Oklahoma Sooners: Charles Walker
NORMAN, Okla. -- OK, Jerry Montgomery, this is a big reason you were brought to Oklahoma. Defensive tackle Trey Lealaimatafao (San Antonio/Warren) unexpectedly committing to Texas on Saturday night is another example of the Sooners falling short at defensive tackle.
And an example of the work ahead for Montgomery.
For OU’s 2012 class, the Sooners had a plan to not lobby too hard for a defensive tackle. They didn’t attack any high school or junior college prospects and were content with who was on campus.
And an example of the work ahead for Montgomery.
For OU’s 2012 class, the Sooners had a plan to not lobby too hard for a defensive tackle. They didn’t attack any high school or junior college prospects and were content with who was on campus.
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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 tackle Charles Walker (Garland, Texas/South Garland) fits the definition of an under-the-radar recruit. The Sooners signed Walker because they saw something unique in him as he spurned offers from New Mexico, Houston, North Texas, Texas State and New Mexico State.
"We couldn't figure out what was going on with his recruitment," defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said of Walker's limited number of offers. "Charles is a very undervalued player in a national scope of recruiting, we really like what he can do."
Walker's athleticism is readily apparent in his highlight film which shows the 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive tackle signee block a punt, outrun the punter to the ball then return the blocked punt for a touchdown. That type of playmaking ability is one of the reasons the Sooners didn't care who else wanted Walker and didn't hesistate to add him to the program.
"All the stars and all the ratings go out of the window when you come through the doors here, it's about developing players," Stoops said. "He’ll have a chance to be a playmaker for us."
"We couldn't figure out what was going on with his recruitment," defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said of Walker's limited number of offers. "Charles is a very undervalued player in a national scope of recruiting, we really like what he can do."
Walker's athleticism is readily apparent in his highlight film which shows the 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive tackle signee block a punt, outrun the punter to the ball then return the blocked punt for a touchdown. That type of playmaking ability is one of the reasons the Sooners didn't care who else wanted Walker and didn't hesistate to add him to the program.
"All the stars and all the ratings go out of the window when you come through the doors here, it's about developing players," Stoops said. "He’ll have a chance to be a playmaker for us."
Position breakdown: Defensive tackle 
February, 25, 2013
Feb 25
10:45
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By
Jake Trotter | ESPN.com
NORMAN, Okla. -- Michigan defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery will become Oklahoma's defensive tackles coach. And he faces a tall task in Norman.
No position on Oklahoma’s roster has more questions marks than defensive tackle.
No position on Oklahoma’s roster has more questions marks than defensive tackle.
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Another day, another Oklahoma assistant coach shown the door. This one, though, has sent shock waves through OU recruiting circles.
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Roundtable: Grading Oklahoma's class
February, 7, 2013
Feb 7
12:30
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.
How would you grade Oklahoma's 2013 recruiting class based on the Sooners filling their needs?
How would you grade Oklahoma's 2013 recruiting class based on the Sooners filling their needs?
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Damon Sayles/ESPNCornerback Dakota Austin committed to the Sooners over the weekend and signed on Wednesday.Watch live coverage on ESPNU | Talk signing day on our SoonerNation forum
| OU class
Follow the live blog after the jump.
Solid DTs aren't always highly ranked
February, 5, 2013
Feb 5
10:30
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By
Brandon Chatmon | ESPN.com
Gerald McCoy and Tommie Harris are players who immediately come to mind when Oklahoma fans think of the tradition at defensive tackle. Both All-Americans were highly recruited high school prospects who stepped on campus with high expectations then fulfilled them.
But McCoy and Harris are the exception, not the norm.
But McCoy and Harris are the exception, not the norm.
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Leading up to signing day, SoonerNation will take a closer look at the Class of 2013 prospects currently committed to Oklahoma. The in-depth analysis pieces will take a look at the ranking, estimated year of impact and potential role of each future Sooner.
Vitals: Defensive tackle Charles Walker (Garland, Texas/South Garland) | 6-foot-4, 280 pounds
Committed: Jan. 12, 2013
Vitals: Defensive tackle Charles Walker (Garland, Texas/South Garland) | 6-foot-4, 280 pounds
Committed: Jan. 12, 2013
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Two weeks ago it looked like Oklahoma was done looking for defensive tackles for its 2013 class. Assistant coach Jackie Shipp had put in major work and landed three quality commitments.
But Shipp wasn’t done. He went to Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial last weekend and offered three-star prospect Matthew Romar.
Romar saw OU’s campus for the first time this weekend and took some time to think it over before committing to the Sooners, Port Arthur Memorial coach Kenny Harrison confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.
Romar, who is 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, also had offers from Tulsa and Baylor, among others. Once the Sooners fully entered the race, though, it became clear it was up to OU to simply close the deal.
He played a little bit of running back in high school so there was some speculation about his size. Harrison said once Shipp saw Romar in person two weeks ago, all the doubts vanished.
But Shipp wasn’t done. He went to Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial last weekend and offered three-star prospect Matthew Romar.
Romar saw OU’s campus for the first time this weekend and took some time to think it over before committing to the Sooners, Port Arthur Memorial coach Kenny Harrison confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.
Romar, who is 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, also had offers from Tulsa and Baylor, among others. Once the Sooners fully entered the race, though, it became clear it was up to OU to simply close the deal.
He played a little bit of running back in high school so there was some speculation about his size. Harrison said once Shipp saw Romar in person two weeks ago, all the doubts vanished.
OU DT commit Walker answers challenge
January, 29, 2013
Jan 29
8:00
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Garland (Texas) South Garland High football coach Mark Cox has been on the job for nearly 30 years. He has seen and coached a lot of great players. He has also seen great talents be wasted.
Heading into the senior season of three-star defensive tackle Charles Walker, Cox had no idea where he would classify his talented player.
Glimpses of brilliance, but not enough consistency. The physique of football player, but not the intensity or passion of one.
Heading into the senior season of three-star defensive tackle Charles Walker, Cox had no idea where he would classify his talented player.
Glimpses of brilliance, but not enough consistency. The physique of football player, but not the intensity or passion of one.
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Q&A: Coach of OU commit Charles Walker
January, 22, 2013
Jan 22
12:00
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Garland (Texas) South Garland coach Mark Cox never worried about defensive tackle Charles Walker getting an opportunity.
His logic was some school somewhere was going to take a chance on a 6-foot-4, 280-pound defender that can run a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash.
His logic was some school somewhere was going to take a chance on a 6-foot-4, 280-pound defender that can run a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash.
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Sooner Intel: Recruiting news and notes
January, 17, 2013
Jan 17
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:
Read the Sooner Intel after the jump.
- The Sooners are right back in the mix with a four-star cornerback
- One target is headed to a junior college
- New receiver commit gets to know his position coach on official visit
- New defensive tackle commits talks official visit, how he and his host bonded
- Breaking down Oklahoma's search for two more offensive tackles
- The Sooners have offered a new defensive tackle
Read the Sooner Intel after the jump.
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OU gets back on track on recruiting trail
January, 14, 2013
Jan 14
8:00
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
The week started with one head-scratching moment, but it could not have ended any better for Oklahoma on the recruiting trail.
In an odd and almost unprecedented move, OU coaches postponed a previously planned junior day on Saturday so they could instead focus on the eight official visitors for the 2013 class.
In an odd and almost unprecedented move, OU coaches postponed a previously planned junior day on Saturday so they could instead focus on the eight official visitors for the 2013 class.
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OU shores up defensive line with Walker
January, 13, 2013
Jan 13
8:00
AM CT
By
Brandon Chatmon | ESPN.com
Oklahoma continues to add bodies at the defensive tackle position.
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Three-star DT Walker finds a home at OU
January, 12, 2013
Jan 12
8:16
PM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
During December, there was no bigger position of need for Oklahoma than defensive tackle. In the span of 31 days, OU has gone from having zero commits with panic engulfing Sooner fans to having three and looking pretty.
The latest came Saturday night, as three-star tackle Charles Walker (Garland, Texas/South Garland) confirmed he has committed to the Sooners.
Walker, who is 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, is ranked No. 40 in the nation at defensive tackle. Injuries hampered him during his sophomore and junior seasons, but he was healthy and effective this season.
And OU defensive tackles coach Jackie Shipp noticed that. North Texas and Houston were other schools looking at Walker, but Shipp saw something in Walker that no other big-time BCS-school universities saw.
Walker was offered by OU last month and admitted he wanted to commit right there on the spot. But he held off, saying he wanted to see the campus.
That was taken care of this weekend as Walker was one of eight official visitors for the Sooners. Baylor started talking to Walker earlier this week, but OU had already put in the work to secure his commitment.
Walker tore his labrum in the summer but played his senior season anyway. He underwent successful surgery last month and said he should be good to go by March.
He saw OU practice at the Cotton Bowl two weeks ago and all it did was fire him up more about his trip to Norman. Safe to say the trip lived up to his expectations.
Walker is ranked No. 40, one spot below fellow OU commit Kerrick Huggins (Dallas/Skyline). Huggins, who flipped from Texas A&M to OU on Dec. 14, is ranked No. 39 and was OU’s first commit at the position.
The Sooners will also get some immediate help at tackle as three-star ESPN JC 100 prospect Quincy Russell (Athens, Texas/Trinity Valley) signed with OU on Dec. 19.
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Walker, who is 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, is ranked No. 40 in the nation at defensive tackle. Injuries hampered him during his sophomore and junior seasons, but he was healthy and effective this season.
And OU defensive tackles coach Jackie Shipp noticed that. North Texas and Houston were other schools looking at Walker, but Shipp saw something in Walker that no other big-time BCS-school universities saw.
Walker was offered by OU last month and admitted he wanted to commit right there on the spot. But he held off, saying he wanted to see the campus.
That was taken care of this weekend as Walker was one of eight official visitors for the Sooners. Baylor started talking to Walker earlier this week, but OU had already put in the work to secure his commitment.
Walker tore his labrum in the summer but played his senior season anyway. He underwent successful surgery last month and said he should be good to go by March.
He saw OU practice at the Cotton Bowl two weeks ago and all it did was fire him up more about his trip to Norman. Safe to say the trip lived up to his expectations.
Walker is ranked No. 40, one spot below fellow OU commit Kerrick Huggins (Dallas/Skyline). Huggins, who flipped from Texas A&M to OU on Dec. 14, is ranked No. 39 and was OU’s first commit at the position.
The Sooners will also get some immediate help at tackle as three-star ESPN JC 100 prospect Quincy Russell (Athens, Texas/Trinity Valley) signed with OU on Dec. 19.
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.