OU nabs pair of commits

Published: April 15, 2008

By Blake Jackson

Staff Writer

NORMAN — Justin Chaisson phoned Bob Stoops on Monday to inform the Sooner coach of his commitment to attend the University of Oklahoma.

Then, Chaisson made a bold decision.

"I was going to wait and keep it low-key," said the four-star defensive end from Las Vegas, Nev. "I wanted to announce it at the U.S. Army All-American Game."

Next January.

Well, Chaisson barely made it 24 hours. His announcement Tuesday afternoon was so abrupt, his mother didn't even know he'd committed until a certain sports writer called her home to confirm an online report.

"I talked it over with my dad and I decided to go ahead and put it out there," Chaisson said. "I didn't want to lead on the other schools recruiting me."

Chaisson — the nation's No. 27 player overall according to Rivals.com — also held offers from California, LSU, Florida and UCLA, among others.

He visited Oklahoma last weekend for the Sooners' second open scrimmage.

"It was just my second time on campus but I could tell OU was a great fit for me," said 6-foot-5, 250-pounder. "I got to see how the coaches worked. I was hanging out with (defensive end) Auston English, (linebacker) Ryan Reynolds and (tight end) Brody Eldridge. It was good."

Chaisson's verbal gives the Sooners their third commitment in four years from Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman High School. Reynolds came to OU as part of the Class of 2005. Tailback DeMarco Murray followed in 2006.

The connections didn't influence Chaisson's final decision, he said, but they certainly made it easier to live with.

"I played with DeMarco and I knew Ryan," Chaisson said. "It helps out a lot to know someone who's already there. You kind of already feel like family."

Chaisson plans to take just one official visit this season. Back to Oklahoma, for the Sooners' Nov. 1 matchup against Nebraska.

"After that, I'm done," he said. "I'm going to focus on school and working on my leverage."

The high-profile commitment capped a big weekend for the OU defense, during which linebacker Brandon Mahoney and cornerback Steve Williams also gave their nods to the Sooners.

Mahoney — a 6-foot-2, 210-pound outside linebacker from Fossil Ridge High School in Keller, Texas — visited Norman to watch Saturday's Red-White Game with former high school teammate and close friend R.J. Washington.

Washington was the jewel of OU's 2008 recruiting class and will join the team for summer workouts on June 2.

"(Mahoney and Washington) are like brothers," said Fossil Ridge coach Tony Baccarini. "R.J. insists he had nothing to do with (Mahoney's commitment). He had visited LSU last weekend and it really took (defensive coordinator) Brent Venables by surprise. He was elated."

Mahoney ran track this spring in hopes of improving his agility and quickness on the football field. He recently clocked 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

Said Baccarini: "He had a terrific spring and we are expecting to see big things his senior year."

Williams also attended Saturday's Red-White Game.

He was impressed by the play of the defensive backs — they snagged three of five interceptions during the scrimmage — but didn't want to rush his choice.

"I knew of my decision (Sunday) but I wanted to sleep on it and see how I felt (Monday)," Williams told SoonerScoop.com. "I knew I wanted to be a Sooner."

With Chaisson, Mahoney and Williams en tow, Oklahoma now has nine commitments from the Class of 2009. National Signing Day is Feb. 4.

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