After much waiting and wondering, Sooner football fans received a welcome surprise Wednesday.

Two of the nation's top high school football players, both from Oklahoma, signed with OU on National Signing Day.

Gerald McCoy, defensive tackle, and Jermaine Gresham, tight end, are considered the No. 1 players in the nation at their respective positions, according to rivals.com.

OU signed three running backs, including DeMarco Murray, the No. 1 running back in the nation, according to ESPN.com. Murray is out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas.

Murray gave many Sooner fans a collective heart attack at the Army All-American game as he donned a USC hat before removing it and declaring his intent to be a Sooner.

"We recruited Murray strictly as a running back," Stoops said. "But he can do anything."

Rivals.com lists McCoy as the No. 4 overall player in the country. He and Gresham waited until Wednesday to sign with OU.

McCoy, from Southeast High School in Oklahoma City, excited scouts and fans alike by dominating top competition in the Army All-American game Jan. 7.

"He is one of those special players," OU head football coach Bob Stoops said. "He dominated the Army All-American game. The way he works determines his future."

Stoops said he thinks McCoy can compete for a starting position on the Sooners' defensive line in his first season.

Sooner Signees

o Gerald McCoy, defensive tackle, and Jermaine Gresham, tight end, signed with OU on National Signing Day.

o McCoy and Gresham were rated No. 1 in the nation at their position by Rivals.com.

o The Sooners signed two quarterbacks.

o Seven offensive linemen signed with OU.

o OU also signed three running backs.

o Overall, the Sooners signed 28 players at nine positions.

Gresham, from Ardmore High School, had the Sooner nation on pins and needles before signing. He picked the Sooners over Miami and the Southern Cal.

"He sees what he can do here," Stoops said. "He knows what we have done in the past (with the tight end position)."

Stoops said he thinks Gresham knows sophomore quarterback Rhett Bomar will get him the ball.

Overall, the Sooners signed 28 players at nine positions. Stoops said he was happy with the numbers and believes the team is right where it needs to be.

"It's a great group of players. It's typical of our classes with good balance," Stoops said. "The coaching staff is excited about it. We recruited players that fit our needs."

Stoops said two pressing concerns for the Sooners were at offensive line and running back.

Seven offensive lineman signed with OU including Brandon Walker, the No. 2 junior college offensive lineman in the country, according to collegefootballnews.com.

The average weight among the offensive line signees is 296 pounds.

"We needed to bolster our team along the offensive line because we had the fewest number of scholarship players returning at those positions," Stoops said.

Stoops said all of the offensive lineman who signed will have a chance to compete for starting positions.

Behind All-Big 12 first-teamer Adrian Peterson, OU is thin at running back after the graduation of Kejuan Jones and Donta Hickson.

Stoops said Murray is one of the best pure athletes he has seen.

The Sooners also signed Sam Bradford, the No. 17 quarterback in the nation, according to collegefootballnews.com. Bradford is out of Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City.
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