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David Stanley Ford

Touted QB Connor Wood considers OU
Another possible Bradford successor?: Wood expected to be a prize in 2010

By Jake Trotter    Comments Comment on this article54
Published: February 9, 2009

It didn’t happen this year, but at some point Oklahoma will have to replace Heisman quarterback Sam Bradford.

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Bio box: Connor Wood
→Position: Quarterback

→Age: 17

→High School: Houston Second Baptist

→Ht./Wt.: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds

→Schools recruiting him: Among others, OU, Texas, Missouri, Nebraska, Stanford, Duke, Rice, Iowa, TCU, USC, Notre Dame, LSU, Georgia, Arizona and Texas A&M

Football stats: Threw for almost 2,250 yards and 20 TDs, while rushing for 18 more scores as a junior

→Academic stats: 4.1 grade-point average

→Prospective major: Petroleum engineering or business finance

→Quotable: "He’s the complete package,” Houston Second Baptist coach Mike Sneed told The Oklahoman. "I’ve been coaching 30-something years, and he’s as good a competitor as anyone I’ve ever seen. He’s just a great athlete, as well as a playmaker on offense.”

→Noteworthy: As a sophomore, Wood was elected captain of his high school football team

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When that day comes, Landry Jones or incoming freshman Drew Allen could succeed Bradford in the starting lineup.

But the Sooners could also be supplanting Bradford someday with Connor Wood, who is expected to be the top quarterback from the state of Texas and one of the best nationally from the 2010 recruiting class.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Wood, who totaled 38 touchdowns last season at Houston Second Baptist High School, told The Oklahoman over the weekend he intends to make his oral commitment in the next two weeks.

Indications suggest his decision could come down to OU and Texas, even though Wood said several other big-time programs such as Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame and USC remain in the running.

Wood, who attended OU’s junior day last month and received a scholarship offer from the Sooners, was in Austin on Sunday for Texas’ junior day and is expected to receive an offer from the Longhorns as well.

Both OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel and Texas running backs coach Major Applewhite have been recruiting Wood as hard as anyone else.

"They’re the ones I’ve been talking to the most during this process,” Wood said. "They’re young, very talented, great coaches. I have a great relationship with both of them.”

But Heupel and the Sooners have a couple of factors working in their favor in landing Wood.

Perhaps above all, Wood, who carries a 4.1 grade-point average at Second Baptist, said he wants to major in petroleum engineering and is attracted to OU’s Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering,

"For me, it’s going to also come down to where I feel I can have a great four years other than football, like school, socially,” said Wood, whose scholastic prowess has landed him football offers from academic powers such as Duke, Rice and Stanford. "It’s very important, you never know what can happen on the football field. You could have a career-ending injury. Getting a degree, that’s huge.”

Also, while Texas was signing the nation’s No. 3-rated quarterback recruit from this year’s class, Austin gunslinger Garrett Gilbert, OU coach Bob Stoops was telling reporters last Wednesday that landing a quarterback in the 2010 class was a "priority” because of the inexperience behind Bradford.

"We’re going to recruit another quarterback for sure next year,” Stoops said. "But we want to make sure the guy we sign is our style of quarterback and playing at a level that we’re used to playing at.”

Time will tell if that quarterback is Wood.

"What I’ve discovered during this recruiting process is that there are a lot of great schools and a lot of great coaches out there,” Wood said. "It’s going to come down to a gut feeling you have where you feel most comfortable. Everyone has stats and numbers and good reasons why you should go to their school.

"But if you don’t feel right, none of that matters.”

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David Stanley Ford


Related Topics: Sports, Football, College Athletics, College Football


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kids go to mobilhomo for one reason only $$$$$$. Big Red Sports, Barry Switzer, numerous probations for cheating....get the picture??
dennis, fort worth - Feb 18, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Uh! Terry, Texas has won the latest MNT you genius. mobilehoma has lost the latest to their mentor Tim Tebow...

Zach - Woulda, coulda, but didn't... Punked!!!
James, , - Feb 18, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Wood is going to Texas, folks. He should announce that sometime next week.
Bruce - Feb 15, 2009 at 2:11 am
By the way, the reciver I mentioned earlier, Brian Franshaw, is a silent commit, so you wont find him on any commit lists.
Will, Houston - Feb 12, 2009 at 5:23 pm
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I go to Connor's school. He is ready for the next level. He trains like crazy and is really a talented player. He always makes big plays when the game is in his hands. However, dont be surprised when his numbers drop slightly next year. 3 of our starting recivers are graduating this year, and one of them is Air Force commit Brian Franshaw. And he probably wont get as many chances to throw the ball this year, as we have a great sophmore running back that will dominate. I hear Connor is going to OU, but there is a chance he might go to Missouri or Arizona. No chance he will go to Texas, as they have recruited many top-rated quarterbacks. I cant see him picking anybody but OU, but those are the next 2 that he would have a chance of going to. Plus, dont be surprised if you see another Second Baptist QB bieng recruited in a couple of years. His name is Jerimiah Briscoe, and he is 6'3, 180. He will be a sophmore next year.
Will, Houston - Feb 11, 2009 at 7:02 pm
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Ou wins championships with some texas players. why can't texass win any with all tx players?
terry, edmond - Feb 10, 2009 at 11:03 pm
OU "got punked"? Since when did junior high kids (James) start posting on this board? OU lost to two top five teams. Florida lost to Ole Miss (good but not top five) and Texas lost to TecH ( think then #7). AS Zach pointed out, OU was in both games, until the end, just did not get or make the breaks a team needs to win a close game. If anything Texas choked against Tech, if that one Texass safety could only catch the easiest INT opportunity of all time or had just laid an hand on Crabtree. Talk about opportunity lost, I bet you Longhorn fans lost and still lose alot of sleep over that one. Only if ...golly geez you guys were an inch, AN INCH of going undefeated.....just one tackle short of going to the big dance.....if only...............
Richard, Visalia - Feb 10, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Punked, James? Perhaps you missed BOTH of those games. Was USC a worse team than Oregon State because the lost? OU led more than 90 percent of the time against Texas and hung with Florida the entire game. OU failed to score three times in that game. Punked, James? OU should have beaten Texas. The O-Line wasn't playing great then and the defense not only lost its best player, but wasn't playing on the level it was after the Kansas State game. OU beat themselves against Florida. Should I ask again: punked, James? Watch the game. Don't read the box scores.
Zach, Perkins - Feb 10, 2009 at 5:00 pm
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US - Top Petroleum Engineering Schools

1. Texas A&M University–College Station
Fall admission : International application deadline - Mar 1
Spring admission: International application deadline - Oct 1
GRE required: Yes
Average accepted verbal - 502
Average quantitative - 716 Average accepted Analytical Writing - 4.0

2. University of Texas–Austin
Financial support priority deadline: Dec 15
Fall & Summer deadline is January: 1st
GRE required: Yes
Average accepted Verbal - 500+
Average accepted Quantitative - 700+
Average accepted Analytical Writing - 4.0

3. Stanford University (CA)
Fall admission : International application deadline - Jan 31
GRE required: Yes No minimum grade point averages or GRE scores: the admissions committee reviews each application carefully to determine the overall demonstrated and potential ability

4. Colorado School of Mines
Financial support priority deadline - Jan 1
Fall admission : International application deadline - Apr 1
Spring admission: International application deadline - Sept 1
GRE required : Yes Average accepted Verbal - 430 Average accepted Quantitative - 730 Average accepted Analytical Writing - 3.1


5. University of Oklahoma
Fall admission : International application deadline - Apr 1
Spring admission: International application deadline - Sep 1
GRE Required: Yes

6. Louisiana State University–Baton Rouge
Fall admission : International application deadline - May 15
Spring admission: International application deadline - Oct 15
GRE Required: Yes A minimum score of 1000 on the GRE (verbal plus quantitative)
James, , - Feb 10, 2009 at 4:44 pm
jonbon - mobilehoma is 0-5 in the last 5 BCS bowls. You got punked by Florida and Texas... Those are the facts...
it hurts yes, but true...
James, , - Feb 10, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Firstly, I'm an OU fan. I also pull for Texas when they get past OU and vie for the NC or whomever from the Big12 goes for the championship. We're all from America, why all the hate. Texas is a very good team as is OU. However, gotta watch for OSU to give it their all this year. They're a good team too. Glad we have them in Norman this year. You're only as good as your competition. Be well, stay employeed, help a friend. go Sooners! Hey, we have a couple of basketball teams too!!
william, Tulsa - Feb 10, 2009 at 2:49 pm
I really don't care why Texas athletes come to OU, I just know they do and it makes OU a better team. Texas and OU are both big time, high profile programs that really offer the same thing to an athlete that being as good an education as he/she wants to strive for, a great college environment, excellent academic and athlitic facilities and tradition that most find intriguing. With all that said, it would be best if he went to OU because, well, um.....that is my team and want the best to play for it.
Richard, Visalia - Feb 10, 2009 at 1:50 pm
James, texas sux, thats why the texas boys come here to play. They want to play for national championships, not for sugar pop bowls. lol.
Joe Bob, Norman - Feb 10, 2009 at 8:09 am
Wood, come to OU, we are better!
Robert, Denver - Feb 10, 2009 at 8:05 am
Stoops is so much at a higher level as a total person than Mack Brown. They just don't compare. It is just a shame that Stoops couldn't pull in a Nat'l Championship this year like he did in 2000. That may have gotten him more commitments otherwise. But, nonetheless, Stoops does impress anyone that listens to him and the way he operates. We hope that Connor makes the right decision.
John , Oklahoma City - Feb 10, 2009 at 6:52 am
No offense but if the kids really placed academics as high as he did his top schools wouldn't consists USC, LSU, Georgia or Notre Dame.
Danney, Oklahoma City - Feb 10, 2009 at 2:55 am
If this kid is as smart as he seems, then he will go to OU. OU has a better school of Petroleum Engineering than Texas does, and with OU's commitment to Academics he like Sam Bradford know a great thing when it comes around. With OU as the new QB school, he will find his chances of getting a great education, and an NFL future if he wants will await him in Norman. Josh is a great person and a great recruiter. Good luck to OU. Boomer Sooner!



Michael, Edmond - Feb 10, 2009 at 12:52 am
If he orally commits to OU, he'll go from the top rated QB in Texas to like the #4 or #5 QB in Texas. That's because Rivals is based out of Austin. It happens with every recruit. Notice how Jamarcus McFarland went from a 5 star to a 4 star as soon as he announced he was going to sign with OU.
Chad, Oklahoma City - Feb 9, 2009 at 11:01 pm
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Yeah Danny, they win ALL their big games, that why Texas is 110-0 for the last ten seasons....oh they aren't...that right they have but one undefeated season...the same as OU. Well, that's OK, they have won the Big 12 title at least five times ...oh wait that's OU. Well they must certainly have beaten OU more times in the last ten years than ...darn, OU has that one too. So Danny you are absolutely right, Texas wins ALL its big games.
Richard, Visalia - Feb 9, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Bobby - let me tell you were ou would be. If it wasn't for the Texas boys ou would be struggling against teams like Tulsa, New Mexico, Tulane, etc... They always have and always will get 50% of their crop from Texas, then they move over to La...
James, , - Feb 9, 2009 at 10:20 pm
I cant see this kid going to Texas when they have Gilbert not to mention Colt's yournger brother Case just gave his verbal to UT today. If not for Texas boys, were would OU be??
Bobby, Oklahoma City - Feb 9, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Lawrence, I suggest you look up where Texas ranks compares to A&M. This year's U.S. News and World Reports has Texas ranked 47th among National Universities, compared to 64th for A&M. OU is ranked 108th.

Cody, first off the McFarland article was in the NYT, and was written by Thayer Evans, who used to write for a Sooner sports website. The article was completely intended as a smear campaign against Texas, and was virtually fact-less. And as was previously mentioned, OU does have a good petroleum engineering school, but Texas' is the top ranked.
Cameron, Austin - Feb 9, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Cody - you are correct, ou does have the 5th best petroleum school in the country. UT and A&M are #1 and 2 respectively in the country. Look it up...
James, , - Feb 9, 2009 at 6:00 pm
OU actually has one of the very top petroleum engineering programs in the country, so as far as that goes, OU is ahead of A&M and UT.
Cody, Norman - Feb 9, 2009 at 5:46 pm
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I don't know where everyone is getting their statistics on education, but A&M is better than both UT and the Sooners when it comes to education, and its national rankings. Take one stroll down 6th street on a Saturday night, and no one entering an engineering program is going to be impressed with the social aspects of the university! I believe a QB would choose OU over Texas because they are coached better, OU has a better track record with Heismann QBs, and Bradford'd replacement is going to get some publicity. Texas had Vince who was an extroidinary athlete that had little to do with coaching and more to do with his feet! Either way, Stoops will have several good QBs to pick from next year - if Bradford leaves early....... and they will be coached well.
Lawerence, Oklahoma City - Feb 9, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Is there an over/under ratio of TX players going to jail this year....Let me see last year by August there were already 7 TX players who had to opportunity to be a part of the TX penal system. So this year with the economy and all, I think I am going to bump that number to 8.
MrBigglesworth, Sweetwater - Feb 9, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Maybe he should go to Texas where he can get all the free drugs he wants.
Mike, Katy - Feb 9, 2009 at 3:49 pm
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Wow Bill, when did you switch from being an OSU fan to OU? That's right, you didn't. You are just a poser. Or if you like, a liar.
Mike, Katy - Feb 9, 2009 at 3:46 pm
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ou accepts 89% of its appliants.
hahahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha

breathe

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
- Feb 9, 2009 at 3:27 pm
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Wow, us Sooners better hope he doesn't check any of the national rankings on academics, especially on petroleum engineering schools. Our beloved Ou is not ranked at all whereas Texas is ranked very high.
Bill, tulsa - Feb 9, 2009 at 3:19 pm
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The University of Texas is the top academic school in the Big 12 and OU is not even close to us in that respect. As for as giving inducements and/or illegal recruiting OU wins that by a landslide. Congrats.
- Feb 9, 2009 at 3:19 pm
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Shannon, please read the USA Today article pertaining to the recruitment of Jamarcus McFarland. There you will find many references contradicting your disillusioned belief that UT's recruiting and program is held to a higher standard than OU's. Must hurt living in a glass house!
Cody, Tulsa - Feb 9, 2009 at 2:54 pm
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scott.....schools size in high school means nothing,,,,,,some ou, great players came from small time schools........billy sims,,,,,hooks tx class 2a.....grant and barry burgett,,,,stroud,,,,,,,steve owens,,,,,miami,ok,,,,,jason white ,,,,tuttle,,,class 2a,,,,,,,if you can play,, you can play,,,,,,,where youre from or what level means nothing,,,6 years ago curtis loftin was sitting in kingfisher class 2a ,,,,,today hes the starting middle linebacker for the atlanta falcons...
eric, OKLAHOMA ,city - Feb 9, 2009 at 2:53 pm
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Anyone that thinks Texas' football program is cleaner than OU's has no business mentioning academics at all. Shannon you are obviously not the 'sharpest tool in the shed' by any means...oh wait, you are a tool, just not a sharp one.
Drew, Ardmore - Feb 9, 2009 at 2:04 pm
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Texas and Texas Tech have better petroleum engineering programs. Oh by the way when did the 4.0 GPA exceed that number????
Ricky, Norman - Feb 9, 2009 at 1:57 pm
The University of Texas is LIGHT YEARS ahead of OU in academics. The Petroleum Engineering Program at Texas is recognized nationally. If the kid is as smart as they say, and academics are what are really the most important to him, then he goes to Texas. If free gas, jobs that pay you without working, drugs, money under the table, etc. are what is important to him, then he will choose OU.
Shannon, Moore - Feb 9, 2009 at 1:53 pm
This article is crap. Texas has a better petroleum engineer program, both undergrad and grad. The only reason to pick ou over Texas is that we just recruitedd Gilbert and OU has nobody
Ryan - Feb 9, 2009 at 1:10 pm
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"Big 12 Championships OU 5 Titles Neb 2 Titles TU 1 Title
Michael, coppell - Feb 9, 2009 at 9:57 AM"

Texas has two Big 12 Championships - 1996 and 2005. The Longhorns also have scoreboard (45-35) on OU, as well as 3 of the last four, 5 bowl wins in a row, and the most recent national title.

If you were talking about Tulsa, they have none. ;-)
mike, Richardson - Feb 9, 2009 at 12:41 pm
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I, too, am considering OU.
Chris, Jones - Feb 9, 2009 at 11:22 am
This kid is obviously a good player or he wouldn't be getting the attention of all the great teams that are recruiting him. Does anyone know anything about Houston Second Baptist High School though? I wonder what the level of competition is at that school? He must have skills and his size is perfect for a QB, but does the school he playes for concern anyone? Just a point for discussion.
Scott, DFW - Feb 9, 2009 at 11:06 am
If he goes to Texas-at least he will become very familiar with San Diego..
Greg, Edmond - Feb 9, 2009 at 10:44 am
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By the way isnt Oklahoma the only team in the big 12 to have more than 2 big 12 titles. Wow... Mack brown only winning one conference championship in 30 years coaching. That is some high standards to hold him to. LOL, Vince Young won that title by the way
Jeanie, Wichita Falls - Feb 9, 2009 at 10:26 am
Yes Barry how about those losses to K state & A&M along the way. At least we lose to bowl eligible teams....and dont have to rent a plane to whine about it. TU was losing 58 mins & like 30 seconds of a 60 minute game. Get a grip.
Jeanie, Wichita Falls - Feb 9, 2009 at 10:24 am
I guess beating No. 1 Missouri for the Big 12 championship in 2007 wasn't a "big game"; and mauling No. 2 Texas Tech in 2008 wasn't a "big game". These wrong horn fans don't think it's a "big game" unless OU loses. And Barry...it wasn't a last second loss to Texas Tech; the Raiders led for most of the game except for about two minutes. What do Big 12 championships and Texas have in common? Nothing! lol By the way Michael, I believe the Sooners have SIX Big Twelve Championships.
Gary, Oklahoma City - Feb 9, 2009 at 10:07 am
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Big 12 Championships
OU 5 Titles
Neb 2 Titles
TU 1 Title
Michael, coppell - Feb 9, 2009 at 9:57 am
beating OU and winning a BCS bowl (beating Ohio St.). Last second loss to TTU, hmmmm....I'd take that every year.
Barry, bethany - Feb 9, 2009 at 9:45 am
Am I the only one surprised that Conner Wood didn't mention such a high quality programs such as O-State. I mean they are a consistant top 35 team, thier color is orange, plus I believe the Cowpokes are a flagship program to the NFL...Wait, minus that last statement. You know what I am talking about Danny...
MrBigglesworth, Sweetwater - Feb 9, 2009 at 9:27 am
Wonder how long it will take for horn fans to complain we are "stealing" him. I wonder why a fan base with such a bad history of integration (they didn't until the 1970's) isn't more sensitive to how bad it is to thing you "own" players, the majority of whom are african-american.
Jame, Shawnee - Feb 9, 2009 at 9:23 am
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Texas won one big game last year. OU won two.
Jame, Shawnee - Feb 9, 2009 at 9:21 am
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And Danny? How many non-conference "big games" does Texas have next year? I guess if the 'Horns were to lose one of those, that would still go along with your statement since they don't lose "big games."
Chris, Oklahoma City - Feb 9, 2009 at 8:58 am
Danny, I guess Texas Tech wasn't a "big game"?
Chris, Oklahoma City - Feb 9, 2009 at 8:55 am
Yeah Danny, OU hasn't won many big games. I love the morons that come out of the wood work on these OU related articles. Let's see, did UT win at Tech? No, was that a "big game"? How about their losses to A&M and KSU the two years previous when they could have won the Big 12? Were those "big games"? UT loses so early, there aren't many chances for them to even compete. Thus their amazing run of 1 Big 12 Championship Win(s) under Brown.
J, Oklahoma city - Feb 9, 2009 at 8:52 am
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If he's that smart, he'll go to Texas where they win big games.
Danny, Vail - Feb 9, 2009 at 8:26 am
Sounds like a smart young man.
jesse, oklahoma city - Feb 9, 2009 at 6:27 am

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