Fri, Jul 18 2008
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Published February 07, 2008 01:23 am - The deals are sealed New Sooners, a Hurricane and a Rebel lead area signees By Mike Kays and Kenton Brooks Phoenix Sports Writers The most frequent question asked Jameel Owens on Wednesday morning, near a table full of ignored doughnuts and coffee, was whether he’d don the number he wore at Muskogee High School — and the number that wide receiver Malcolm Kelly leaves as an Oklahoma Sooner.
“I’ve asked for it when I (verbally) committed (last month)” he said. “If I don’t get it, I’ll have to change the number on my chain, but if I go down there and show them what I can do, hopefully it will be mine.” Sooners coach Bob Stoops was asked the same question Wednesday evening. “Why wouldn’t he?” he responded. “Shoot, I don’t assign numbers on signing day, but if he loves 4, he’ll get it.” Owens and MHS teammate Stacy McGee made official what they announced last month when they signed their national letters of intent to become two of three in-state recruits in this year’s OU recruiting class. The other was Union kicker Tress Way. So in anti-climatic form, a journey for the state’s top two recruits came to an end, and a new beginning. And both were quite comfortable making the transition. “I got too much sleep last night,” McGee said. “Actually, I’m very comfortable today.” And OU should be a comfortable fit for both. Stoops saw the two at Indian Bowl in September against Union, but has followed them for several years. On Owens, who was six yards shy of a 1,000-yard receiving season in 2006, there wouldn’t be a comparison between the apparent incumbent No. 4 and the departing No. 4. “Jameel (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) has the size and presence to be as good as anyone that’s come through here,” Stoops said. And the 6-5, 265 McGee, who had 98 tackles and six sacks against overloaded blocking last season? “For a big guy, Stacy has as good of feet as anyone I’ve ever coached,” he said. And both can make an immediate impact on the roster. OU lost Kelly among three juniors who declared for the NFL draft — linebacker Curtis Lofton and defensive back Reggie Smith being the others. Graduation claims two defensive ends — Alonzo Dotson and John Williams. That bodes well for McGee, who played both defensive end and tackle for MHS but is a more natural fit at end. But Stoops said he could end up inside or outside. “Whatever fits him best. What you don’t know about him is how big he’s going to get,” Stoops said. “But as far as playing time, they both have an absolute chance of contributing significantly next year.” Both will join a third Rougher at OU — Jontae Bumpus, who will also compete for time at defensive end after not suiting up as a freshman due to knee surgery. 
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