02/01/2006
Sooners sign strong class
By MURRAY EVANS
Associated Press Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, one of the top-rated prospects in the nation, signed Wednesday to play college football at Oklahoma.
McCoy, USA Today's defensive player of the year, made his announcement during a morning news conference at Southeast High School. He had previously narrowed his list of college choices to Oklahoma and Southern California, and he also considered Louisiana State until late in the recruiting process.
McCoy brought a bag containing two baseball caps to the news conference. The first cap he pulled out of the bag and put on his head was blue. It was a Southeast High hat, prompting nervous laughter from those attending the announcement.
Then he reached into the bag and pulled out a crimson Oklahoma hat, bringing raucous cheers from the audience.
``I grew up an OU fan, so I've always loved them,'' McCoy said.
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound tackle is ranked as the top high-school player in the nation at his position by two major recruiting Web sites, Rivals.com and Scout.com. He was also on first-team All-America lists produced by USA Today, Parade and Student Sports.
Recruiters were enticed by the combination of McCoy's size, strength, speed and football instincts. He has been timed in 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
McCoy's coach at Southeast, Michael Branch, said numerous coaches came to visit McCoy at school during the recruiting process, including Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis. USC coach Pete Carroll did not visit the school, Branch said.
As a senior, McCoy had 80 tackles, including 18 sacks. He forced 11 fumbles, recovered five fumbles and returned one for a touchdown. He played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl - the nation's most prominent prep football All-Star game - in January in San Antonio.
Within days of his return from that game, McCoy spent time with coaches from Oklahoma and Southern Cal. He said he made his decision two weeks ago, but had enough doubts that he spent several hours on the phone Tuesday with USC coaches.
``Last night, I was thinking, 'I don't know.' So I talked to USC again, and there was no doubt I was ready for OU,'' McCoy said. ``That's me. I'm OU. I love USC, don't get me wrong. But I love OU.''
McCoy said he planned to work hard enough to earn a starting job with the Sooners as a freshman, but he realized that nothing was a certainty.
``I'm the only defensive tackle they recruited, so I think I'll fit in pretty good,'' McCoy said. ``I'm going to work as hard as I can, but I'm not going in there expecting to start.''
By mid-morning on the first day of the NCAA's signing period for football, the Sooners - who finished last season ranked No. 22 after a 17-14 win against Oregon in the Holiday Bowl - already reported 19 commitments, including touted running back DeMarco Murray from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas.
Murray rushed for 1,947 yards and 27 touchdowns his senior year, and also caught 22 passes for 624 yards and seven touchdowns.
Another prominent Oklahoma recruit, wide receiver Jermaine Gresham of Ardmore, also signed with the Sooners, after narrowing his choices to Oklahoma and Miami. Gresham, an All-America selection by Student Sports and Parade, caught 70 passes for 1,185 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior.
Four other recruits have already enrolled and are on campus.
