Oklahoma Sooners: Sterling Korona
Offensive line search is on for Sooners 
September, 14, 2012
9/14/12
8:00
AM CT
By Bob Przbylo | ESPN.com
It has been evident for a while that offensive tackle is one of Oklahoma’s major needs for the 2013 recruiting class. Entering the season, though, it looked like OU had two commits in Tulsa (Okla.) Union’s Dalton Rodriguez and San Antonio Regan’s Matt Beyer.
But it’s possible the Sooners don’t have any commits at the spot. Beyer, a four-star prospect, said earlier this week he has to give up football because of a neck injury.
Rodriguez, a three-star prospect, has not played offensive tackle in high school. If he cannot put on the weight needed to be a tackle, he will most likely stay at his more natural defensive end position in college.
But it’s possible the Sooners don’t have any commits at the spot. Beyer, a four-star prospect, said earlier this week he has to give up football because of a neck injury.
Rodriguez, a three-star prospect, has not played offensive tackle in high school. If he cannot put on the weight needed to be a tackle, he will most likely stay at his more natural defensive end position in college.
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Sooner Intel: Recruiting news and notes
September, 13, 2012
9/13/12
2:00
PM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Every Thursday, SoonerNation releases the Sooner Intel, a sneak peek inside Oklahoma Sooners football recruiting with news and notes on the latest happenings around the program. Talk about it on our forum. A few things discussed in this week's update:
• More on what happened with an OU commit who has been forced to give up football.
• OU's lone official visitor talks more about his trip for the Florida A&M game.
• Two 2014 DEs talk about their Sooners interest
• More on what happened with an OU commit who has been forced to give up football.
• OU's lone official visitor talks more about his trip for the Florida A&M game.
• Two 2014 DEs talk about their Sooners interest
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OT Matt Beyer forced to give up football
September, 12, 2012
9/12/12
4:33
PM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Oklahoma offensive tackle commit Matt Beyer (San Antonio/Reagan) tweeted on Wednesday afternoon that a neck injury has forced him to give up playing football.
Beyer, who is 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, is a four-star prospect who committed to the Sooners in July.
Speculation started Monday following a Beyer tweet Monday morning: “Thank you for all the memories guys! Football has truly been great to me! I love you all! It was just time for me to hang up the pads.”
It was originally believed to be a back injury. Beyer suffered an incomplete fracture of the L5 vertebrae and missed most of the 2011 season.
But Beyer set the record straight with this tweet Wednesday afternoon: “I didn’t quit football. I choose to leave because of a neck injury that I had no control over. The risk out weighed the rewards #hadnochoice.”
Beyer addressed his San Antonio Reagan teammates Monday morning to tell them the news. Following his announcement, individual players spoke to Beyer.
The last one to speak with him was offensive tackle Sterling Korona. A three-star prospect himself, Korona is committed to Duke.
“We’re losing part of our identity,” Korona said. “He was the biggest, but he was also the quietest. He was a silent leader, a leader by example.
“Matt has been out there coaching the younger guys as if nothing is wrong,” Korona said. “He has handled this a lot better than I would. He is still a part of this team in every sense of the word.”
Beyer has not returned phone calls or text messages to comment further on the situation.
OU freshman quarterback Trevor Knight was a driving force in getting Beyer to commit to OU. Since Knight committed to OU in July 2011, he had been trying to get his former teammate to come with him.
In fact, it was Knight who broke the news of Beyer’s commitment. He tweeted it out before Beyer had even told anybody.
The loss of a Beyer is yet another top prospect whose OU career has been cut short by injury before seeing the field. The Sooners suffered the same fate for 2012 tight end signee Laith Harlow. A back injury forced Harlow to quit football although OU has honored his scholarship.
The 2011 class also had a major loss, as a pectoral injury ended the career of tight end Max Stevenson.
Beyer, who is 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, is a four-star prospect who committed to the Sooners in July.
Speculation started Monday following a Beyer tweet Monday morning: “Thank you for all the memories guys! Football has truly been great to me! I love you all! It was just time for me to hang up the pads.”
It was originally believed to be a back injury. Beyer suffered an incomplete fracture of the L5 vertebrae and missed most of the 2011 season.
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Beyer addressed his San Antonio Reagan teammates Monday morning to tell them the news. Following his announcement, individual players spoke to Beyer.
The last one to speak with him was offensive tackle Sterling Korona. A three-star prospect himself, Korona is committed to Duke.
“We’re losing part of our identity,” Korona said. “He was the biggest, but he was also the quietest. He was a silent leader, a leader by example.
“Matt has been out there coaching the younger guys as if nothing is wrong,” Korona said. “He has handled this a lot better than I would. He is still a part of this team in every sense of the word.”
Beyer has not returned phone calls or text messages to comment further on the situation.
OU freshman quarterback Trevor Knight was a driving force in getting Beyer to commit to OU. Since Knight committed to OU in July 2011, he had been trying to get his former teammate to come with him.
In fact, it was Knight who broke the news of Beyer’s commitment. He tweeted it out before Beyer had even told anybody.
The loss of a Beyer is yet another top prospect whose OU career has been cut short by injury before seeing the field. The Sooners suffered the same fate for 2012 tight end signee Laith Harlow. A back injury forced Harlow to quit football although OU has honored his scholarship.
The 2011 class also had a major loss, as a pectoral injury ended the career of tight end Max Stevenson.
Sooner Intel: Recruiting news and notes
August, 23, 2012
8/23/12
10:00
AM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Every Thursday, SoonerNation releases the Sooner Intel, a sneak peek inside Oklahoma Sooners football recruiting with news and notes on the latest happenings around the program. Talk about it on our forum. A few things discussed in this week's update:
• A three-star defensive end isn't ruling out the Sooners.
• OU offers a junior college teammate of a 2012 signee.
• Are the Sooners targeting an offensive lineman from a school with a Sooners commit?
• A three-star defensive end isn't ruling out the Sooners.
• OU offers a junior college teammate of a 2012 signee.
• Are the Sooners targeting an offensive lineman from a school with a Sooners commit?
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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.