Oklahoma Sooners: Texas A&M Aggies
2015 CB Sheffield bonds with Texas coach 
May, 16, 2013
May 16
10:00
AM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- Class of 2015 defensive back Kendall Sheffield (Fort Bend, Texas/Marshall) walked with a bit of a lean forward on Saturday, but with good cause. He’d just won three silver medals at the UIL State Track and Field Meet in Austin.
Sheffield placed second in the 4A 110-hurdles, 300-meters and 4x100-meter relay.
Sheffield placed second in the 4A 110-hurdles, 300-meters and 4x100-meter relay.
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Q&A: 4-star prospect Martin deciding soon
May, 15, 2013
May 15
1:00
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- Versatility is a trait widely admired by college programs, but one that doesn’t always come in the form of someone 6-foot-6 and 247 pounds.
Koda Martin’s size alone makes him an attractive prospect, but couple it with his ability to play on either side of the ball and it’s easy to see why the four-star recruit from Manvel, Texas, has close to 20 offers.
Martin, who is rated as the No. 21 offensive tackle and No. 43 player in the state of Texas, was in Austin on Saturday to get a better feel for one of those schools that offered him.
We caught up with Martin at the Texas State track and field meet to see how everything went with the visit with Texas, and where he stands overall.
Koda Martin’s size alone makes him an attractive prospect, but couple it with his ability to play on either side of the ball and it’s easy to see why the four-star recruit from Manvel, Texas, has close to 20 offers.
Martin, who is rated as the No. 21 offensive tackle and No. 43 player in the state of Texas, was in Austin on Saturday to get a better feel for one of those schools that offered him.
We caught up with Martin at the Texas State track and field meet to see how everything went with the visit with Texas, and where he stands overall.
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WR Foreman stress-free, piling up offers
May, 15, 2013
May 15
10:00
AM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
TEXAS CITY, Texas -- These days, it's all smiles for ESPN 150 receiver Armanti Foreman.
Life is good for the Texas City (Texas) High School star. Offers are coming left and right. He's preparing for a banner senior season with his twin brother, 2014 running back D'Onta Foreman. He's enjoying the final weeks of his junior year of high school. On Tuesday, Armanti was sprinting past defensive backs and juking defenders out of their shorts, showing the playmaking ability that has so many colleges at his doorstep.
Life is good for the Texas City (Texas) High School star. Offers are coming left and right. He's preparing for a banner senior season with his twin brother, 2014 running back D'Onta Foreman. He's enjoying the final weeks of his junior year of high school. On Tuesday, Armanti was sprinting past defensive backs and juking defenders out of their shorts, showing the playmaking ability that has so many colleges at his doorstep.
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KATY, Texas -- When Rodney Anderson got called up to Katy High School's varsity squad for the Tigers' 2011 season opener, he was unsure what to expect.
Then a 160-pound freshman, the 2015 running back was elevated as a receiver to help in an area in which the Katy coaches felt they needed a boost in depth.
"It was a huge adrenaline rush," Anderson said of his new responsibilities. "Mentally, I was just trying to make sure I remembered everything and carried out my assignments."
One injury to a teammate changed everything: his position, his playing time, his future.
Then a 160-pound freshman, the 2015 running back was elevated as a receiver to help in an area in which the Katy coaches felt they needed a boost in depth.
"It was a huge adrenaline rush," Anderson said of his new responsibilities. "Mentally, I was just trying to make sure I remembered everything and carried out my assignments."
One injury to a teammate changed everything: his position, his playing time, his future.
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NORMAN, Okla. -- Is it possible that Oklahoma could be shut out from all of the elite defensive backs in the state of Texas for the Class of 2014?
It didn’t seem likely last year. But now, in the middle of spring, it’s getting a lot tougher to gauge where the Sooners fit in with some of the best the Lone Star State has to offer.
There were only four defensive backs in Texas that finished in the ESPN 300 for the Class of 2013, so it wasn’t that big of a deal for OU to not get one of them.
It didn’t seem likely last year. But now, in the middle of spring, it’s getting a lot tougher to gauge where the Sooners fit in with some of the best the Lone Star State has to offer.
There were only four defensive backs in Texas that finished in the ESPN 300 for the Class of 2013, so it wasn’t that big of a deal for OU to not get one of them.
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Plenty of choices for 2014 prospect Martin
May, 1, 2013
May 1
10:30
AM CT
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
MANVEL, Texas — On the wall across the Manvel (Texas) High School locker room and weight room, there is a poster with the words "Hoka Hey."
Though the term's original meaning was "It's a good day to die," when Crazy Horse let the Sioux to a victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, around Manvel High, it takes on a much more amiable meaning. Specifically, it's used to symbolize teamwork. At the top of the poster are the words "Hoka Hey = Play Unselfish."
Though the term's original meaning was "It's a good day to die," when Crazy Horse let the Sioux to a victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, around Manvel High, it takes on a much more amiable meaning. Specifically, it's used to symbolize teamwork. At the top of the poster are the words "Hoka Hey = Play Unselfish."
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ESPN 150 DE Thomas pondering decision
April, 22, 2013
Apr 22
10:30
AM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
ESPN 150 defensive end Solomon Thomas (Coppell, Texas/Coppell) is about as unassuming a high-profile recruit as one will come across.
He doesn’t get tangled up in the vastness of recruiting. He's not one to openly speak of his achievements. He’s also not one to rush a decision as important as his commitment to the college program of his choice.
Go ahead and ask him where he’s going or who he’s favoring and you’ll get an answer you’d swear was stuck on loop.
He doesn’t get tangled up in the vastness of recruiting. He's not one to openly speak of his achievements. He’s also not one to rush a decision as important as his commitment to the college program of his choice.
Go ahead and ask him where he’s going or who he’s favoring and you’ll get an answer you’d swear was stuck on loop.
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#BlueChipBattles: ESPN 150 release edition
April, 19, 2013
Apr 19
11:49
AM CT
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Student Sports, ESPN, ESPNSpeedy Noil, Adoree Jackson and Da'Shawn Hand are three of the most coveted recruits in the Class of 2014.
: RecruitingNation summoned its writers from around the country to outline the recruiting battles for the ESPN 150's top 10 prospects.
Plus, rank the battles in SportsNation.
#TopFBMixtapes: Athlete mixtapes are all the rage in this highlight-crazed era of sports. We reached out to our Twitter followers to find out which 2014 football stars had the best highlight reels on YouTube, then had our staff rank and comment on the top submissions.
Tom Luginbill writes
: After talking to many coaches across the country and hearing their frustrations, here are their five biggest complaints about homemade highlight videos.QB Hansen commits to OU over Texas A&M
April, 12, 2013
Apr 12
11:59
AM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Months of speculation ended Saturday afternoon as ESPN Watch List quarterback Justice Hansen (Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe) confirmed he has committed to the Sooners on his unofficial visit for OU’s spring game.
Hansen picked OU over Texas A&M and offers from schools such as Ole Miss, Auburn and Kansas State. He said earlier this week he was going to make his decision at the spring game, but it was unknown if it would be for OU or A&M.
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Max Olson/ESPNESPN Watch List QB Justice Hansen is one of the top signal-callers in Oklahoma.
Max Olson/ESPNESPN Watch List QB Justice Hansen is one of the top signal-callers in Oklahoma.Any doubt about how OU felt regarding Hansen was removed in February when OU offered Hansen at junior day. He was the only quarterback offer at the time and is still the only quarterback offer.
Heupel won’t have to make any more.
The Sooners were the clear favorite until the Aggies entered the race in January. Hansen took an unofficial visit to College Station, Texas, last month. A&M made a great impression, but the Sooners were never too far from his mind.
“He handled this process so well,” Edmond Santa Fe coach Lance Manning said. “He never felt any pressure. If you spent time with him this week, you would have had no idea he was getting ready to make such a huge decision.”
Hansen’s A&M visit opened his eyes that there is more out there than what’s in the state. But he also realized his position. As much as he wanted to wait it out more and get a better feel of what’s out there, he felt he couldn’t.
To be fair to the Aggies and Sooners, he wanted to make his decision as soon as he felt he was comfortable. Saturday was that time.
Hansen is the fourth in-state quarterback to pledge to the Sooners during Bob Stoops’ tenure. Jason White (Tuttle) and Sam Bradford (Oklahoma City Putnam City North) each won the Heisman Trophy, and Kendal Thompson is a sophomore at OU.
“He knows what it means to be a quarterback at OU from Oklahoma,” Manning said. “He’s not going to be afraid of that.”
Watching ESPN Watch List cornerback Tony Brown (Beaumont, Texas/Ozen) compete is almost like watching a one-man show. No matter what he does, there’s the understood notion that he’s going to excel.
On the football field, he’s one of the nation’s best cornerbacks, an athlete with more than 20 scholarship offers. Over the weekend, Brown not only won the defensive back MVP award at the Dallas Nike Football Training Camp but also earned an invitation to The Opening this summer in Oregon.
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ALLEN, Texas -- It has been a good couple of weeks for Class of 2015 tight end Jordan Davis (Houston/Clear Lake).
Davis, who is 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, committed to Florida State in March. Through the last two weeks he has been offered by Oklahoma and Texas. And after his performance at the Nike Football Training Combine it’s easy to see why.
Davis was among the best tight ends at the camp and is positioning himself as one to watch at the spot for the next two years. But before he impressed in Allen, he made a trip to Norman, Okla., to see OU for the first time.
Davis, who is 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, committed to Florida State in March. Through the last two weeks he has been offered by Oklahoma and Texas. And after his performance at the Nike Football Training Combine it’s easy to see why.
Davis was among the best tight ends at the camp and is positioning himself as one to watch at the spot for the next two years. But before he impressed in Allen, he made a trip to Norman, Okla., to see OU for the first time.
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ALLEN, Texas -- Some recruits have been all over the country and have taken visits to all their top schools. But ESPN Watch List defensive end Deondre Clark (Oklahoma City/Douglass) isn't one of them.
Clark hasn't ventured far from Oklahoma this year, and that won't change anytime soon. But he definitely will look at schools outside the state.
Clark hasn't ventured far from Oklahoma this year, and that won't change anytime soon. But he definitely will look at schools outside the state.
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NORMAN, Okla. -- No school is ever going to get every top recruit it pursues. It’s just not reasonable.
Some of those misses can be shrugged off. There are other options out there, and one recruit doesn't make or break a program.
Some of those misses can be shrugged off. There are other options out there, and one recruit doesn't make or break a program.
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ALLEN, Texas -- The 2013 Nike Football Training Camp tour continued in the Dallas area on Sunday as several top prospects from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana showcased their skills at the brand new Eagle Stadium in Allen, Texas. The defensive back group was as loaded as expected, and several players earned invitations to The Opening.
Recruiting Nation’s Max Olson attended the camp. Here’s what he learned:
Recruiting Nation’s Max Olson attended the camp. Here’s what he learned:
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The Nike Football Training Camp series will continue outside of Dallas on Sunday. Athletes will trek to Allen, Texas, the home of one of the most impressive high school stadiums in the country. Allen Eagles Stadium, a $60-million facility, opened last year and featured nearly 22,000 fans watching Texas powers Allen and Southlake Carroll clash.
Here are five storylines to watch on Sunday.
Talented DBs aplenty
It’s been said on multiple occasions that the 2014 class may be one of the strongest in years at producing big-time defensive backs in the region. The battle for defensive back MVP has the potential of being extremely competitive with players such as Laurence Jones (Monroe, La./Neville), Jamal Adams (Lewisville, Texas/Hebron), Tony Brown (Beaumont, Texas/Ozen), Steven Parker (Jenks, Okla./Jenks) and Arrion Springs (San Antonio/Roosevelt) expected to be in attendance. Chris Hardeman (Houston/Alief Taylor) has committed to LSU, while Dylan Sumner-Gardner (Mesquite, Texas/West Mesquite) and Armani Watts (Forney, Texas/North Forney) have pledged to Texas A&M. Deionte Thompson (Orange, Texas/West Orange-Stark), a 2015 prospect, has verbally committed to Alabama. All of the DBs will have their shots in one-on-one drills against equally talented ESPN Watch List receivers such as Malachi Dupre (River Ridge, La./John Curtis), K.D. Cannon (Mount Pleasant, Texas/Mount Pleasant) and Texas commit Lorenzo Joe (Abilene, Texas/Cooper).
Here are five storylines to watch on Sunday.
Talented DBs aplenty
It’s been said on multiple occasions that the 2014 class may be one of the strongest in years at producing big-time defensive backs in the region. The battle for defensive back MVP has the potential of being extremely competitive with players such as Laurence Jones (Monroe, La./Neville), Jamal Adams (Lewisville, Texas/Hebron), Tony Brown (Beaumont, Texas/Ozen), Steven Parker (Jenks, Okla./Jenks) and Arrion Springs (San Antonio/Roosevelt) expected to be in attendance. Chris Hardeman (Houston/Alief Taylor) has committed to LSU, while Dylan Sumner-Gardner (Mesquite, Texas/West Mesquite) and Armani Watts (Forney, Texas/North Forney) have pledged to Texas A&M. Deionte Thompson (Orange, Texas/West Orange-Stark), a 2015 prospect, has verbally committed to Alabama. All of the DBs will have their shots in one-on-one drills against equally talented ESPN Watch List receivers such as Malachi Dupre (River Ridge, La./John Curtis), K.D. Cannon (Mount Pleasant, Texas/Mount Pleasant) and Texas commit Lorenzo Joe (Abilene, Texas/Cooper).
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ABOUT SOONER NATION
Jake Trotter
Jake Trotter joined ESPN.com in 2011 after four years with The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman, covering OU and Big 12 football. He's a graduate of Washington and Lee (Va.) University and lives in Oklahoma City with his wife. Email him at trotterjake@gmail.com.
Brandon Chatmon
Brandon Chatmon joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending eight years with The Oklahoman, covering Oklahoma State University, high schools and recruiting. Chatmon lives in Norman, Okla. Email him at bchatmonespn@gmail.com.
Bob Przybylo
Bob Przybylo joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years with The Oklahoman, covering high schools and recruiting. Przybylo lives in Oklahoma City. Email him at bprzybyloespn@gmail.com.