Football Recruiting - Midlands Region: D.J. Ward
A visit Tuesday wasn’t the first time ESPN Watch List defensive end Solomon Thomas (Coppell, Texas/Coppell) had seen the Oklahoma campus.
Not even close. Thomas has been a frequent visitor to Norman, Okla., the last couple of years for camps or game visits. But Tuesday’s unofficial trip was about something else.
Not even close. Thomas has been a frequent visitor to Norman, Okla., the last couple of years for camps or game visits. But Tuesday’s unofficial trip was about something else.
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LB coach Kish closes strong for Sooners 
February, 7, 2013
Feb 7
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
NORMAN, Okla. -- Entering the fall, some Oklahoma fans were wondering what in the world first-year linebackers coach Tim Kish was doing.
Kish had made a big reputation as a solid recruiter during his time at Arizona. Several months into the job at OU, and he hadn’t help land any of the top Arizona recruits, had taken too long with many top Texas prospects and had some fans calling for a change.
Supporters of Kish said give it time, give him an opportunity to build the relationships with recruits and judge him from there.
Kish had made a big reputation as a solid recruiter during his time at Arizona. Several months into the job at OU, and he hadn’t help land any of the top Arizona recruits, had taken too long with many top Texas prospects and had some fans calling for a change.
Supporters of Kish said give it time, give him an opportunity to build the relationships with recruits and judge him from there.
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Rodriguez decommits, heading to Tulsa
December, 13, 2012
12/13/12
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Saying it was the best decision for him, three-star offensive tackle Dalton Rodriguez (Tulsa, Okla./Union) tweeted he has switched his commitment from Oklahoma to Tulsa on Thursday afternoon. Rodriguez confirmed the news via text message to ESPN.com.
Rodriguez, who is 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, was being recruited as an offensive tackle by the Sooners. However, he never took a snap at the position during high school. He has been one of the best defensive ends in the state the last two seasons.
OU picked up another defensive end commit in Houston Alief Taylor’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo on Wednesday afternoon, giving the Sooners three quality defensive ends to go with ESPN 300 prospects D.J. Ward (Moore, Okla./Southmoore) and Matt Dimon (Katy, Texas/Katy).
Rodriguez, who is 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, was being recruited as an offensive tackle by the Sooners. However, he never took a snap at the position during high school. He has been one of the best defensive ends in the state the last two seasons.
OU picked up another defensive end commit in Houston Alief Taylor’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo on Wednesday afternoon, giving the Sooners three quality defensive ends to go with ESPN 300 prospects D.J. Ward (Moore, Okla./Southmoore) and Matt Dimon (Katy, Texas/Katy).
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Okoronkwo flips commitment to Sooners
December, 12, 2012
12/12/12
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Houston Alief Taylor defensive end Ogbonnia “Obo” Okoronkwo said he knew he wanted to flip his commitment from Oklahoma State to Oklahoma following his official visit to OU last month.
But he waited. He didn’t want to make a hasty decision, and he wanted to give OSU a chance. Things never worked out for Okoronkwo and the Cowboys and their Bedlam rival was there to swoop up Okoronkwo on Wednesday afternoon.
Max Olson/ESPN.comThree-star prospect Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is Oklahoma's third defensive end commitment for the Class of 2013.Okoronkwo, who is 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds and a three-star prospect, was able to visit Norman, Okla., last month for OU’s victory against Baylor. The plan had always been to see Stillwater first and then compare and contrast the two schools and make a decision.
OSU and Okoronkwo could never get on the same page for the visit and Okoronkwo said he told the OSU staff Sunday he thought it was time to go separate ways.
That didn’t necessarily mean he was automatically a Sooner, but that was solidified Wednesday during an in-home visit by OU coaches Bob Stoops and Tim Kish.
“Coach Stoops talked with my dad and Coach Kish talked with my mom for about an hour, and my parents really liked what they were saying,” Okoronkwo said. “They were happy with everything so he didn’t see a point in waiting.”
Okoronkwo said his mother was especially interested in the graduation rates and the academic help he would receive. The answers Stoops and Kish gave her satisfied her and everybody was on the same page.
Okoronkwo has never been a first option for schools looking at Houston Alief Taylor. Playing alongside ESPN 300 USC defensive end commit Torrodney Prevot, the attention went toward Prevot.
But he waited. He didn’t want to make a hasty decision, and he wanted to give OSU a chance. Things never worked out for Okoronkwo and the Cowboys and their Bedlam rival was there to swoop up Okoronkwo on Wednesday afternoon.
Max Olson/ESPN.comThree-star prospect Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is Oklahoma's third defensive end commitment for the Class of 2013.OSU and Okoronkwo could never get on the same page for the visit and Okoronkwo said he told the OSU staff Sunday he thought it was time to go separate ways.
That didn’t necessarily mean he was automatically a Sooner, but that was solidified Wednesday during an in-home visit by OU coaches Bob Stoops and Tim Kish.
“Coach Stoops talked with my dad and Coach Kish talked with my mom for about an hour, and my parents really liked what they were saying,” Okoronkwo said. “They were happy with everything so he didn’t see a point in waiting.”
Okoronkwo said his mother was especially interested in the graduation rates and the academic help he would receive. The answers Stoops and Kish gave her satisfied her and everybody was on the same page.
Okoronkwo has never been a first option for schools looking at Houston Alief Taylor. Playing alongside ESPN 300 USC defensive end commit Torrodney Prevot, the attention went toward Prevot.
Video: Interview with OU commit D.J. Ward
August, 14, 2012
8/14/12
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By SoonerNation staff | ESPN.com
SoonerNation's Bob Przybylo talks with Oklahoma defensive end commit D.J. Ward about transferring from Lawton to Oklahoma City Douglass for his senior season.
Last week the SoonerNation crew hit the road to watch some of the best Oklahoma high school prospects in the state.
Prospects like Oklahoma verbal commits Stanvon Taylor (Tulsa, Okla./East Central) and defensive end D.J. Ward (Lawton, Okla./Lawton) were as good as advertised.
But a bright spot about trips like these is the chance to see some under-the-radar prospects. And there are plenty of them in Oklahoma. Here are some of the 2013 recruits who you can expect bigger and better things from in the future.
Prospects like Oklahoma verbal commits Stanvon Taylor (Tulsa, Okla./East Central) and defensive end D.J. Ward (Lawton, Okla./Lawton) were as good as advertised.
But a bright spot about trips like these is the chance to see some under-the-radar prospects. And there are plenty of them in Oklahoma. Here are some of the 2013 recruits who you can expect bigger and better things from in the future.
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Defensive end D.J. Ward (Lawton, Okla./Lawton) is not the most vocal recruit in the nation. Ward, however, has had a good mouthpiece during his recruitment in Lawton coach Randy Breeze, who is never without good things to say about his elite player.
But if you thought Ward’s commitment to Oklahoma on Saturday was planned, think again. The news was a big shock to Breeze, who was convinced Ward would take his time before making a decision.
Ward, 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, has had 20 sacks combined in the last two seasons. He is a four-star prospect ranked No. 93 in the ESPN 150 and No. 8 at defensive end.
But if you thought Ward’s commitment to Oklahoma on Saturday was planned, think again. The news was a big shock to Breeze, who was convinced Ward would take his time before making a decision.
Ward, 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, has had 20 sacks combined in the last two seasons. He is a four-star prospect ranked No. 93 in the ESPN 150 and No. 8 at defensive end.
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NORMAN, Okla. – Earlier this week, defensive end D.J. Ward (Lawton, Okla./Lawton) said there wasn’t a good chance for him to commit to Oklahoma this weekend.
His tune changed a little after getting to Norman, Okla., on Friday night and the Sooners kept gaining momentum until Ward reached his breaking point.
Ward, 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and on the ESPN Watch List, committed to the Sooners following OU’s Red-White spring game Saturday afternoon.
His tune changed a little after getting to Norman, Okla., on Friday night and the Sooners kept gaining momentum until Ward reached his breaking point.
Ward, 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and on the ESPN Watch List, committed to the Sooners following OU’s Red-White spring game Saturday afternoon.
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Q&A: DB Maurice Chandler’s rising stock
March, 7, 2012
3/07/12
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
It happens all the time. College coaches are in town to look at one prized recruit, and it doesn’t take long before they realize there is another top-tier player on the same team.
That’s the case right now for defensive back Maurice Chandler (Lawton, Okla./Lawton). With schools flocking to Lawton to see ESPNU Watch List defensive end D.J. Ward, Chandler is starting to make his own name.
In the last two weeks, Chandler has picked up offers from Kansas State, Texas Tech and Oregon State and is seeing increased interest across the board.
That’s the case right now for defensive back Maurice Chandler (Lawton, Okla./Lawton). With schools flocking to Lawton to see ESPNU Watch List defensive end D.J. Ward, Chandler is starting to make his own name.
In the last two weeks, Chandler has picked up offers from Kansas State, Texas Tech and Oregon State and is seeing increased interest across the board.
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The bad news for Oklahoma fans is the opinion of defensive end D.J. Ward (Lawton, Okla./Lawton) didn’t change following his junior day visit last weekend.
The good news is OU already was pretty high on his list and that there really wasn’t a chance for much advancement, according to the state's top junior.
It has been a struggle for Ward in trying to get his name out there. Family and transportation issues have kept Ward at home, unable to attend any junior days before his trip to Norman, Okla.
The good news is OU already was pretty high on his list and that there really wasn’t a chance for much advancement, according to the state's top junior.
It has been a struggle for Ward in trying to get his name out there. Family and transportation issues have kept Ward at home, unable to attend any junior days before his trip to Norman, Okla.
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Revenge for Gray?
Five-star running back and Texas commit Johnathan Gray (Aledo, Texas/Aledo) has been waiting for Saturday since the first week of the high school football season.
On Aug. 26, two-time defending Texas Class 4A champion Aledo opened its season against Stephenville (Texas) and came up a 2-point conversion short in a 48-47 loss. All Gray and his teammates wanted was a second shot, and they’ll get it Saturday in a Class 4A Division II state quarterfinal.
Five-star running back and Texas commit Johnathan Gray (Aledo, Texas/Aledo) has been waiting for Saturday since the first week of the high school football season.
On Aug. 26, two-time defending Texas Class 4A champion Aledo opened its season against Stephenville (Texas) and came up a 2-point conversion short in a 48-47 loss. All Gray and his teammates wanted was a second shot, and they’ll get it Saturday in a Class 4A Division II state quarterfinal.
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RECRUITING NATION MIDLANDS COVERAGE
The Midlands Region consists of the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and
Texas and is where Big 12 programs make a living recruiting. However, with the deep talent pool in the Lone Star State, teams from all over the country flock to the Midlands to find players.
More RecruitingNation blogs
RecruitingNation has the latest recruiting news from across the country:
• On The Trail
• East Region blog
• Midwest Region blog
• Southeast Region blog
• West Region blog
MIDLANDS RECRUITING CONTRIBUTORS
Sam KhanESPN Archive |
Max OlsonESPN Archive |
Bob PrzybyloESPN Archive |
Damon SaylesESPN Archive |
Mitch ShermanESPN Archive |
William WilkersonESPN Archive |
