Oklahoma State adds 27 on signing day

Oklahoma City (AP) — Oklahoma State, fresh off an appearance in the Cotton Bowl, pulled in a top 25 recruiting class Wednesday.

Among the top recruits: Tyreek Hill, an athlete from Garden City, Kan.; Gyasi Akem, a linebacker from Broken Arrow, Okla.; Keenen Brown, a wide receiver from Houston; Mason Rudolph, a quarterback from Rock Hill, S.C.

The group of 27 student-athletes who signed national letters of intent includes three junior college players, two of whom are already enrolled, and 24 high school players, three of whom are already enrolled.

Sixteen players are slated for defense, 10 for offense and one is a punter. The most decorated position group is the defensive line, which includes three "four-star" prospects.

"It takes a group effort, and it gets better and better at Oklahoma State," coach Mike Gundy said. "We've won 50 games in five years. Our players believe in themselves. We have a great team concept."

Akem is one of four players from Oklahoma the Cowboys added.

"What's great about (Akem) is that he's right here in Oklahoma and he's one of the top linebackers in the state," defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said. "He's very versatile and plays outside. He could have the size to play multiple positions like inside linebacker or outside linebacker. I had him in camp; he is an explosive young man."

Rudolph is a key addition now that quarterback Clint Chelf has exhausted his eligibility. LSU, Auburn, Louisville, Mississippi, Virginia and Virginia Tech were believed to have been interested in him.

"We feel great about Mason and were able to win a quarterback in him that really brings all of the characteristics you want to see in a quarterback, all of the intangibles," offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said. "He's got tremendous statistics to back that up. He was coached by Kyle Richardson over at Northwestern High School in South Carolina. The coach runs a very similar system to what we do here at Oklahoma State.

___

OKLAHOMA STATE

National rankings (Rivals 23; Scout 10).

Best in class: Tyreek Hill, ath, Garden City, Kan.

Best of the rest: Gyasi Akem, lb, Broken Arrow, Okla.; Keenen Brown, wr, Houston; Mason Rudolph, qb, Rock Hill, S.C.

Late addition: Jarrell Owens, de, Palestine, Texas

One that got away: Steven Parker, db, Jenks, Okla. (Oklahoma)

NOTE: Hill has a listed time of 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash. As a sophomore at Garden City Community College last season, he had 32 catches for 532 yards with six touchdowns and he carried the ball 101 times for 659 yards and five touchdowns.

by Cliff Brunt, AP Sports Writer

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – February 5, 2014 @ 4:40pm