Belcher State’s Next Top Lineman?

 

Josh McCuistion
SoonerScoop.com Associate Editor

Talk about it in The Crimson Corner

 

For many years Oklahoma was known more as a place to find skill position talent but more and more the state seems to be consistently producing quality offensive line prospects from Wes Sims to Dylan Dismuke schools from across the country have taken note of some of Oklahoma’s best blockers. The early favorite to take on the role in the class of 2012 is Guthrie, Okla. offensive tackle Blake Belcher.

Belcher emerged on the recruiting scene prior to his sophomore year for the Bluejays with a strong performance at the Tulsa Schuman combine and has since emerged as one of the state’s best lineman. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound prospect has already received mail from Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Kansas, Colorado, Tulsa, and Oregon State.

All of the attention was somewhat expected by those around the big lineman but to him it’s all news.

“It’s kind of suprising. In eighth grade I didn’t even play football I just played basketball and then I moved from Tulsa Union and I was real big, At Union I was big but I wasn’t huge and here I was bigger than everybody else,” Belcher said. “The coach has a really good blocking scheme and I kind of picked up on it.

“(If I stayed at Union) I probably would have played, I hit a huge growth spurt around that time and had fluid on my knee so I just played basketball my eighth grade year.”

As Belcher mentioned the Bluejays are one of the state’s more balanced offenses and attack defenses in a variety of ways and as such Belcher feels he is well prepared for the college game.

“We pretty much do everything, we do power running, we have a power running game, we have speed with stretch plays and we pass the ball a lot so there really isn’t anything glaring to work on,” he said. “If anything it’s just me being stronger, I’m a little weak in the upper body.”

As Guthrie heads into a 5A state semi-final game this weekend against Booker T. Washington they’d love to have their prize tackle with them but Belcher had an unfortunate accident and has been ruled out for the Bluejays during the rest of their playoff chase.

While head coach Rafe Watkins was understandably unhappy college coaches can’t help but take notice in how Belcher hurt himself.

“Actually I broke my foot in a basketball game, so I’m actually done for the season,” he said. “We were shooting around and I dunked at I came down on it wrong, coach wasn’t too happy about that.”

Belcher has been on numerous trips to both of the in-state Big 12 representatives though he says he grew up following one program in particular.

“I’ve been to two OSU games and two OU games. There are a lot of my friends that are fans of both so I just kind of balance it. Whenever I was little I was a big OU fan and I’m still kind of an OU fan,” he said.

“I went to the Schuman camp for the elite prospects (in Norman) last year and this year I got to tour the facilities and we go to tour the locker room. It was all really nice.”

Belcher plans to hit up even more camps in the coming summer but one he already has his eye on is the Army All-American combine in San Antonio in early January. The big lineman expects to have his walking boot off in time to get down to San Antonio and go up against some of the nation’s best.

All-time All-Big 12 football team revealed

 

Wednesday, November 24 2010

Former University of Texas quarterback Vince Young, former Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops are the top honorees on The Associated Press’ all-time, all-Big 12 team.

As the conference enters the final regular-season weekend with 12 teams, the AP asked voters of this year’s all-Big 12 squad to select the best of the best from the league’s 15 seasons.

Young and Suh were chosen the top players on each side of the ball.

Suh and Stoops were runaway winners and Young narrowly beat another Texas player, running back Ricky Williams.

Of the 26 position players chosen, Suh and Williams were the only unanimous picks.

Oklahoma landed seven players on the list, the most by any school.

CENTER (1 selection):

Dominic Raiola, Nebraska (13 votes)

Also receiving votes: Seth McKinney, Texas A&M (3); Jon Cooper, Oklahoma (1); Randall Cummins, Kansas State (1); Rob Riti, Missouri (1); Adam Spieker, Missouri (1).

GUARD/TACKLE (4 selections):

Jammal Brown, Oklahoma (15)
Aaron Taylor, Nebraska (15)
Justin Blalock, Texas (13)
Russell Okung, Oklahoma State (12)

Also receiving votes: Andre Gurode, Colorado (8); Leonard Davis, Texas (3); Duke Robinson, Oklahoma (3); Chris Naeole, Colorado (2); Jason Smith, Baylor (2); Trent Williams, Oklahoma (2); Anthony Collins, Kansas (1); Chris Dishman, Nebraska (1); Toniu Fonoti, Nebraska (1); Richie Incognito, Nebraska (1); Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma (1).

WIDE RECEIVERS (2 selections):

Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech (19)
Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma State (8)

Also receiving votes: Jeremy Maclin, Missouri (5); Jordan Shipley, Texas (2); Mark Clayton, Oklahoma (3); Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma (1); Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State (1); Roy Williams, Texas (1).

TIGHT END (1 selection):

Chase Coffman, Missouri (8)

Also receiving votes: Daniel Graham, Colorado (7); Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma (3); Alonzo Mayes, Oklahoma State (1); David Thomas, Texas (1).

QUARTERBACK (1 selection):

Vince Young, Texas (16)

Also receiving votes: Colt McCoy, Texas (3); Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (1).

RUNNING BACK (2 selections):

Ricky Williams, Texas (20)
Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma (16)

Also receiving votes: Darren Sproles, Kansas State (3); Ahman Green, Nebraska (1).

ALL-PURPOSE (1 selection):

Darren Sproles, K-State (6)

Also receiving votes: David Allen, Kansas State (5); Wes Welker, Texas Tech (4); Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State (2); Brad Smith, Missouri (2); Jeremy Maclin, Missouri (1).

KICKER (1 selection):

Mason Crosby, Colorado (12)

Also receiving votes: Martin Gramatica, K-State (5); Jeff Wolfert, Missouri (2); Alex Henery, Nebraska (1).

DEFENSIVE LINE (4 selections):

Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska (20)
Tommie Harris, Oklahoma (17)
Grant Wistrom, Nebraska (17)
Brian Orakpo, Texas (10)

Also receiving votes: Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma (4); Darren Howard, Kansas State (2); Montae Reagor, Texas Tech (2); Justin Smith, Missouri (2); Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma (1); Dan Cody, Oklahoma (1); Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma (1); Casey Hampton, Texas (1); James McClinton, Kansas (1); Brian Smith, Missouri (1).

LINEBACKER (4 selections):

Derrick Johnson, Texas (19)
Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M (19)
Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma (12)
Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma (10)

Also receiving votes: Mark Simoneau, Kansas State (6); Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma (2); Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri (2); Jordon Dizon, Colorado (1); Lawrence Flugence, Texas Tech (1); Jeff Kelly, Kansas State (1); Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma (1); Carlos Polk, Nebraska (1); Nick Reid, Kansas (1); Matt Russell, Colorado (1).

DEFENSIVE BACK (4 selections):

Roy Williams, Oklahoma (19)
Terence Newman, Kansas State (16)
Derrick Strait, Oklahoma (10)
Michael Huff, Texas (8)

Also receiving votes: Aqib Talib, Kansas (7); Mike Brown, Nebraska (4); Ralph Brown, Nebraska (3); Aaron Ross, Texas (2); Earl Thomas, Texas (2); Nathan Vasher, Texas (2); Chris Canty, Kansas State (1); Ellis Hobbs, Iowa State (1); Quentin Jammer, Texas (1); R.W. McQuarters, Oklahoma State (1); Mike Minter, Nebraska (1); Dwayne Slay, Texas Tech (1); Jason Webster, Texas A&M (1).

PUNTER (1 selection):

Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor (15)

Also receiving votes: Shane Lechler, Texas A&M (5).

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER:

Vince Young, Texas (10)

Also receiving votes: Ricky Williams, Texas (7); Colt McCoy, Texas (2); Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (1).

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER:

Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska (16)

Also receiving votes: Roy Williams, Oklahoma (2); Derrick Strait, Oklahoma (1); Grant Wistrom, Nebraska, (1).

TOP COACH: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma (18)

Also receiving votes: Mack Brown, Texas (1); Bill Snyder, Kansas State (1).

Hornets are as good as advertised

The Booker T. Washington Hornets football team has been dominant in the 2010 season and plenty of that has to do with first year head coach Darrell Hall.

Booker T Head Coach Darrell Hall

The Hornets and the Guthrie BlueJays will meet up Friday night for the right to play in the state championship game next week. Game time is set for 7:30, inside Pioneer Stadium, at Stillwater High School. The game can be heard on Triple Play Sports Radio (105.1 Fm, 1020 AM, 1580 AM) and streaming world-wide at Guthrie Sports Page.

The Guthrie – Booker T winner will play either Tulsa East Central or Lawton MacArthur, who play Friday night in Norman, in the 5A state title game next week at OSU’s Boone Pickens Stadium.

 The Hornets brought in head coach Darrel Hall, who coached Star Spencer to the Class 4A state championship last season, in late March. Hall was named the 2009 Oklahoma Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year.

Booker T (11-1) has shut-out seven of their last nine opponents, including their two playoff opponents on their home turf; Claremore (43-0) and Deer Creek (23-0). The Hornets are quick, aggressive, and very fundamental especially the front seven.

The Hornets defense is anchored up front by four-year starter nose guard Dillion O’Carroll (6’3, 280). O’Carroll goes hard each play and often finds himself in opponents backfield. O’Carroll has 45 tackles and five sacks on the year, but does a great job of clogging up the middle.

Domonique Alexander (6’1, 195) leads the team with 11 sacks from his defensive end position. The sophomore has 77 tackles and will be a name to remember come signing day in a few years. The Hornets other end is senior Kiondre Martin (5’10, 165) who has piled on nine sacks and 59 tackles.

The middle of the defense is controlled by senior Derrik Alexander (6’3, 240). Alexander is a physical back, who will sneak up to the line of scrimmage when they go away from their base defense. Alexander is the team’s leading tackler with 128 to go with two sacks.

Fellow linebacker Jarvis Hinson (5’11, 200) is second on the team with 118 tackles and four sacks. The third linebacker, Mike Evans (5’9, 170), is just a sophomore, but does have 89 tackles.

Derrick Alexander is considering Tulsa and Air Force.

Controlling the secondary is senior safety Dante Barnett (6’1, 175) with his five interceptions and 90 tackles. Corner back Tre Jones (5’9, 165) has four interceptions and returned one for a touchdown.

The Hornet defense has seen a pass happy McAlester offense and a run happy Deer Creek team this season. Guthrie will be the most balance team the Hornets will have faced. Entering the game, the Hornets are allowing 8.5 points a game while the offense averages 34.3 points a contest.

The Hornet’soffense will showcase two talented quarterbacks, a stand-out running back, and a quick Division I wide receiver.

Jordy Albert hass 11 TD passes this season

Senior quarterbacks Jordy Albert (6’2, 215) and Dominique Sells (6’2, 185) will each take snaps. Albert, who is a Bishop Kelley transfer from a season ago, has completed 44 of 77 passes for 586 yards with 11 passing scores to go with three interceptions. Albert has battled a hand injury this season and was forced to miss the first round of the playoffs.

Sells has completed 55 of 104 pass attempts for 814 yards and is at his best when passing on the run. The quarterbacks will look down field for their two favorite targets in seniors Tyler Lockett (5’11, 165) and Barnett.

Lockett, who will play next season at Kansas State, leads the team with 34 receptions for 607 yards and 10 TD grabs. Barnett has brought in 28 catches (seven for scores) and 342 yards.

Tyler Lockett has 34 catches on the season.

With a two-head monster at quarterback, tight end, and wide receiver, the Hornets will attack the run game with two players as well in senior Isaac Bennett (6’0, 190) and junior Dalshawn McFayden (6’0, 185).

Bennett, who missed week one of the playoffs with an ankle injury and had to leave last week’s game in the second half, has 10 touchdown runs and averages just under 10-yards a rush. On the season, he has 103 rushes for 962 yards.

McFayden has similar numbers with 104 rushes and 612 yards to go with seven scores.

Up front in the trenches, the Hornets average out 6’1 and 229 pounds and excel at run blocking.

The Hornets offense will be working against a BlueJay defense that is allowing just 36 yards rushing a game and 132 total yards. In the current nine game winning streak for Guthrie, they are allowing just 5.5 points a game.