TU’s new class is loaded with Oklahoma players

Conference USA champion Tulsa signed 21 news players – 12 defenders, seven offensive players and two “athletes” – as part of its 2013 signing class.

The list include 12 Oklahomans, five players from Texas, two from Colorado and one each from Arkansas and Missouri.

“With this class, we are excited about getting more athletic and just recruiting really good football players,” said TU coach Bill Blankenship. “Overall, we felt like we needed to continue to get bigger and faster, and when I say bigger, I really mean taller and longer. Those athletes with length have an opportunity to grow into being much bigger players.”

Seven newcomers were selected either first- or second-team Oklahoma all-state according to state newspapers –– first-team selections include Rob Boyd (OL), Frankie Davis (DE), Blake Mejia (OL), Dalton Rodriguez (DE) and Zach Webb (DT); and second-team honorees Devin Rolan (LB) and Zach Uhles (OL). Nine players were named to The Oklahoman Super 30, while seven Oklahomans were selected as ESPN’s Top 22 prospects. Boyd, Webb and Uhles were also joined by Jaylen Lowe (ATH), Ben Oberste (ATH) and Kerwin Thomas (DB) as Oklahoma Coaches Association all-state selections.

Tulsa signed a total of eight players for the offensive and defensive fronts. All three of the offensive linemen earned either first- or second-team Oklahoma all-state honors, while three of the five defensive linemen are also from the state of Oklahoma and each earned first-team all-state merits.

“I think we’ve gotten bigger and more physical in the offensive and defensive lines,” said Blankenship. “We feel really good about the three offensive guys upfront that we signed –– Rob Boyd, Blake Mejia and Zach Uhles.”

“The defensive line was a point of emphasis in this recruiting class. We really needed to grow some depth there, and I think we did that with guys like Lionell Phillips, Jesse Brubaker and Zach Webb. You put those three interior guys with Dalton Rodriguez and Frankie Davis, two local kids, and we think we have really helped ourselves on the defensive front,” added Blankenship. Phillips and Brubaker jumped the border of Texas to come play at Tulsa, while Webb, Rodriguez and Davis are all from the Tulsa metro area.”

The Hurricane also needed to add depth at the cornerback and linebacker positions.

“We needed some depth at corner and got two kids out of the Dallas area, Will Barrow and Ray Crockett, Jr., who are really going to help us in that area,” Blankenship said. “They have the ability to be real special at cornerback, and two Oklahomans Joe Bean (Hooker) and Kerwin Thomas (Wagoner) come into the secondary. Both Joe and Kerwin are really athletic guys. Joe can be a Marco Nelson type of player, while Kerwin is another athlete who could even move over to the offense.”

“We brought in a couple of linebackers that were really highly rated on our board. Devin Rolan is a guy that we have been on for a couple years from McAlester. He’s a big, physical inside linebacker who can really run and then C.J. Gooden, from Ashdown, Arkansas, is another guy that can really run. These two guys bring some speed with physicality to the table. We’re fortunate to get a third linebacker, Jake Hanks from Colorado, who’s a big, strong and physical guy,” said Blankenship.

Hanks wasn’t the only player from the state of Colorado to sign with the Hurricane, as Tulsa corralled quarterback Ryan Rubley. The 6-4 QB, who’s father T.J. played quarterback for the Golden Hurricane from 1987-91, went somewhat under the radar after missing good portion of his junior season due to injury.

Tight end Kolton Shindelar, a 6-6, 252-pound athlete who is a track star, saw most of his playing time on the football field as a senior at Liberty (Missouri) High School, where he became a highly sought-after prospect.

Running back Chris Hall from Union High School joins linemen Mejia and Rodriguez as Hurricane signees. Hall has good size and is another athletic player who is expected to fit in nicely at the H-back position.

Jaylen Lowe and Ben Oberste both played quarterback at nearby high schools, but will most likely switch positions.

“I think Jaylen is a really special player. It will be really interesting to see how he develops, and then Ben as well. Both were quarterbacks in high school, and could possible play quarterback, but their real gift to us is their athleticism.

“They are both just tremendously gifted athletes that can do a lot of things and could find themselves on the field pretty quickly.”

TU tries to keep a 250-mile radius in mind in recruiting.

“We have a real specific philosophy on recruiting that says we’re going to start with proximity and work are way out. The bulk of our class should come within 250-mile radius, which essentially is Kansas City to Dallas,” said Blankenship. “If you took concentric rings around Tulsa, you should see more of our recruits closer to Tulsa and a few more as you go out.

“We really feel a need to do our best – to own Tulsa County, eastern Oklahoma and all of Oklahoma when it comes to recruiting. We take great pride in being the Oklahoma school with the most Oklahomans.”

 

Tulsa Signees

Running Back

Chris Hall, Union High School

Quarterback

Ryan Rubley, Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Dalton Parks, Sallisaw, Okla.

Tight end

Kolton Shindelar, Liberty, Missouri

Wide receivers

Keevan Lucas, Abilene, Texas

Offensive line

Rob Boyd, Vian

Blake Mejia, Union High School

Zac Uhles, Norman

Defensive ends

Frankie Davis, Broken Arrow

Dalton Rodriquez, Union High School

Defensive line

Jesse Brubaker, Wylie, Texas

Lionel Phillips, Garland, Texas

Zach Webb, Metro Christian Academy

Cornerback

Will Barrow, Dallas

Ray Crockett, Southlake, Texas

Defensive back

Kerwin Thomas, Wagoner, Okla.

Linebacker

C.J. Gooden, Ashdown, Arkansas

Devin Rolan, McAlester

Jake Hanks, Fort Collins, Colorado

Rowdy Simon, Vian, Okla.

Safety

Joe Bean, Hooker, Okla.

Kicker

Dalton Parks, Sallisaw, Okla.

Athlete

Jaylen Lowe, Owasso

Ben Oberste, Sallisaw, Okla.