Blankenship Excited about Class of 'Winners'

The Golden Hurricane's head coach says he's looking forward to coaching the incoming class of "winners."

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:11 pm

By: News On 6

Blankenship Excited about Class of 'Winners'

Originally Published: Feb 2, 2011 3:19 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Anchor/Reporter

TULSA, Oklahoma – Not even 14 inches of snow outside his office could wipe the smile off Bill Blankenship’s face. You could hear it in new voice of the Golden Hurricane’s head football coach.

“I think every coach around says the same thing but I am telling you, I am tickled to death,” he said in a phone interview. “If we close the door and it’s just us talking, I’m telling you I could not be happier about the guys we’re bringing in.”

Tulsa signed 21 players to national letters of intent on Wednesday to add to a pair of early enrollees. The list was headlined by 11 players from the state of Oklahoma and included eight from the Tulsa area. The Golden Hurricane also added eight players from the state of Texas.

“The thing I’m most excited about is the kind of leadership and character these guys have had at their high schools,” he said. “I think it’s 12, but it may be more than that, of those guys who played on championship teams in Oklahoma and Texas.”

Three signees are fresh off back-to-back-back state championship titles. Union defensive lineman Brentom Todd (6-3, 222 lbs), Daingerfield (TX) wide receiver Keyarris Garrett (6-4, 185 lbs) and Lake Travis (TX) wide receiver Conner Floyd (6-3, 197 lbs) all have multiple championship rings.

The Golden Hurricane signed nine defensive players and ten offensive players, along with a pair kids that the coaching staff has labeled as ‘athletes’. Those two will find positions during offseason drills.

“It’s important to us to get the best players in Tulsa and the best players from Oklahoma,” Blankenship said. “We’re not just trying to sign players from this area. We want to get impact players.”

On offense, Tulsa inked three lineman and four receivers. Holland Hall’s Kwame Sexton (5-11, 170 lbs) could also play some wide receiver. Blankenship said that he is listed as a corner in their eyes, but he’s too talented to play without the ball in his hands. The lone quarterback in their 2011 recruiting class is Joseph Calcagni (6-1, 190 lbs) from Springdale, Ark.

Defensively, the Golden Hurricane added major depth at key positions. Booker T. Washington’s Derrick Alexander (6-2, 257 lbs) and Union’s Todd headline a sparkling class of linemen that could help Tulsa put some much needed pressure on opposing C-USA quarterbacks.

Tulsa signed four defensive backs.

“I want guys who take the field expecting to win,” said Blankenship. “Our goal is to win Conference USA and represent the conference in the Liberty Bowl.”

Blankenship didn’t have to wait long to find out the future of his program. A dozen of the recruits faxed in their letters of intent by 8 a.m.

There was some concern among some of the recruits on their commitments to Tulsa when the program saw over half of its coaching staff leaving during the month of December and into early January. In all, most of the players originally committed to the Golden Hurricane sent in letters of intent on Wednesday.

The team did not get letters from two running backs that were high on its list of potential players. Booker T. Washington’s Isaac Bennett and Gilmer, TX rusher Gus Johnson both opted for other schools. Bennett followed former Tulsa coach Todd Graham to Pitt, while Johnson spurned TU for Stephen F. Austin.

Blnakenship said that when those last-minute changes take place, it doesn’t make sense to harbor grudges.

“There’s a lot of reason that things happen in recruiting,” he said, not speaking about any one student directly. “We have to find guys that fit the University of Tulsa ? We’re a top academic institution and we’re not going to apologize for that. We signed all guys that will fit into this culture and have success here.

“I want the guys that are supposed to be here.”

Tulsa will begin spring drills on March 8th with the annual spring game scheduled for April 16th.