GUTHRIE — Guthrie standout Kye Staley will take an official visit to Arkansas this weekend and he said he's not sure about his commitment to the Oklahoma State football team.
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Since Darren McFadden and Felix Jones left early for the NFL, and Staley wants to play running back, Arkansas will try to convince the Guthrie star he could play immediately if he switched his commitment from Oklahoma State.
"I just want to see what they have to offer,” Staley said. "I've been there before. I'm going to see what they really have. I can't give a percentage. I'm leaving the door open. It's pretty strong (toward OSU), but I want to see what Arkansas has to offer.”
Staley said McFadden and Jones bolting for NFL dollars heightened his interest. He was asked on Monday if he's still a strong commitment to OSU.
"Right now I'm not even sure,” Staley said. "I'm considering Arkansas. If I wasn't, I wouldn't visit. We'll have to see what happens.”
Staley, who took his official visit to Stillwater last weekend, has attended "five or six” OSU football and basketball games.
He even joined the post-game celebration at Gallagher-Iba Arena after the Cowgirls' win over Oklahoma two weeks ago.
"I feel like I'm part of Stillwater already,” Staley said. "I like going up there. It's a lot of fun every time I go. ... I'll take the visit this weekend, and whatever happens happens.”
Despite Staley's late interest in Arkansas, Guthrie coach Rafe Watkins predicts Staley will honor his original commitment and sign with OSU.
"There will be immediate playing time at Arkansas, but I don't think there's any chance in the world he will change his commitment,” Watkins said. "He went to some of their games. That's why it would be a total shock if he didn't end up at OSU.”
Staley, a quarterback on Guthrie's 14-0 Class 5A state championship team, wants to play running back. OSU returns Kendall Hunter, who rushed for 696 yards as a true freshman. The Cowboys also signed junior college running back Beau Johnson.
"The only one early that was offering him as a running back was LSU,” Watkins said. "OU, Michigan and all the others in on him wanted to be a defensive back. But a kid that's used to scoring touchdowns prefers to continue scoring touchdowns.”
Watkins said several schools stayed in contact with Staley even though he committed to the Cowboys on Aug. 21, his 17th birthday.
"Kye has turned down visits all year long,” Watkins said. "When he went to that All-American game he heard about all the places those players had been. For his curiosity I think he wanted to take at least one other visit.
"He promised Arkansas he'd visit even before they changed coaches. He's told everybody who has been through here he's going to OSU. (Arkansas assistant) Garrick McGee came through last week to convince him to take a visit.”
Competing against some of the nation's top prospects at the Under Armour High School All-America game earlier this month in Orlando, Staley finished third in a 160-yard obstacle-course skills competition.
"I think he would be a tremendous strong safety, but he wants to play running back,” Watkins said. "They may want to change his position once he gets up there. Just like we do in high school, you give a kid a shot.
"I feel coach (Mike) Gundy and coach (Joe) DeForest are men of their word and will give him a shot at running back. I think Kye feels they'll give him a shot and see where it goes from there.”
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What four major bowls? When have the pokes played in even one?
"OSU might have only made it to the Insight Bowl, but at least we won our Bowl Game and haven't got embarrassed the last 4 major bowls."...Guess they haven't...Instead they have been embarrassing over the last four seasons
Gary, if you read another newspaper besides the Joklahoman you'd now that OSU was to close loss from winning the Big 12 South this year. OSU might have only made it to the Insight Bowl, but at least we won our Bowl Game and haven't got embarrassed the last 4 major bowls.
Playing for championships, Jonathon? lol losur hasn't even come close to smelling a Big 12 south division title let alone a Big 12 title. What are you puffing on up there?
9
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