Football Signs 40 Players to NLI
February 2, 2012
Fourth-year coach Dan Cocannouer is pleased with the depth and overall quality of what he calls his best recruiting class at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s upcoming football roster increased with the announcement of the signing of 41 high school standouts and two junior college transfers to National Letters of Intents (NLI).
Fourth-year coach Dan Cocannouer and his staff revealed the list today (Wednesday, Feb. 2) in conjunction with the National Letter of Intent signing date. SWOSU split its emphasis between Oklahoma and Texas with both states having 19.
"We always begin with character and this group has it,” Cocannouer said. “The depth of the class stands out as well as the quality. I think it’s safe to say that this is the best overall class that we’ve signed."
Cocannouer, who has improved the Bulldogs record-wise in each of his three previous years, believes that SWOSU will continue that trend in 2012.
“We were able to be more selective in who we signed,” he said. “These kids are going to help us grow this program be good students, good citizens and help us win a lot of ballgames.”
The following is the list of the 34 signees grouped together by their hometown.
OKLAHOMA
BETHANY -- QB Ryley Claborn, 6-3, 170, (Bethany HS)
Quarterbacked the Bethany High School to the state 3A semifinals and quarterfinals in his final two seasons…As a senior, he threw for 1,883 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions, completing 122 of 207 passes (58.9 percent)...Played for Coach Regan Roof.
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CARNEGIE – QB Cameron Nix, 6-0, 170, (Carnegie HS)
Finished as the sixth leading rusher in Class A totaling 1,589 yards on 219 carries for an average of 7.3 yards an attempt…Scored 24 touchdowns…Coached by Robert Bernard.
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EDMOND – DB Conner Bays, 6-2, 170 (Santa Fe HS)
Finished second on the Edmond Santa Fe High School team with 101 tackles, and tacked on one sack and one interception...Considered offers from Washburn and Emporia State…Coached by Lance Manning.
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EL RENO – WR Rashaad Copeland 6-2, 185 (El Reno HS)
Caught 34 passes for 600 yards and 10 touchdowns for El Reno High School…Also brought three punts back for touchdowns…Played for Coach Shawn Mason.
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HENNESSEY -- QB Trey Leu, 6-0, 180 (Hennessey HS)
Led Eagles to back-to-back Class 2A state championships...Completed better than 63% ofhis passes and threw for more than 1,900 yards and 16 TDs as a senior....Played for Coach Shannon Watford.
LAWTON – LB Austin Payne, 6-0, 215, (MacArthur HS)
Selected to district 5A-2 first team as a linebacker…Considered offers from UCO…Played for coach Brett Manning.
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LONE GROVE – OL Gregory Higgs, 6-4, 290 (Lone Grove HS)
Selected to 3A-2 all-district first team as an offensive lineman…Member of the Ardmoreite Super Team…Played football, basketball and golf in high school…Played for coach Kenny Ridley.
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MIDWEST CITY – OL Grant Oliver, 6-4, 280 (Carl Albert HS)
Second-team all-district selection as an offensive lineman…Played on the Class 5A state football champions in 2009 and a member of the 2008 Class 5A baseball champions…Played for Coach Gary Rose.
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MORRISON – QB Spencer Venus, 6-3, 190 (Morrison HS)
Oklahoma Coaches Association's Class A East All-Star football selection...Played for Coach Corey Bales.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – WR Hunter Dinkines, 6-2, 175 (Deer Creek HS)
Finished as the sixth-leading receiver in Class 5A with 44 catches for 711 yards and 10 touchdowns…Coached by Grant Gower.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – WR Dalton Krase, 6-1, 175, (Deer Creek HS)
Teammate of Dinkenes at Deer Creek High School…All-district second team at wide receiver…Coached by Grant Gower.
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PIEDMONT – TE Collin Bricker, 6-3, 225 (Piedmont HS)
Played quarterback at Piedmont High School…Completed 116-of-245 (47.3%) of his passes for 1,776 yards…Threw 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions….Rushed for 504 yards on 96 carries and scored seven touchdowns…Coached by Craig Church.
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PONCA CITY – WR Derrick Ewing, 5-9, 170, (Ponca City HS)
Finished as the third-leading receiver in Class 6A…Caught 55 passes for 1,052 yards and 12 touchdowns…Coached by Robert Fry.
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PONCA CITY – WR Garrett Parr, 5-9, 170 (Ponca City HS)
Teammate of Derrick Ewing at Ponca City High School…Sixth-leading receiver in Class 6A with 45 catches for 848 yards and 10 touchdowns…Coached by Robert Fry.
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RINGLING – RB Matt Farris, 5-11, 185 (Ringling HS)
Led Ringling to an 8-4 record and a berth in the Class A playoffs…Finished with 2,063 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns as a senior…Coached by Tracy Gandy.
SEILING – OL Colby Sander, 6-4, 280, (Seiling HS)
Will play in the Oklahoma Coaches Association Eight-Man All-Star game in Miami…B-1 All-district selection…Named to the Enid News and Eagle Northwest Oklahoma All-Star team…Coached by Andy Claborn.
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TURPIN – ATH Matt Mendoza, 6-0, 190 (Turpin HS)
Played in just five games as a senior but still picked up 656 yards on 104 carries and scored seven touchdowns…Also recorded 62 tackles on the defensive side…Coached by Rob Stoll.
TUTTLE – RB DJ Boles, 5-8, 180 (Tuttle HS)
Averaged better than 160 yards a game in five games for Tuttle High School…Finished year with 767 yards on 97 carries and seven touchdowns…Coached by Phillip Koons.
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YUKON – OL Lantz Parks, 6-0, 260 (Yukon HS)
Anchored offensive line at Yukon High School…Did not allow a sack and had 10 pancake blocks as a senior…Coached by Todd Wilson.
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WOODWARD – WR Dalton Russell, 5-9, 175 (Woodward HS)
Had nine catches for 93 yards and finished as one of the leaders on the team in tackles with 77 in the defensive backfield…Coached by Darris Service.
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TEXAS
ATHENS – OL Jarred Patterson, 6-0, 295, (Trinity Valley CC)
Anchored the offensive line for TVCC 2010 National Junior College runner-up team…Coached by Brad Smiley.
BOYD – WR Chasen Starnes, 6-4, 200, (Boyd HS)
Led Boyd High School to a 9-3 record…Ended his senior year with 59 catches for 937 yards and 17 touchdowns…Coached by J.G. Cartwright.
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CANYON – OL Marcus Burk, 6-4, 290, (Randal HS)
All-state power lifter at Canyon’s Randall High School…Also threw the shot put in track…First-team all-district 3-4A…Nominated for the Greenbelt Bowl…Coached by Bryan Wood.
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CEDAR HILL – DL Darius Stubblefield, 5-11, 245, (Cedar Hill HS)
Selected to the 5A-5 All-district team as a senior…Considered offers from Harding and Midwestern State…Coached by Joey McGuire.
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COPPERAS COVE – DB Jalen Gilbert, 6-2, 170, (Copperas Cove HS)
Selected to the 12-5A all-district team…Coached by Tracy Welch.
DEVINE – TE Will Baker, 6-4, 220, (Devine HS)
Member of Devine High School team that finished 13-1 and made it to the Class 3A quarterfinals…Coached by Chad Quisenberry.
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DEVINE – OL D.J. Carlson, 6-0, 280, (Devine HS)
Member of Devine High School team that finished 13-1 and made it to the Class 3A quarterfinals…Three-time all-district selection at offensive line….Second team all-state with Padilla Poll and TSWA…Coached by Chad Quisenberry.
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HURST – DB Noe Kipulu, 6-2, 185, (L.D. Bell HS)
First team all-district 7-5A … Selected to the 2011 Super List Region I… Considered offers from Stephen F. Austin and Harding…Coached by Mark Smith.
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KELLER – DB Martin Alvarez, 6-0, 200, (Keller Central HS)
First team selection to the District 7-5A team as both a running back and a defensive back...Had 256 tackles in a two-year span…Also rushed for 799 yards and eight TDs…Considered offers from Abilene Christian, Harding, Angelo State and Ouachita Baptist…Coached by Bart Helsley.
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FORNEY – DB Daryl Malone, 5-11, 165 (North Forney HS)
Second team District 13-3A selection…Had 400 yards rushing and two touchdowns…Also had 42 tackles, 14 pass break ups and three interceptions.
FORT WORTH – OL Kenny Johnson 6-2, 270, (Western Hills HS)
All-district selection at Fort Worth’s Western Hills High School.
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FORT WORTH – DB Josh Price, 6-1, 195, (North Crowley HS)
Played quarterback at North Crowley High School…Threw for 1,358 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for another 1,136 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground…Offensive MVP of the district…Coached by Keeath McGee.
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MANSFIELD – DB Michael Adefolarin, 5-11, 195, (Timberview HS)
Co-Defensive Player-of-the-Year in District 5-5A at Mansfield’s Timberview High School… Considered offers from Midwestern, Angelo, Harding, Ouachita Baptist… Helped Timberview High School to their best-ever record at 12-3 and a berth in the Class 5A-II quarterfinals…Coached by Mark Walker.
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MANSFIELD – OL J.E. Thomas, 6-1, 275, (Timberview HS)
Helped Timberview High School to their best-ever record at 12-3 and a berth in the Class 5A-II quarterfinals…Coached by Mark Walker.
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MANSFIELD – DL Jacolby Robinson, 6-2, 245 (Summit HS)
5A-5 all-district selection…Helped lead Mansfield Summit to a 10-2 record…Coached by Travis Pride.
MANVEL -- WR Corey Seymour, 5-11, 175 (Manvel HS)
Caught passes totalling 609 yards for a Manvel team that finished the season at 15-1...Older brother, James is a member of the SWOSU team.
PAMPA -- K/P Colton Adams, 6-0, 160, (Pampa HS)
All-district kicker at Pampa High School…Coached by Heath Parker.
ROCKWALL – LB Gentry Rogers, 5-11, 225, (Rockwall Heath HS)
First-team pick for District 10-4A…Led team to an 11-2 record and a berth in the Class 4A playoffs…Finished with 93 tackles and two fumble recoveries…Considered offers from Harding and Southeastern Oklahoma…Coached by Mickey Moss.
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SWEENEY --- DB Keenan Woodard, 5-9, 160 (Sweeney HS)
Finished senior season with 56 tackles, 13 passes broken up and three interceptions…Also played basketball and ran track.
TOMBALL – OL Jacob Lowery, 6-3, 260, (Concordia Lutheran HS)
Led Concordia Lutheran Crusaders to a 14-1 record and a perfect 7-0 league mark…Played for the South squad at the sportsmarketingexpertsbowl.com…Coached by Bobby Lindcuist.
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WHITESBORO – DL Cody Welch, 6-3, 260, (Whitesboro HS)
First-team all-District 9-3A selection at Whitesboro High School…Considered offers from Southeastern and Incarnate Word…Coached by Eddie Gill.
CALIFORNIA
COSTA MESA – RB Mario Smith, 5-10, 180 (Costa Mesa HS)
Rushed for 1,975 yards and 30 touchdowns…Nicknamed Super Mario…Played for Coach Wally Grant…Chose SWOSU after considering offers from Sacramento State and New Mexico State.
