February 14, 2008

Barton Simmons
Recruiting Analyst

Everyone knows Texas produces more than its share of football talent and the Big 12 Signing Day Dream Team backs that up as 14 members of the team hail from the Lone Star State.

But four different states produced players for the offensive skill positions as Missouri (QB Blaine Gabbert), Texas (RB Jermie Calhoun, WR Jeff Fuller), California (RB Darrell Scott, TE Ryan Deehan) and Oklahoma (WR Jameel Owens) are each represented.

QB Blaine Gabbert
HIGH SCHOOL: Ballwin (Mo.) Parkway West
COLLEGE: Missouri
BUZZ: Gabbert impressed at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl practices.

RB Darrell Scott
HIGH SCHOOL: Ventura (Calif.) St. Bonaventure
COLLEGE: Colorado
BUZZ: With the complete package, Scott is the feature back in any offense.

RB Jermie Calhoun
HIGH SCHOOL: Van, Texas
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
BUZZ: Calhoun rushed for 1,910 yards and 30 scores as a senior.

WR Jameel Owens
HIGH SCHOOL: Muskogee, Okla.
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
BUZZ: A big target with burner speed.

WR Jeff Fuller
HIGH SCHOOL: McKinney (Texas) Boyd
COLLEGE: Texas A&M
BUZZ: Fuller will be an ideal possession receiver with great size and hands.

TE Ryan Deehan
HIGH SCHOOL: Poway, Calif.
COLLEGE: Colorado
BUZZ: With great hands and athleticism, Deehan led his team to an undefeated senior season.

OL Baker Steinkuhler
HIGH SCHOOL: Lincoln (Neb.) Lincoln Southwest
COLLEGE: Nebraska
BUZZ: First ever five-star out of the state of Nebraska could play on either side of the line.

OL Stephen Good
HIGH SCHOOL: Paris, Texas
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
BUZZ: They don't come any better than Good as a run blocker.

OL Bryce Givens
HIGH SCHOOL: Denver (Colo.) Mullen
COLLEGE: Colorado
BUZZ: As he gains weight, he will become a force in the Big 12.

OL Max Tuioti-Mariner
HIGH SCHOOL: Corona, Calif.
COLLEGE: Colorado
BUZZ: Was selected to the Under Armour All-Star Game despite missing his senior season with an ACL tear.

OL Mark Buchanan
HIGH SCHOOL: Austin, Texas
COLLEGE: Texas
BUZZ: Showed good strength and athleticism at the Under Armour All-Star Game.

ATH DeSean Hales
HIGH SCHOOL: Klein (Texas) Oak
COLLEGE: Texas
BUZZ: Electric with the ball in his hands, Hales can play in the slot, backfield or on special teams.

Big 12 Signing Day Dream Team: Defense

DE R.J. Washington
HIGH SCHOOL: Keller (Texas) Fossil Ridge
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
BUZZ: Will be frightening to opposing offensive tackles off the edge.

DE Tony Jerod
HIGH SCHOOL: Desoto, Texas
COLLEGE: Texas A&M
BUZZ: Recorded 13 sacks and 82 tackles as a senior.

DT Jarvis Humphrey
HIGH SCHOOL: Cedar Hill, Texas
COLLEGE: Texas
BUZZ: Humphrey is a stout anchor in the middle that demands double teams.

DT Stacey McGee
HIGH SCHOOL: Muskogee, Okla.
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
BUZZ: Racked up more than 100 tackles as a senior.

LB Lynn Katoa
HIGH SCHOOL: Salt Lake City (Utah) Cottonwood Senior
COLLEGE: Colorado
BUZZ: Raw and athletic, Katoa will be a handful in the Big 12.

LB Justin Johnson
HIGH SCHOOL: Gilmer, Texas
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
BUZZ: Showed his athleticism by rushing for more than 2,000 yards as a senior.

LB Jon Major
HIGH SCHOOL: Parker (Colo.) Ponderosa
COLLEGE: Colorado
BUZZ: Major was a tackling machine in high school, tallying more than 150 as a senior.

CB D.J. Monroe
HIGH SCHOOL: Angleton, Texas
COLLEGE: Texas
BUZZ: Makes up for size with perhaps the best pure speed in the country.

CB David Whitmore
HIGH SCHOOL: Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial
COLLEGE: Nebraska
BUZZ: At 6 feet 2, 190 pounds, Whitmore has rare size at cornerback.

S Aaron Williams
HIGH SCHOOL: Round Rock (Texas) McNeil
COLLEGE: Texas
BUZZ: A tremendous competitor, if a ball is in the air, Williams will go get it.

S Joseph Ibiloye
HIGH SCHOOL: Garland (Texas) South Garland
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
BUZZ: Ibiloye is a big hitter with a great frame who picked up 87 tackles as a senior.

ATH Derrick Hall
HIGH SCHOOL: Beaumont (Texas) Central
COLLEGE: Texas A&M
BUZZ: This do-everything athlete can help in the secondary, on special teams, or even take some snaps on offense.