Deaf Today: Weekend visits include All American Pressley

January 16, 2004

Weekend visits include All American Pressley

From: OSUInsider.com - Jan 16, 2004

By Robert Allen

For the second straight weekend Oklahoma State head coach Les Miles and his staff will welcome 10 prospects in for official visits to the Cowboys' campus. The list includes four recruits that have already pledged their allegiance to Oklahoma State and it includes two offensive linemen that until this week were unknowns as far as the Cowboys recruiting them.

The general theme for the weekend appears to be defensive linemen as the guest list also includes All American defensive tackle Demario Pressley, considered by most to be the number one defensive tackle prospect in the nation.

Pressley was impressed when Miles and O-State defensive line coach Karl Dunbar went all the way to Greensboro, NC, in order to visit him at his home on the first day of the contact period. The courtship began on a very good note and has continued with the 6-4, 285 pounder out of Dudley High School that recently showed his abilities in the US Army High School All American Game in San Antonio, Tex. Pressley will be accompanied by his mother, and he says that Oklahoma State is a serious threat.

In all there are four defensive linemen in for visits this weekend including Belton, Tex., standout William Bell. Bell switched his OSU visit from Jan. 23, so he could take a college entrance exam on that Saturday. Bell has seemed to be leaning to OSU although not heavily.

Remi Ayodele is an excellent defensive tackle prospect out of NEO A&M inOklahoma and South Grand Prairie High School in the Metroplex. He will likely be shown around by his high school teammate Doug Bond. Ayodele was originally signed by Purdue, but is not considering signing with the Boilermakers.

The other defensive lineman is Yaniv Barnett out of Schertz Clemens. Barnett committed to Arizona on a visit last weekend, but said earlier this week that he still plans to visit OSU, Wisconsin, and Kansas.

The two new names this week are both offensive linemen as Baton Rouge (University) high schooler Ben Harris is a guard/center prospect. The other new name is Roland Terry out of Meridan Miss. Terry is a 6-6, 255 pounder that was a standout defensive end at Lamar High School that projects as an offensive tackle. Terry made his first visit to Mississippi State last weekend and committed to new head coach Sylverster Croom. Despite that pledge, Terry is expected to take the OSU visit.

The four committed players include Tyler Lee cornerback Martel Van Zant. Van Zant is deaf, but he is one heckuva football player by all accounts from Tyler. His teammate, tight end, Brandon Pettigrew. Add Bastrop, La., speedter Ivory Bradshaw and Ponca City tight end Justin Waller.

I think you can consider the four committed players to sit down and pledge again. Now the juicy stuff. Ben Harris would be an easy target. The key is the defensive linemen and impressing Pressley is a full time task. Pressley has Florida State next weekend on his visit slate. Bell, as we wrote earlier, is a good bet for OSU. Barnet and Ayodele will likely be more challenging to sway.

The offensive linemen will be interesting to check out. The pair are early in their visits, but Oklahoma State has the stuff packed into a visit weekend that can cause recruits to make a decision.

We'll see how it went on Sunday.

Remi Ayodele, 6-3, 280, 4.9, NEO A&M J.C./Grand Prairie (South), TX - OSU (1/16), CU (12/12), ArzSt (12/19), WashSt

Yaniv Barnett, DT, 6-3, 280, 5.1, Schertz (Clemens), TX - Verbally committed to Arizona (1/9), OSU (1/16), Wis (1/19), KU (1/23), MU (12/19)

William Bell, DE, 6-3, 240, 4.7, Belton, TX - Arz (12/5), MU (12/12), TCU(12/18) , OSU (1/16), KU (1/23)

Ivory Bradshaw, WR, 6-2, 185, 4.44, Bastrop, LA - Verbally committed to OSU (1/16)

Ben Harris, OL, 6-4, 260, 5.3, Baton Rouge (University), LA - LaTech (1/9), OSU (1/16), NWLa (1/23)

Brandon Pettigrew, TE, 6-5, 225, 4.76, Tyler (Lee), TX - Verbally committed to OSU (1/16)

DeMario Pressley, DT, 6-4, 285, 4.9, Greensboro (Dudley), NC - NC St (12/5), NC (1/9), OSU (1/16), FSU, Tenn

Roland Terry, OL, 6-6, 250, 5.3, Meridian (Lamar), MS - OSU (1/16)

Martel Van Zant, DB, 6-2, 190, 4.5, Tyler (Lee), TX - Verbally committed to OSU (1/16)

Justin Waller, TE, 6-4, 225, 4.7, Ponca City, OK - Verbally committed to OSU (1/16)