Jones says no to OU
Nation's top wide receiver recruit to stay home, play for Alabama
Jones says no to OU

Julio Jones, the nation's top wide receiver prospect, signed with Alabama on Wednesday.

With hats from four schools (Florida, Florida State, Alabama and OKlahoma) in front of him, Jones went straight for the hat of the Crimson Tide.

Jones told ESPNU that staying close to his Foley, Ala., home was important to him.

"(Alabama) felt like home, and I took a lot of visits up there," Jones said. "It was just where I was most comfortable."

Jones said he waited to make his decision until he had seen what every school had to offer.

"I was just feeling out all of the college to see where I wanted to go," he said."Everywhere I went to had great facilities and a great coaching staff."

Jones would have topped off an already-steller 2008 wide receiver class for Oklahoma. The Sooners already had commitments from three of the nation's top receiver prospects in Jameel Owens (Muskogee), Josh Jarboe (Ellenwood, Ga.) and Dejuan Miller (Metuchen, N.J.).

•Bryant's bold prediction: Once he arrives in Norman, J.R. Bryant won't be permitted to make predictions.

So the 2008 linebacker signee made a pre-emptive strike after inking with the Sooners on Wednesday.

"I think we're going to make a national championship run,” said the four-star linebacker from Garden City (Kan.) Community College. "We got a good class this year and there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to compete for the national championship.”

While he certainly isn't the most hyped, Bryant might be the most important defensive signee of Oklahoma's 2008 class. OU coaches are counting on him to step in and immediately help fill the void left by outgoing senior Lewis Baker and NFL Draft hopeful Curtis Lofton.

"They told me I'll be playing either the WIL or SAM — they want me to try both,” said the Jessup, Ga., native. "I can play outside and inside.

"They know I'm good in space and good in pass coverage.”

Good at predictions, though? Sooner fans will have to wait and see.

•Make way for Way: Don't be surprised next football season if Oklahoma's first kickoff is booted by Tress Way, a true freshman from Tulsa Union High School.

"They want me to be a kickoff specialist,” Way said Wednesday after signing with the Sooners. "And they want me to battle for field goals and punts. But my favorite part of kicking is kicking off.”

And he plans on doing that right away for OU.

"The coaches will make the decision, but I'm going to get right in there and work my tail off,” Way said. "I know how good I can be, and I can be a lot better. It's time to get to work. It's a new level.”

Way was recruited by OU, Tulsa and San Diego State. He narrowed his choices to the Sooners and the Golden Hurricane.

"Actually, my dad and I grew up as TU fans, and my dad was always talking about me playing football for TU when I got older,” Way said. "But I was like, ‘You know, Dad, it would be pretty cool to play for OU, too. They go to some pretty big games.' He said, ‘Yeah, OU would be good, too.' And when it rolled around that way, it was unbelievable, it was awesome.”

Way, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 190 pounds, is a left-footed kicker. He kicked 14 field goals and averaged 38.6 yards on punts last year for Union's Class 6A state runner-up team. He was named first team All-State by The Oklahoman.

"After I limited it down to TU and OU, we had a family meeting,” Way said. "I looked at pros and cons, and I just couldn't find any cons about OU. I prayed about it, took my official visit there, and there couldn't have been a bigger sign from God that it was the right place to be. OU came and I took the gig.”

By Bob Hersom, Blake Jackson and Ryan Sharp

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