Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery announced the signing of 17 players to the Golden Hurricane football team, including two junior college transfers and 15 come from high schools.

“This class may be the best class, top to bottom, that we’ve put together. We addressed a lot of different needs with this group,” said Montgomery.

Tulsa’s early signing class includes 8 players on offense, 7 on defense and one place-kicker.

On offense, Tulsa added 3 linemen, 2 receivers, 2 tight ends and one quarterback. Defensively, the Hurricane signed one linebacker, 2 linemen, and 4 players for the secondary.

“The offensive line group is extremely talented and we added some key pieces to the receiver and tight end spots with two guys at each of those positions. Plus, we added a very elite quarterback in Roman Fuller who has done nothing but win throughout his career,” said Montgomery.

“Defensively, we added a lot of length, athleticism and speed whether you’re talking about a guy like Sean O’Keefe, who is among the top-10 Texas high school player of the year candidates, Rico (Windham), who won a state championship at nickel, a couple of corners – Kaylon Washington and DaMarco Williams – who are like the guys that we love at that position. They have great length, very physical, great with their hands, solid in coverage and can come up and force the run,” said Montgomery.

 “Linebacker-wise we continue to add length and speed that you must have to compete in our league. Upfront on the defensive line, we continue to find guys who are great with their hands, have a great nose for the football and play with an extremely high motor.”

Three of the Tulsa’s newcomers are from the state of Oklahoma. Local signees include Tulsa Union offensive center Gabe Cantu and Owasso High School defensive end Haydon Grant. Tulsa also added a defensive back from Midwest City, Okla., in the likes of Carl Albert High School’s Rico Windham.

Tulsa’s high school signees from the state of Texas total 11 players, including 5 on offense, 5 defenders and one kicker.  On offense, the Texas prep signees include receivers Malachai Jones (Westfield HS) and Jalen Paxton (Manvel HS), tight end Bayne Tryon (Cy-Fair HS), quarterback Roman Fuller (Decatur HS) and lineman Dillon Wade (Cypress Falls HS). Tulsa’s defensive signees from the Texas prep ranks include tackle Everitt Rogers (Killeen Ellison HS), linebacker Deante Betts (Arlington Bowie HS), safety Sean O’Keefe (San Saba HS) and cornerbacks Kaylon Washington (North Crowley HS) and DaMarco Williams (Temple HS).  The place-kicker joining the Hurricane is Tyler Tipton from Little Elm High School.

The two junior college signees include Tyler (Texas) Junior College tight end Jacob Kainer, who played his prep football at Cypress Woods (Texas) High School, and offensive lineman James Middleton from Jones Country (Miss.) Junior College and North Charleston, South Carolina.

Tulsa’s recruiting still continues and additions to this signing day class is expected.

Tulsa Football Signees

Deante Betts, LB, 6-2, 195, Fr., Arlington, Texas

Gabe Cantu, OL, 6-4, 300, Fr., Union HS

Roman Fuller, QB, 6-4, 183, Fr., Decatur, Texas

Haydon Grant, DE, 6-5, 220, Fr., Owasso HS

Malachai Jones, WR, 6-0, 180, Fr., Spring, Texas

Jacob Kainer, TE, 6-4, 240, Cypress, Texas / Tyler JC

James Middleton, OL, 6-5, 310, Jr., North Charleston, SC / Jones County JC

Sean O’Keefe, SAF, 6-2, 180, Fr., San Saba, Texas

Jaden Muskrat  OL, 6-4, 280, Fr.           Bentonville, Ark

Jalen Paxton, WR, 6-, 180, Fr., Houston

Everitt Rogers,  DT, 6-3, 292, Fr., Killeen, Texas

Tyler Tipton,  PK, 6-2, 183,  Fr., Little Elm, Texas

Bayne Tryon, TE, 6-3, 220, Fr.,  Houston, Texas

Dillon Wade, OL, 6-4, 288, Fr., Houston

Kaylon Washington, CB, 6-2, 175,  Fr., Forest Hill, Texas

DaMarco Williams, CB, 6-3, 190, Fr,  Temple, Texas

Rico Windham, NKL, 6-0, 174, Fr, Midwest City./Carl Albert HS