Future OU players form a tight bond
By the time 8:30 rolled around Wednesday morning, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops’ 27-member class was complete and he was in the midst of wading through a slate of interviews and luncheon appearances.
It was a relatively calm day, at least on the recruiting front, with the core of his class, ranked No. 7 in Rivals team rankings, keeping the drama out of National Signing Day — something that was largely a product of the bond formed among the members of Stoops’ highest-rated class in seven years.
“I feel like we’re a family before we even get there, and I feel like we’re already tight,” offensive guard Tyrese Robinson said. “We’re brothers already. I feel like that’s going to be a huge part going in there next year because we’re all going to be young. We’re going to have to be able to communicate with each other so I look forward to that.”
Though they’ve been spread out across the country, the future Sooners use a big group text messaging thread to keep in touch and publicly reaffirm their commitment frequently by tweeting about SoonerSquad17.
“Our bond is incredible,” wide receiver Charleston Rambo said. “It’s just like we go to school together already so it’s just crazy that
A former teammate of Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy has died.
Cecil Wilson — a Cowboy fullback (198790) who recorded career totals of 550 rushing yards, 182 receiving yards and five rushing touchdowns — died this week in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, according an OSU athletics news release. He was 49.
Per a Go Fund Me account set up by the family, Wilson suffered a brain aneurysm Jan. 4.
During his playing days, Wilson was lauded for his unselfish reputation.
“I’ve always respected guys most who get the we’re in a group messaging, and it feels like we’re already in Norman even though half of us is already enrolled and the other half is still in high school.
“It’s just a great relationship.”
Stoops and his staff began wooing the members of their 2017 class early, building off the momentum gained from the 2015 College Football Playoff appearance. OU picked up six commitments in the 2017 most out of themselves, and that’s Cecil,” former class, including Rambo, Robinson and DBs Justin Broiles and Tre Brown, in the four months after the semifinal loss to Clemson.
Once the foundation of the class was formed, the staff saw their recruits form a close relationship and bring others into the fold, working as additional Sooner recruiters.
“This class in particular has been fun, and it’s well documented, but just kind of how they stuck together, how they put this class in front of their individual needs or maybe attention for themselves,” offensive OSU coach Pat Jones told coordinator Lincoln Riley said. “You had other receivers, receivers that were committed recruiting other receivers. You had DBs recruiting other DBs, linebackers recruiting other linebackers.
“You don’t see that everywhere. It’s such a, in a lot of ways, it’s such a me, me, me world. This group was a nice breath of fresh air in that regard. I think it’s a big key for why we pulled in the class that we did.”
Their bond also helped bring 11 early enrollees on campus, and it kept defections to a minimum.
in 1989. “He’s not without talent, but he works very, very hard and, as much as anybody on the team, he gets the most out of himself.
“And he’s gone through a lot.”
Wilson was reportedly a self-employed carpenter after his football career.
His memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Cornerstone Baptist Church (5415 Matlock Road., Arlington, Texas).
“I am still in shock about the tragic loss of one of my closest friends, Cecil Wilson,” said former OSU tailback Barry Sanders, who played alongside Wilson. “He was a great teammate, husband, dad and friend, and his memory will live on in the hearts of the many he touched. Please join me in sending out love and prayers to his family during this trying time.”
The Sooners lost fivestar linebacker Jacob Phillips to LSU within a week of signing day and wide receiver Jalen Reagor to TCU in the fall.
But other than that, OU held onto the core of its class, even as schools made late runs at some of the Sooner commits.
“We just stayed in contact and telling each other to hang in there,” said Robinson, who committed to the Sooners on Jan. 31, 2016. “We know some other college coaches are going to come after you and just keep your head straight and stay with OU.” Former Giants placekicker
admitted to “holding down” his then-wife,
but not to hitting or slapping her, in an interview shown Thursday morning on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Brown, a Foyil native, sat down with ABC News’
for the interview, in which Faris asked what he meant in a journal entry in which he admitted to physically, verbally and emotionally abusing Molly.
“I mean I had put my hands on her,” he said. “I kicked the chair. I held her down. The holding down was the worst moment in our marriage.
“I never hit her. I never slapped her. I never choked her. I never did those types of things.”
Faris asked how people should reconcile Brown’s admission that he physically abused his wife but did not hit her, and he responded, “They’re not supposed to. What I did was wrong — period.” The Giants re-signed Brown before the 2016 season even though they were aware of some elements of his past. His presence on the roster eventually became a source of controversy and consternation. They released him on Oct. 25.
“I’m fully accountable to every bit of it,” Brown said of his actions. When Faris asked if he has any excuse, Brown said, “None.”
Fitzgerald confirms 2017 return
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver has confirmed he will be back to play a 14th NFL season.
In a text to azcardinals. com’s Fitzgerald confirmed a report that he had told ESPN’s on Wednesday that he would play another season.
Speaking at the PGA’s Waste Management Open Pro-Am on Tuesday, Fitzgerald said he felt much better physically and had pretty much made up his mind on whether he would return, but wasn’t ready to make it public.
The Cardinals still have not heard definitive word from quarterback as to whether he will return.
Steve Smith joins NFL Network
A little more than a month since playing in his last game of a 16-year career, former Ravens and Carolina Panthers wide receiver
has already found a new gig.
FROM WIRE REPORTS