Oklahoma Sooners: DJ Ward
After recruiting them for several months, Oklahoma's coaching staff was finally able to talk publicly about the players the Sooners added to the program on signing day. Over the next week or so, SoonerNation will review some of the key things coaches had to say about the players signed at each position group during their signing day webcast on Soonersports.com.
Defensive end D.J. Ward (Moore, Okla/Southmoore) could be the most overlooked signee for Oklahoma. He didn't play during his senior year of high school after he was ineligible to play due to transfer rules. Therefore all the buzz and hype he had garnered during his sophomore and junior seasons disappeared.
Bob Przybylo/ESPN.comWatch List defensive end D.J. Ward is already on campus at Oklahoma.Yet, it didn't impact the Sooners coaches' excitement about landing Ward.
"D.J. is a guy that has been dying to play again," coach Bob Stoops said. "He has had a great attitude through it all and has continued to lift and run. You can tell that he looks like he is in excellent shape."
Ward is already on campus as an early enrollee which should help him shake off the rust after missing an entire season. Stoops is confident he can overcome it.
"I believe he will," he said. "He has continued to work out hard and looks great but I guess you do, you miss those snaps on the field.”
Once he does get back in the flow of playing football, Ward could make a difference during his career. He has good size, strength and quickness which gives him the ability to be a every down defensive end who can hold up against the run while developing into a solid pass-rusher.
"DJ is your prototypical defensive end," defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said.
And it could be sooner than expected with OU searching for pass-rushers this fall. The Sooners really struggled to rush the passer in 2012, opening the opportunity to make an immediate impact for newcomers like Ward.
"[He's] another guy who can factor in right away," linebacker coach Tim Kish said. "He’s got tremendous athletic ability, great size, great strength."
Defensive end D.J. Ward (Moore, Okla/Southmoore) could be the most overlooked signee for Oklahoma. He didn't play during his senior year of high school after he was ineligible to play due to transfer rules. Therefore all the buzz and hype he had garnered during his sophomore and junior seasons disappeared.
Bob Przybylo/ESPN.comWatch List defensive end D.J. Ward is already on campus at Oklahoma."D.J. is a guy that has been dying to play again," coach Bob Stoops said. "He has had a great attitude through it all and has continued to lift and run. You can tell that he looks like he is in excellent shape."
Ward is already on campus as an early enrollee which should help him shake off the rust after missing an entire season. Stoops is confident he can overcome it.
"I believe he will," he said. "He has continued to work out hard and looks great but I guess you do, you miss those snaps on the field.”
Once he does get back in the flow of playing football, Ward could make a difference during his career. He has good size, strength and quickness which gives him the ability to be a every down defensive end who can hold up against the run while developing into a solid pass-rusher.
"DJ is your prototypical defensive end," defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said.
And it could be sooner than expected with OU searching for pass-rushers this fall. The Sooners really struggled to rush the passer in 2012, opening the opportunity to make an immediate impact for newcomers like Ward.
"[He's] another guy who can factor in right away," linebacker coach Tim Kish said. "He’s got tremendous athletic ability, great size, great strength."
Sooners sign impact players for 2013
February, 6, 2013
Feb 6
6:03
PM CT
By
Brandon Chatmon | ESPN.com
NORMAN, Okla. -- Anyone who watched Oklahoma’s defense in the final four games of the season knows that the Sooners were in dire need of help in the secondary and along the defensive line. West Virginia’s Tavon Austin and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel torched the Sooners’ defense on their way to record-breaking performances, as OU had no answer for the dynamic playmakers.
Courtesy of Trinity Valley Community CollegeBob Stoops is expecting a big immediate impact from juco defensive tackle Quincy Russell.The Sooners hope they’ve addressed those needs with their defensive line and secondary signees in the Class of 2013 and will see immediate dividends on the field this fall.
“You’re never going to get everyone you want but we feel like we’ve helped ourselves in some critical areas,” defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said.
Cornerback Stanvon Taylor (Tulsa, Okla./East Central) joins safeties Ahmad Thomas (Miami, Fla./Central) and Hatari Byrd (Fresno, Calif./Central East) as signees who appear poised to step right in and play in the secondary. Taylor, in particular, drew a lot of praise from Mike Stoops while drawing comparisons to All-Big 12 cornerback Aaron Colvin from OU head coach Bob Stoops on signing day.
“We’re projecting him to come in and solidify that corner position for us,” Mike Stoops said. “I can’t say enough about this guy, he has all the qualities you want in a superstar.”
Yet those impact signees in the secondary won’t mean much if the Sooners cannot solidify their defensive front. To that end, OU signed seven defensive linemen (four defensive tackles, three defensive ends) on Wednesday, with junior college transfer Quincy Russell (Athens, Texas/Trinity Valley) looming as the biggest potential impact player along the defensive interior.
Courtesy of Trinity Valley Community CollegeBob Stoops is expecting a big immediate impact from juco defensive tackle Quincy Russell.“You’re never going to get everyone you want but we feel like we’ve helped ourselves in some critical areas,” defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said.
Cornerback Stanvon Taylor (Tulsa, Okla./East Central) joins safeties Ahmad Thomas (Miami, Fla./Central) and Hatari Byrd (Fresno, Calif./Central East) as signees who appear poised to step right in and play in the secondary. Taylor, in particular, drew a lot of praise from Mike Stoops while drawing comparisons to All-Big 12 cornerback Aaron Colvin from OU head coach Bob Stoops on signing day.
“We’re projecting him to come in and solidify that corner position for us,” Mike Stoops said. “I can’t say enough about this guy, he has all the qualities you want in a superstar.”
Yet those impact signees in the secondary won’t mean much if the Sooners cannot solidify their defensive front. To that end, OU signed seven defensive linemen (four defensive tackles, three defensive ends) on Wednesday, with junior college transfer Quincy Russell (Athens, Texas/Trinity Valley) looming as the biggest potential impact player along the defensive interior.
Roundtable: OU's best recruiter in 2013 
January, 31, 2013
Jan 31
4:30
PM CT
By SoonerNation staff | ESPN.com
Every Thursday, the SoonerNation staff will answer a roundtable question about OU football. Leave a comment or talk about it in our "There's Only One" forum.
Today's question: Which Oklahoma coach has recruited best for the Sooners in 2013?
• In two years, Bobby Jack Wright has loaded up the defensive end spot for bear in Norman. Last year, he signed promising athletes Charles Tapper and Mike Onouha. This year, he augmented the position further, garnering commitments from two of the Top 25 DEs in the country in D.J. Ward and Matt Dimon. That foursome, along with upside prospect Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, whom the Sooners swiped from Oklahoma State, should ensure that defensive end is a position of strength for years to come.
Today's question: Which Oklahoma coach has recruited best for the Sooners in 2013?
• In two years, Bobby Jack Wright has loaded up the defensive end spot for bear in Norman. Last year, he signed promising athletes Charles Tapper and Mike Onouha. This year, he augmented the position further, garnering commitments from two of the Top 25 DEs in the country in D.J. Ward and Matt Dimon. That foursome, along with upside prospect Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, whom the Sooners swiped from Oklahoma State, should ensure that defensive end is a position of strength for years to come.
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OU trying to flip OSU commit Okoronkwo
November, 15, 2012
11/15/12
8:00
AM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
It’s not like Oklahoma isn’t set at the defensive end position for the 2013 class. Two of the Sooners’ first three commitments were at the position and both D.J. Ward (Moore, Okla./Southmoore) and Matt Dimon (Katy, Texas/Katy) are ESPN 300 prospects. Ward is No. 110, while Dimon is No. 284.
But the thinking all along has been OU wants three at the position. And the biggest targets for OU defensive ends coach Bobby Jack Wright had been a couple of committed prospects.
OU’s No. 1 priority was three-star end Dimarya Mixon (Mesquite, Texas/West Mesquite). Mixon was committed to Arizona State at the time of OU’s spring offer and the Sooners have been relentless.
But the thinking all along has been OU wants three at the position. And the biggest targets for OU defensive ends coach Bobby Jack Wright had been a couple of committed prospects.
OU’s No. 1 priority was three-star end Dimarya Mixon (Mesquite, Texas/West Mesquite). Mixon was committed to Arizona State at the time of OU’s spring offer and the Sooners have been relentless.
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Ever since Oklahoma quarterback commit Cody Thomas (Colleyville, Texas/Heritage) was dropped from the ESPN 300 in July, Sooners fans have been clamoring for him to return to the rankings.
OU fans have their wish. Thomas is back in at No. 248 as the new ESPN 150/300 rankings were released Wednesday afternoon.
Thomas, who is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, was ranked No. 93 before a so-so showing at the Elite 11 finals. His performance there knocked him out of the list.
OU fans have their wish. Thomas is back in at No. 248 as the new ESPN 150/300 rankings were released Wednesday afternoon.
Thomas, who is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, was ranked No. 93 before a so-so showing at the Elite 11 finals. His performance there knocked him out of the list.
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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.