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OSU football recruiting: Cowboys' class lacks star power, but Mike Gundy says it's the best he's had

BY ANTHONY SLATER, Staff Writer, aslater@opubco.com | Published: February 6, 2013 Comment on this article

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Article Gallery: OSU football recruiting: Cowboys' class lacks star power, but Mike Gundy says it's the best he's had

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And fighting for that third spot, among a few other returners, will be signees Corion Webster and Rennie Childs. Both are elusive and productive runners who showed versatility and durability in high school.

“We're excited about both of them,” Gundy said. “We think they fit our style of play. We've been very successful with those type of backs in our system…(And) we typically play our freshman backs.”

On the defensive side, OSU seemed most concerned about its front. Gundy has continued to express a growing importance of having physical and athletic ends and tackles in recent years, and it showed in this recruiting period.

While the Cowboys only picked up one linebacker, they added six players to the defensive line (three ends and three tackles).

Gundy seemed to think two in particular, both JUCO transfers, would be ready for immediate contribution.

Sam Wren is a 6-foot-3, 260-pounder with a rare athleticism and wingspan for the defensive end spot. He's already enrolled.

And Ofa Hautau, a Signing Day addition, is a 6-foot-1, 290-pound rock who is expected to help shore up the interior.

“As far as the defensive line position, this will be the best group that we've had,” Gundy said. “Because there's some meat in it, we've got guys coming in who are big and physical as we speak…. I'll be very surprised if 18 months from now, we all don't agree that this is the best group of defensive lineman we've signed since I've been the head coach here.”

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