Tulsa Union running back Jeremy Smith, one of the nation's top high school football players in the 2009 class, orally committed to Oklahoma State on Monday.
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Ranked the No. 70 player in the country, regardless of position, Smith is rated by Rivals as one of the nation's top 10 running backs. He is listed as the No. 2 player in Oklahoma, behind Carl Albert running back David Oku.
Listed second team All-State by The Oklahoman, Smith rushed for 1,748 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior. He rushed for 954 yards and 10 TDs his sophomore season.
"I've grown up knowing OSU,” Smith said. "I couldn't see myself playing for anybody other than OSU. When I got an offer from them, that lifted me up. I wanted to check them out. I checked them out, and I'm loving it.”
OSU has been called "Tailback U” over the years after producing NFL Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas. But Smith, 5-foot-10, 197 pounds, would be the Cowboys' first big-name running back from Oklahoma since David Thompson.
The Cowboys have featured other NFL-caliber backs in recent years such as Tatum Bell (Texas), Vernand Morency (Florida) and Dantrell Savage (Mississippi). But they were all out-of-state prospects.
"(At junior day) I was talking to coach (Curtis) Luper about their offensive line. They're pretty young,” Smith said. "That influenced me some, because a lot of those linemen have two or three more years.”
Smith said he's attended four or five OSU games growing up, including last year's win over Kansas State.
"That game was a lot of fun,” Smith said. "It reminded me of the Jenks-Union rivalry. I really like their (OSU's) offense. By spreading it out, there are some good running lanes. And with those receivers out there, they're good blockers, too.”
Smith said he's received letters from more than 50 schools. The other two schools he was considering were Texas A&M and Kansas. He said he might attend a couple of camps at other schools this summer but is committed to OSU.
By making his college decision 11 months before he can sign a letter of intent, Smith said he can focus on his senior season. Tulsa Union finished the regular season undefeated last year but lost to Jenks in the Class 6A title game.
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V-MO did have Rivals and Scouts rating him well. He just wanted to go play baseball. Congrats to the Pokes for getting the commit. But it is just that a commit. Until he is signed sealed and delivered it means nothing. Ryan Broyles (who OU should have let get out of Norman)is a perfect example. But I wish that kid well as long as he isn't playin THE University Oklahoma.
Manny and Mike, here are a few names you might not have heard before: Tatum Bell, Vernand Morency, Dantrell Savage. None of those guys had Scouts.com drooling, but you'll note that 2 of those guys are in the League, with the 3rd soon to join them...Thanks again for making a clown of yourself. Logic Kills.
kye staley was recruited heavily by OU yet no one outside of stilly had heard of him and thats why he was a split decision between OSU and Ark. also recruited by 25 or more schools early on.........wow the ignorance continues to flow from the trailor parks
Manny and Mike are like two peas in a pod. They love getting jealous together about good OSU recruits. But really you two, you guys are right, no one has heard of Kye Staley and Smith, they suck. Keep telling yourselves that, it makes you feel better!
No one has heard of Kye Staley outside of Stillwater? Funny, I thought he was named the number one offensive player this year by the Daily Oklahoman and that Arkansas really wanted him. News doesn't travel well to your trailor park does it?
It is so funny how many Gooner fans get on the OSU article boards every time we sign a decent recruit and start hammering on him, or saying they didn't have a spot for him because their other guys are better...
Sounds like some Swooner jealousy. The more OSU continues to threaten the Swooner "dominance" in the state, the more squeeling denials are heard from the pigs of Pampa and Plano -- two great places to be from. Good for Swooners, though.
Joe, you proved my point. Nobody has heard of those guys outside of Stillwater! The Sooner Nation is wide and strong. You Pokes keep on dreaming, someday you might get close to playing with the big boys. Actually, no you won't.
Kendall Hunter, Beau Johnson, Kye Staley...you're right Mike, there's nobody available at OSU to run the football. You should probably do a bit of research before running your Sooner mouth. By the way, I had no idea the Bandwagon made it to Plano!?!?!
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best stable of running backs, OU or Pickens State ?
My money goes on the Sooners.