Don't overlook the Sooner State

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While Oklahoma is without a five-star prospect in the Class of 2010 and boasts only a trio of four-star athletes, it's loaded with quality, underrated depth. The state in general can often be overlooked from a national standpoint because of its location above hotbed Texas; the Sooner State, however, continues to attract college coaches from across the country, and they scour it early. Fourteen out of the top 15 rated prospects are already committed, and 12 of them have committed to BCS programs.

Demarco Cobbs (Tulsa, Okla./Central) is Oklahoma's lone ESPNU 150 prospect, but he is close to having five-star status and is one of the more heavily recruited athletes in the country. Other recruits drawing national interest include three linemen -- penetrating defensive tackle Calvin Barnett (Tulsa, Okla./Booker T. Washington) and a pair of massive offensive tackles in Bronson Irwin (Mustang, Okla./Mustang) and Trent Spurgeon (Owasso, Okla./Owasso).

Inside linebacker Trayvon Henry (Oklahoma City/Milwood) is also one of the better and more intriguing Oklahoma prospects in 2010. The productive linebacker was recruited heavily by the in-state Sooners in the early going, but has since committed to Kansas. The No. 6 overall ILB and No. 2 overall prospect in the state is a great downhill filler and run stopper. Henry is a sleeper on the national level and should see the field early in Lawrence.

For a look at the top player in Oklahoma, a name to remember who might not be the highest-rated prospect and the programs doing the best job of recruiting this year, become an ESPN Insider.

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Billy Tucker

Scouts, Football Recruiting

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• Recruiting coordinator for ESPN RecruitingNation.
• Nearly a decade of college coaching experience.
• Was recruiting coordinator at nationally-ranked Division II colleges.