Signing Day notebook: Del City coach says Oregon State gets a steal in wide receiver/running back Corey Lawrence

“I think he is the best player in the state of Oklahoma and the most explosive,” Warehime said. “Whether the rankings say he is or not is not relevant to me. I know what kind of impact player he is and what kind of player he can be at the next level.”

Lawrence, who averaged 22 yards per reception for Del City last season and led the Eagles to a district championship, chose Oregon State over New Mexico. Sporting a black Oregon State cap and T-shirt, on Wednesday at Del City's signing day ceremony, Lawrence was one of seven Eagles who signed letters of intent to play college football.

Lawrence said he is excited about becoming a Beaver and playing in Corvalis, Ore., even though it's a long way from home.

“It's a beautiful place and they have some good coaches,” Lawrence said. “It's like a family environment up there. I am looking forward to it, but I am going to miss my family at the same time.”

Warehime said Oregon State coaches want to move Lawrence to the secondary. Lawrence said coaches have told him he may play both wide receiver and cornerback.

MORE THAN JUST FOOTBALL FOR FREEMAN

Carlos Freeman wanted to make sure his future after football was set.

Wednesday morning the Midwest City High School three-star offensive lineman signed a football letter of intent with Washington State, where he plans to major in construction management.

“A lot of kids, they go off recruiting because of the name of a school and something like that,” Freeman said. “I'm like, ‘Yeah, the name is great, but you've got to think long term. You can't think just four years ahead.'

“I'm thinking, ‘OK I want to go to a program, put in as much work as I can and see if I can make it to the level after. If I can't, that's OK. I'm going to have a really, really good option to settle back on.'”

Midwest City coach Darrell Hall calls Freeman “a true Bomber,” pointing out his involvement in just about everything the school offers.

“He's just one of those all-around good people,” Hall said. “He participates in everything. He goes to powerlifting meets while wrestling season is going on, he'll go throw the disc for track and then you come up here one night and watch a play and he's on the stage.”

NORMAN NORTH'S JONES TO WALK ON AT TULSA

Norman North kicker Redford Jones had options other than walking on at a Division I school.

In the end, though, the chance to stay in state and compete for a spot at Tulsa was too much to pass up.

Jones will join the Golden Hurricane as a preferred walk-on with the chance to compete for a scholarship.

“First off, the education there is phenomenal,” Jones said. “That was a big part of it.

“But also, the coaching there is great. A lot of colleges have a special teams coach that doesn't know how to work with kickers. They have a couple of different coaches who can work with the kickers and help you get better.”

Jones expects to earn a scholarship soon.

“They said it could be as soon as after the first semester,” Jones said. “That's my goal. I've just got to go in and compete and keep working for it.”

DEER CREEK TRIO HEADED TO SWOSU

It already feels like home in Weatherford for Deer Creek's Austin Loomis, Jared Rayburn and Tyler Follis.

All three Deer Creek standouts signed a football letter of intent with Southwestern Oklahoma State on Wednesday, keeping the recruiting pipeline from Edmond to Weatherford alive and well.

“I made my decision when I went down there, and it reminded me of home,” Rayburn said. “I felt more confident of going there.

“I think it's going to calm me down and not be all nervous going into a new environment.”

Deer Creek had seven football players sign their letters of intent, marking the largest signing class in school history. This year's signing class went 34-10 over their four-year period.

Former Deer Creek assistant coach Michael Collins is now the wide receivers coach at SWOSU, and he helped recruit the trio. SWOSU head coach Dan Cocannouer also coached at Edmond Santa Fe with Deer Creek assistant Ryan Laverty.