ot_2008_signing_day

This is a review of 2008 Signing Day. Click Here to View 2009 Signing Day Central

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Time	Signee Highlights	Pos	Ht	Wt	Hometown	School
Here	Justin Johnson	RB	6-1	210	Gilmer, Texas	Gilmer HS
Here	Landry Jones	QB	6-4	210	Artesia, N.M.	Artesia HS
Here	Britt Mitchell	OL	6-6	320	Roscoe, Texas	Roscoe HS
7:01 a.m.	Daniel Franklin	LB	6-3	220	Mount Airy, Ga.	Habersham Central HS
7:29 a.m.	Dejuan Miller	WR	6-5	200	Metuchen, N.J.	Metuchen HS
7:41 a.m.	James Hanna	TE	6-4	215	Flower Mound, Texas	Flower Mound HS
7:44 a.m.	David King	DE	6-4	240	Houston, Texas	Strake Jesuit Prep
7:47 a.m.	J.R. Bryant	LB	6-3	230	Jesup, Ga.	Garden City CC (Kan.)
8:03 a.m.	Josh Jarboe	WR	6-3	195	Decatur, Ga.	Cedar Grove HS
8:11 a.m.	Mike Balogun	LB	6-2	250	Upper Marlboro, Md.	Lackawanna CC (Pa.)
8:19 a.m.	Tress Way	K	6-1	190	Tulsa, Okla.	Union HS
8:27 a.m.	Joseph Ibiloye	DB	6-4	205	Garland, Texas	South Garland HS
8:46 a.m.	Stephen Good	OL	6-5	305	Paris, Texas	Paris HS
8:55 a.m.	Lamar Harris	DB	6-2	180	Gilmer, Texas	Gilmer HS
9:04 a.m.	R.J. Washington	DE	6-4	242	Fort Worth, Texas	Keller Fossil Ridge HS
9:09 a.m.	Stacy McGee	DL	6-4	260	Muskogee, Okla.	Muskogee HS
9:10 a.m.	Jameel Owens	WR	6-3	200	Muskogee, Okla.	Muskogee HS
9:28 a.m.	Jermie Calhoun	RB	6-0	210	Ben Wheeler, Texas	Van HS
9:34 a.m.	Casey Walker	DL	6-3	285	Garland, Texas	Garland HS
10:36 a.m.	Ben Habern	OL	6-4	275	Argyle, Texas	Liberty Christian HS
1:46 p.m.	David Sims	DB	5-11	198	Gainesville, Fla.	Butte College (Calif.)

2008 Signing Day Webcast

Segment 1 - 8:00 a.m.
Head coach Bob Stoops kicks off live signing day coverage from Norman.

Segment 5 - Noon
New assistant coach Jay Norvell reviews highlights of the wide receivers.

Segment 2 - 9:00 a.m.
Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables highlights the second segment.

Segment 6 - 1:00 p.m.
Signees Landry Jones and Justin Johnson join coaches Wilson and Patton.

Segment 3 - 10:00 a.m.
Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson discusses signees and reviews highlights.

Segment 7 - 2:00 p.m.
Coach Stoops returns to provide his thoughts on OU's 2008 signing class.

Segment 4 - 11:00 a.m.
Recruiting coordinator Cale Gundy provides analysis of the class and RBs.

Signing Day Press Conference
Watch the signing day press conference from the Kerr-McGee Stadium Club.

NORMAN, Okla. -- With a record five Big 12 Championships, a national title, a bowl appearance in each of his nine seasons and six stops at BCS games during Bob Stoops' tenure, it's more than coincidental that Oklahoma also produces well on signing day.

The OU head coach and his staff have apparently done so again, attracting a class that is roundly regarded among the top 10 in the nation. A total of 21 prospects inked letters of intent on the first day of the signing period, Wednesday.

"The key is finding good players that fit our program," said Stoops. "Playing here is not easy because the competition is good and a lot of hard work is expected, but the young men that choose to play here have rewarding experiences. We're excited about this group because they seem to have a good understanding of what it takes to play at a championship level and they want to carry on the Sooner tradition.

Signing Day Press Conference |

Printable 2008 OU Signee Bios (PDF) |

2008 Signing Day Release (PDF)

"I want to congratulate our coaching staff for working so hard to identify good prospects and then for developing the kind of relationship it takes to explain the benefits of our program in depth. Our coaches do a great job for Oklahoma and for the prospects because of the way they communicate."

The new Sooners represent a cross section of positions with three linebackers, three offensive linemen, defensive backs and receivers, two each at running back, defensive end, defensive tackle and defensive back and one each at quarterback and kicker.

Three of the signees hail from the junior college ranks while the other 19 are coming from high school. Three of those, quarterback Landry Jones, running back Justin Johnson and offensive lineman Britt Mitchell are already enrolled at OU. They are already involved in conditioning workouts and will participate in spring workouts as well.

Texas produced the most signees for OU with 11 followed by Oklahoma and Georgia with three and one each from Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and New Mexico.

Oklahoma is scheduled to open spring practices March 5. Those workouts conclude April 12 with the annual Red/White Spring Game.

Mike Balogun

Linebacker | 6-2 | 250 | Upper Marlboro, Md. | Lackawanna CC (Kan.)

Tabbed the Northeast Football Conference Player of the Year ... second team All-American by the NJCAA ... named to the Northeast Football Conference first team all-conference on defense ... racked up 86 tackles in 2007, 72 solos ... totaled one sack with three forced fumbles ... two interceptions for a total of 62 return yards ... had 12 tackles in one game against Navy Prep ... coached by Mark Duda ... born: Sept. 28, 1983.

J.R. Bryant

Linebacker | 6-3 | 230 | Jesup, Ga. | Garden City CC (Kan.)

No. 34 junior college player by Rivals.com ... first team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference ... NJCAA All-Region VI ... recorded 81 tackles and two tackles for a loss in 2007 as well as one sack ... Garden City was ranked No. 17 in the final NJCAA poll ... coached by Lucas Aslin ... born: Dec. 5, 1987.

Jermie Calhoun

Running Back | 6-0 | 210 | Ben Wheeler, Texas | Van HS

No. 1-rated running back, No. 7 player by ESPN and CSTV ... No. 3 player nationally by Scout.com, No. 2 in Texas ... No. 10 player nationally by Sports Illustrated/Takkle.com ... ranked No. 19 player nationally by Rivals.com and No. 2 at running back ... No. 1 player on Rivals' Texas Top 100 ... Parade All-American ... named the 2008 Southwest Offensive Player of the Year by SuperPrep Magazine ... selected to play in the ESPN All American game ... Offensive Player of the Year award for class 3-A in the state of Texas ...... third team All-American by EA Sports ... carried 242 times in his senior season racking up 1,910 yards and 30 touchdowns ... threw 104 passes, completing 57 for 803 yards and four touchdowns ... had 185 rushes in 2006 for 1,601 yards and 20 TD while adding another two scores and 128 yards on five catches ... in 2005, he racked up 1,830 yards on 230 carries with 23 touchdowns and six catches for 145 yards and four touchdowns ... parents: Tracy and Hank Neal ... coached by Brady Pennington ... born Oct. 12, 1988.

Daniel Franklin

Linebacker | 6-3 | 220 | Mount Airy, Ga. | Habersham Central HS

Selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl ... also participated in the Under Armour ESPN All-Star game ... rtated No. 5 inside linebacker by ESPN ... No. 17 weak side linebacker by Scout.com ... elected by Rivals.com to be on their All-South team ... member of the News Channel 32 All-Northeast Georgia team ... named to the Georgia Football Magazine all-state team ... tabbed by the Gainesville Times first team all-area ... led team with 128 tackles in 2007 ... as a four-year starter, set school record with 395 career tackles ... as the team captain, he was also named the team's Defensive MVP ... parents: Connie and Mike Franklin ... coached by Gene Cathcart ... born: Oct. 23, 1989.

Stephen Good

Offensive Line | 6-5 | 305 | Paris, Texas | Paris HS

Ranked the No. 2 run blocker and No. 29 overall player by Rivals.com ... Ranked No. 7 tackle by ESPN ... Scout.com tabbed him as the No. 3 offensive guard ... named to the East Texas all-state team as well as the AP all-state team in 2006 ... was elected to the all-district team three out of four year ... was chosen to play in the 2008 Army All-American Bowl ... recorded 24 pancake blocks in only two games as a senior ... compiled 208 pancake blocks in his high school career ... allowed only one sack in all four years as a starter... parents: Kim and Tommy Good ... coached by Travis Smith ... born Feb. 5, 1990.

Ben Habern

Offensive Line | 6-4 | 275 | Argyle, Texas | Liberty Christian HS

Selected as a US Army All-American ... named a Parade Magazine All-American ... No. 3 center nationally by ESPN and Rivals.com, No. 4 by Scout.com ... elected to first team all-state for both offensive and defensive line ... received all-district honors for both offensive and defensive line while being voted the district's most valuable player ... tabbed Denton Record Chronicle's two-way player of the year ... also selected to their all-area team ... his senior year, he recorded 112 pancake blocks while not allowing a sack, and defensively racked up 67 tackles and 11 sacks ... in 2006, he totaled 61 pancake blocks on the offensive side of the ball and recorded 34 tackles and five sacks on defense ... parents: Debi and Richard Habern ... coached by Mark Bowles ... born: July 28, 1989.

James Hanna

Tight End | 6-4 | 215 | Flower Mound, Texas | Flower Mound HS

No. 32 on the Rivals.com Texas Top 100, No. 11 nationally at tight end ... No. 20 tight end by Scout.com ... ranked No. 13 tight end by ESPN ... district offensive MVP in 2007 ... selected to the Texas Sports Writers all-state team as an honorable mention wide receiver... in 2007, he hauled in 53 catches for 765 yards with 11 touchdowns ... also returned six punts for 145 yards and a touchdown and six kicks for 181 yards and another score ... rushed 17 times for 131 yards ... parents: Kim and Rick Grizzle ... his mother played volleyball at Miami of Ohio ... coached by Cody Vanderford ... born: July 14, 1989.

Lamar Harris

Defensive Back | 6-2 | 180 | Gilmer, Texas | Gilmer HS

No. 35 on Rivals.com Texas 100 ... ranked the No. 26 athlete in the class by Rivals.com and the No. 44 cornerback by Scout.com ... caught 48 passes for 734 yards and seven touchdowns in 2007 ... as a junior, he had 42 receptions for 810 yards with 16 touchdowns ... also that year he was credited with 16 tackles, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions and long interception returns of 82 and 42 yard.

Joseph Ibiloye

Defensive Back | 6-4 | 205 | Garland, Texas | South Garland HS

Named all-state in 2007 ... voted unanimous all-district selection ... rated No. 16 outside linebacker by ESPN ... ranked by Rivals.com in their Top 100 at number 92, as well as their Texas top 25 at number 15 ... No. 10 safety by Scout.com ... tabbed by The Dallas Morning News as first team all-area player ... racked up 72 tackles in his senior season causing one fumble ... recovered another fumble ... blocked two punts and had seven passes defended ... parent: Tai Hazoome ... coached by Mickey Moss ... born: Nov. 28. 1989.

Joshua Jarboe

Receiver | 6-3 | 195 | Decatur, Ga. | Cedar Grove HS

Named an Under Armour All-American ... No. 13 player nationally by ESPN ... No. 10 wide receiver nationally by Rivals.com, No. 18 wide receiver by Scout.com ... selected to the Atlanta Falcons 7 on 7 all-star team in both 2006 and 2007 ... tabbed first team all-county in both his junior and senior seasons (2006, 2007) ... voted pre-season first team all-state in 2007 ... a three-year player, he totaled 34 receptions for 643 yards and five touchdowns his senior season ... in 2006, he hauled in 43 catches for 873 yards and seven scores while running the ball 22 times for 417 yards and 3 more scores ... completed 2-for-3 in passing for 47 yards and another touchdown ... had 15 catches for 478 yards and seven TD in 2005 ... coached by Ray Bonner ... born: Nov. 17, 1989.

Justin Johnson

Running Back | 6-1 | 210 | Gilmer, Texas | Gilmer HS

No. 2 running back nationally by Scout.com, No. 14 by Rivals.com and ESPN ... named to ESPN's top 150 prospects ... had 204 carries for 2164 yards and 25 TD in 2007 ... as a junior, he logged 86 attempts for 1,015 yards and 11 TD, and as a sophomore he had 91 carries for 793 yards and eight touchdowns ... played defense as a soph and logged 49 tackles, six sacks and one interception.

Landry Jones

Quarterback | 6-4 | 210 | Artesia, N.M. | Artesia HS

Named a Parade All-American ... rated No. 3 quarterback by ESPN ... played in the Under Armour ESPN All-American game ... second team multi-purpose All-American by EA Sports ... selected as New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year ... ranked by Rivals.com as the best player in New Mexico, and as one of the Best Pro-Style Quarterbacks at No. 6 ... rated by Scout.com as the No. 6 quarterback nationally ... finalist for the Joe Montana Quarterback of the Year ... was a member of both the 2006 and 2007 all-state teams ... threw for 3,850 yards on 366 pass attempts and 44 TD with only 11 interceptions on his way to a state title in 2007 ... those numbers followed a season in which he threw for 3,432 yards and 45 scores on his way to his first state title in 2006 ... he also rushed in 2006 for 294 yards and nine scores ... parents: Kellye and Kevin Jones ... coached by Cooper Henderson ... born: April 4, 1989.

David King

Defensive End | 6-4 | 240 | Houston, Texas | Strake Jesuit Prep

Ranked the No. 16 strong side defensive end by Rivals.com ... No. 11 defensive end by Scout.com ... named the unanimous district Defensive MVP ... Elected to the All Greater Houston team by The Houston Chronicle ... racked up 46 tackles from his defensive end position as well as nine tackles for a loss ... recorded 4.5 sacks and six quarterback pressures ... also batted six passes and intercepted one ... coached by Ron Counter ... born Dec. 27, 1989.

Stacy McGee

Defensive Line | 6-4 | 260 | Muskogee, Okla. | Muskogee HS

Named to Rivals.com's all-state team while being ranked in its Top 100 (86), Best Defensive Ends (8) and Oklahoma Top 25 (2) ... No. 11 defensive tackle nationally by Scout.com, No. 15 by ESPN ... selected to the Tulsa World and Oklahoman all-state team ... tabbed as the Muskogee Phoenix's Defensive Player of the Year ...... recorded 98 tackles his senior season while 20 of those were for a loss ... had six sacks and forced 18 passes ... also registered two interceptions, 8 batted passes and caused three fumbles ... for his career, he racked up 160 tackles, 38 for a loss and 13 sacks ... totaled 6 picks and 21 broken up passes for his career... parents: Stacy and Sabrina McGee ... coached by Matt Hennesey ... born: Jan. 17, 1990.

Dejuan Miller

Receiver | 6-5 | 200 | Metuchen, N.J. | Metuchen HS

No. 13 wide receiver by Scout.com, No. 21 by ESPN ... elected to the AP all-state team in 2007 as a wide receiver ... finalist for the Gatorade Player of the Year Award ... four-year starter in both football and basketball, as well as the New Jersey state champion in the 200m dash ... elected to play in the Offense-Defense All-American game ... tallied 77 tackles from his safety position, as well as one interception and six passes defended ... racked up 46 receptions for 612 yards with six touchdowns ... ran 51 times for 455 yards and five touchdowns ... accounted for 14 total touchdowns ... parents: Carla and Jeremy Miller ... coached by Bob Ulmer ... born April 10, 1990.

Britt Mitchell

Offensive Line | 6-6 | 320 | Roscoe, Texas | Roscoe HS

First team all-state in 2007 after receiving second team all-state honors in 2006 ... two time all-area team member (2006, 2007) ... ranked No. 34 offensive tackle by ESPN, No. 45 by Scout.com in the offensive lineman category, while being ranked 68 byRivals.com for the same position ... totaled 64 pancake blocks his senior season although he missed four games due to injury/illness ... graded at 97 percent on his blocking assignments in 2007 ... anchored the line that blocked for an offense that averaged 455.5 yards per game ... parent: Cari Duda ... coached by Wes Williams ... born: June 9, 1989.

Jameel Owens

Receiver | 6-3 | 200 | Muskogee, Okla. | Muskogee HS

Rated the No. 1 player in Oklahoma by Rivals.com and the No. 8 receiver nationally ... No. 10 receiver by ESPN ... No. 1 player in Oklahoma and No. 15 receiver nationally by Scout.com ... top 50 prospect by Sports Illustrated/Takkle.com ... selected to both the US Army and Parade Magazine All-American teams ... named Muskogee Phoenix Most Valuable Player ... named an all-state team member by both the Oklahoman and the Tulsa World ... caught 59 passes in 2007 racking up 994 yards and 10 scores ... totaled 167 receptions for 3,444 yards and 45 touchdowns as a four-year starter ... parent: Debra Owens ... coached by Matt Hennesey ... born: April 15, 1989.

David Sims

Defensive Back | 5-11 | 198 | Gainesville, Fla. | Butte College (Calif.)

JUCO All-American ... named to both all-region and all-state teams in 2007 ... ranked in the Rivals.com JUCO top 60 ...racked up 70 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack ... intercepted six passes while defending six others ... picked up four fumbles while forcing one ... had three plays over 98 yards all for touchdowns, one 99-yard fumble recovery, one 98-yard two-point conversion return and one 100-yard field goal return ... in 2006 he played in seven games carrying 100 times for 384 yards and five TD ... ran a 4.38 second 40-yard dash at a JUCO combine in 2007 ... coached by Jeff Jordan ... born: Oct. 20, 1986.

Casey Walker

Defensive Line | 6-3 | 285 | Garland, Texas | Garland HS

Ranked by ESPN as the No. 35 defensive tackle, rated by Scout.com as the No. 39 defensive tackle nationally ... Rivals.com ranks him No. 56 nationally among defensive tackles ... recorded 22 tackles in 2007 with two sacks and two forced fumbles ... credited with seven quarterback hurries ... statistically his best season, in 2006 he totaled 25 tackles with two sacks ... also picked up a fumble and was able to get two quarterback hurries ... parents: Natalie and Chris Pipkin ... coached by Jeff Jordan ... born: Dec. 6, 1989.

R.J. Washington

Defensive End | 6-4 | 242 | Fort Worth, Texas | Keller Fossil Ridge HS

No. 11 prospect nationally by ESPN, No. 14 by Sports Illustrated/Takkle.com ... No. 1-rated defensive end nationally by Rivals.com, No. 2 by Scout.com ... EA Sports All-American ... named the 2008 Southwest Defensive Player of the year by SuperPrep Magazine ... tabbed as an All American by Parade Magazine ... elected to play in the 2008 Army All-American Bowl ... received all state honors in each of his last two seasons (2006, 2007) ... selected to the Dallas Morning News All-Area Team ... recorded 84 tackles in 2007 with 11 sacks and 36 quarterback pressures ... holds school records in both sacks in a career with 29 and in a game with three ... earned first-team all-district honors in 2006 and 2007 while being named the sophomore of the year in 2005 ... parent: Sherrilyn Wright ... coached by Tony Baccarinni ... born March 14, 1989.

Tress Way

Kicker | 6-1 | 190 | Tulsa, Okla. | Union HS

Selected as a member of the all-state team by both the Oklahoman and Tulsa World ... No. 17 player in Oklahoma by Rivals.com at 17 ... No. 11 kicker nationally by Scout.com ... earned a spot in the Oil Bowl ... named the district special teams player of the year ... converted all 42 extra point attempts ... hit on 14-of- 19 field goals with the longest coming from 47 yards ... handled punting duties, averaging 39.0 yards on 26 attempts ... parents: Debra and Leo Way ... coached by Kirk Fridrich born April 18, 1990.

Head Coach Bob Stoops Quotes

Opening Statement:
"I'm pleased to announce 18 new signees. We've got three to make 21 for the whole class that are already enrolled and participating for us. I'm really pleased with the new class and really excited about it. This is a bunch of good players that are quality students and quality players. I really appreciate the efforts of our coaching staff. Every single guy on our coaching staff really contributes in a great way of being very unselfish about it. We never get caught up in what guys sign and how many. To me, the whole staff recruits players. There isn't just a recruiting coach who has that area. We do a good job at communicating amongst ourselves and presenting Oklahoma in a good way with these recruits.

"What I'm most pleased with as I look at them is the overall depth in all positions. We signed three offensive linemen, three linebackers, three defensive backs, two running backs, two defensive ends, one quarterback, one defensive specialist and one tight end in James Hannah. He's really an excellent player as well. Tress Way is a kicker and a punter. Overall I think it's pretty obvious that we did a good job in all of our needs and that we've got quality players in all positions."

On the ability to recruit players from across the country:
"I think we also show the ability to recruit nationally outside of Texas where we signed 11 players. I felt we were really strong once again in the state of Texas with our affiliation with the Big XII South, and proximity with Texas being so close. We did really well in Texas and Oklahoma as we always do. But outside of that we've got players from Georgia, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and New Mexico and they're all excellent players in their state. We're able to draw them here to Oklahoma and that just shows the overall strength and consistency of the program."

On the new offensive recruits:
"Starting offensively I feel like we've got good strong players in our offensive line. Britt Mitchell who's already here on campus is working hard for us. Stephen Good is another really big guy with great size and ability. Ben Habern as an inside center or guard type of guy, so we've got inside and outside type guys. That's what we like, we like to get a little bit of each. A tight end in James Hanna, who's really an excellent athlete when you watch him run. He's a people listening tight end kind of like Trent Smith with excellent ability to run routes, catch the ball and I'm sure he'll grow into being a physical presence as well.

"Justin Johnson on campus already as a running back is really doing a nice job again in a couple of weeks. Strong physical player like we like, along with Jeremy Calhoun, another excellent player. The two of them are from the state of Texas. Those are the guys that are really going to give us some quality depth. We go into the spring and we're going to have two backs to go through the whole spring. Justin's going to get a lot of snaps along with Mossis Madu. They're coming into strengthen a strong position for us."

On the new receivers:
"The receiver position is a really special group, maybe overall the most special together when you work with them. Josh Jarboe out of Atlanta and Jameel Owens from right here in Oklahoma. They're strong guys with great speed, great physical presence to them. All of them really catch the football very well. That's an exciting group of guys who can make big plays."

On new freshman and quarterback Landry Jones:
"Landry Jones, one of the top quarterback in the country, is already working here on campus. He's a big strong guy who's got a big arm. He's been out here working out with us the last couple of week and has been doing really well. Here's a guy who just won a state championship, and I think they won all of their games last year but maybe one and they won all of their games this year. So this is a guy who's used to winning."

On defensive signees:
"Defensively, linebackers, there's a big need. We signed three guys, Mike Balogun, a big physical presence inside, Daniel Franklin and J.R. Bryant. Two junior college guys and one high school guy. With Curtis Loftin leaving early and loosing two other guys, this year definitely caught us thin and even with these three we're still a little thin at the linebacker position. Anyway, still this group is really going to help us with their overall ability and the ability we've seen on tape.

"Defensive backs, we've got three guys again. We've got Joseph Ibiloye and David Sims, two inside safety guys who are good physical hitters. Lamar Harris from east Texas and he gives us another corner with good size and range. Joseph is from the Dallas area. I think with Reggie leaving early and then graduating Darien Williams, Marcus Walker and D.J. Wolfe we got caught thin a little bit there. We're still thin with signing these guys and we're still needing to recruit guys for the secondary guys coming up.

"Rounding that out, some of the inside guys- between R.J. Washington, David King, ranging defensive ends with excellent quickness. Stacy McGee, a local guy from over in Muskogee, an excellent player who's very powerful and doing great in wrestling right now, a very physical and quick guy. Casey Walker, another physical and strong guy who's got a little more weight to him. Stacy's the type of guy who will start at defensive end, but will grow into an inside guy. With his feet and movement, he's really exceptional for the way he moves. He used to weigh I think about 280 and has cut back to 255. So we'll see, Stacey moves so well that he'll have an opportunity to play inside or outside depending on how he grows. "

On the new kicker/punter signee:
"Tress Way I talked about as a punter and a kicker has a big leg. I loved recruiting him and we got a chance to watch him here at camp last year. He's a big guy who's got big size and a powerful leg. At camp he was kicking the ball consistently 40-to-50 yards and that was attractive to me with Mike Knall being a senior this year. His kick-offs were consistently in the end zone. We're not at all displeased. Jimmy Stevens is doing an excellent job for us and he's come along and we'll see the power that's there. Tress has a chance to compliment him and maybe have a little bit longer leg when we see it, so we'll just see. He gives you a lot of options and he's a big strong guy with his leg and he's going to be really good for us."

On signing two of the top three running backs in Texas in Jermie Calhoun and Justin Johnson:
"I think the overall efforts of our staff, especially Cale Gundy who works that area and develops relationships with those guys, and maybe just our overall success over the past several years too. How we have been able to run the ball might have been attractive to them as well. Those are good strong players who are really fun to recruit as well. They are guys that never wavered. I always felt good about what they were doing. In fact, those two guys are guys that really helped assemble the whole class because they committed early and worked some other guys along the way."

On Justin Johnson staying at running back:
"That is the plan, but you never really know with anyone. We recruited him as a running back. I have a millions receivers that could be corners, and a bunch of corners that could be receivers, but that's not what we recruited them as."

On getting early commitments:
"It's funny, I heard people say all week that we worked a little earlier this year. We have worked the same way for the last nine years. We are always talking to kids early and trying to build relationships. We are just fortunate that we were able to build strong relationships early and that those kids decided that they wanted to commit early. You can't make a kid do something that they don't want to. I know we have had strong relationships with guys that have gone down to the last week and we started with them as early as we started with these guys.

"In the end, there are always a number of factors in the decision and I don't think you can put your finger on any of them. Our work and how we go about it has been consistent for a long period of time on how we recruit. Sometimes it works sooner for you than others."

On bringing other players in for linebacker and defensive back:
"We are looking more towards next year's recruiting class. I think we will do just fine going into this year, but we continue to graduate players after this season and we could use some help. The guys we signed this year in those spots we wouldn't have signed unless we felt they were excellent players. I think that all three of them have excellent ability. They have great mobility for the size that they bring. It just gets down for them being comfortable to see if they will play this year."

On Jermie Calhoun's and Justin Johnson's running styles:
"I don't like to put them in the same boat as Alan Patrick. All running backs are different. I don't know that I have had any two that are the same and really, you can think through and we haven't. They are very physical guys who have excellent speed and vision and that's what you want."

On being able to recruit Texas so well:
"I don't get much into that. I think that our overall program has been strong and I think players notice that. I think that the overall success and consistency matters to them. Our overall ability to run, the way we have played, the players we have moved on to the NFL and the way we do things is attractive to them.

"I'm not comparing us to anyone else, I am just saying that we are in the (Big 12) South and we have won it six of the last eight years. I think that matters to them. Winning Big 12 championships, that is something that they want to do. I think we have done it in a pretty decent way and our players in all positions have had a good amount of success. I'm just guessing, but I think those might be some of the things that might be attractive to them.

"Also, the relationships and the way they have gotten to know us as a staff would be a part of that decision. Of course, they are coming to a great university with a chance to get a great education from a great school."

On the middle linebacker position for spring football:
"Well, we are looking at Ryan Reynolds as a possibility in there, as well as Lamont Robinson. So we will see. We are going to try to move some guys around and see who fits the best."

On signing Lamar Harris:
"That was big when you look at our secondary situation. Lamar Harris is a very good player who can play corner or safety and he is a very good athlete. So that was big for us. There is no doubt about. I always feel you are splitting hairs on who is better than who. These guys are strong and excellent players from what I have seen at this point."

On college football adding an early signing day:
"I think it would eliminate a lot of problems and clean a lot of things up. I would not be for it starting before December 20 or whenever they have the junior college signing every year. More and more high school guys are coming early every year and that's not going to stop. There are valid reasons to have an early day. Those guys would get to have a signing ceremony as well. The three guys we have here didn't get anything. They got to go on our website, but that's it. So there is a good reason to do it."

On the receiver class:
"I don't think it was the height. I mean it's an added bonus that they are all big guys, but we were looking for the caliber of player that can come in and contribute. The idea was more we just loved the way they played. There were some of the smaller, shifty guys that just didn't quite fit we were recruiting, but that's the way it went."

On Dejuan Miller:
"Dejuan has family ties in Oklahoma City. His parents are from the area and it was exciting to get him. He has a great family and he is strong guy. They came through here a couple of times, once unofficially and then of course on his official visit. Their official trip was actually around Thanksgiving and they stayed a week. Not at our place, but at their families in Oklahoma City, which was great because we were preparing for our Oklahoma State game and they were able to come by a couple of those days. That worked out really well."

On R.J. Washington and the rest of the defensive line recruits:
"He has excellent quickness, speed and the ability to change direction well. All of those guys we are really fired up about. David King is a great looking guy as well. Stacy moves great for a big guy too. Casey has that bigger and stronger presence inside. So they are all a great fit for us. R.J. you asked specifically just has great speed and that is what we are looking for on the end."

On finding Mike Balogun:
"Well, Brent Venables started researching a lot of players. I think more than anything, when Curtis Lofton left he really picked it up. He realized that it was something that we needed to fill here, so here started looking at the tape and saw Mike. He is a really good player and an exciting guy. He has a lot of maturity to him, and that is kind of how it all happened."

On if Adrian Peterson passed on some characteristics to Justin Johnson:
"Maybe, you would have to ask Justin that. He is a good guy to watch, and if you were going to pattern yourself after someone and you have that physical presence that is a good person to follow. Justin has that physical presence for sure

On how the Justin Johnson, Landry Jones and Britt Mitchell are doing so far:
"It's hard to get a feel for that, because we have only been able to see one work-out. Some other coaches have been able to jump into some, and they are doing great. When I was with them Tuesday morning, we had a team agility session and a lot of times there has to be a guy who has to fall out and take a breath and none of those guys had to."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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