds and squats 540 pounds. ... Coached by Rick Jones.

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