TULSA, Okla. –– In just a two-week period since his appointment as The University of Tulsa’s head football coach, Kevin Wilson signed a total of eight student-athletes to his first Golden Hurricane recruiting class, it was announced today.
The class includes three local signees, including two from Tulsa Union High School – safety Devin Robinson and athlete Grayson Tempest – and Oklahoma State transfer and former Bixby High School star running back Braylin Presley. Tulsa also dipped into Arkansas and Texas to finish out the early signing class.
“Since I came aboard, the number one goal from a recruiting standpoint has been to stabilize our current roster as well as the committed recruits. The current staff has continued to do a solid job connecting with these guys. Although I have not had that face-to-face contact with some of these guys, I feel pretty good about this class,” said Wilson.
“We didn’t try to add a great deal to the early class, but we’ll do that as the new year starts and we approach the second signing period,” said Wilson. “As I’ve gotten to know this group better, I think we’ve signed what appears to be guys who are strong students, have come from great families with strong values and not only do they value education, but hard work as well.
In addition to the three state signees, the early class of newcomers includes one player from Arkansas and four Texans. The class encompasses four receivers, one running back, one safety and one defensive lineman and one athlete.
“We always want to have a solid presence in the city of Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma and still have a regional reach within that 5-6 hour radius of Tulsa,” said Wilson. “We always want to do our best within the city and the state.”
Fort Smith (Ark.) Northside High School receiver Mari Smith is one of four receivers coming on board with the Hurricane. He is joined by a trio of receivers from Texas – Jahrid Hughes (Fort Worth Timber Creek HS), Matthew Ogunrin (Katy Tompkins HS) and Ashton Schumann (League City Clear Springs HS).
The fourth Texan the Hurricane added is defensive lineman James Eaglin from Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas.
Honors abound for the three Tulsa-area signees as Tempest earned 6A1 District 2 co-MVP honors and his Union teammate was named the District’s co-Defensive Player of the Year. Although a year removed from his prep playing days at Bixby, Presley transfers to Tulsa following one season at Oklahoma State.
Robinson totaled 72 tackles and four interceptions with two pick sixes in 2022, while Tempest had 1,216 all-purpose yards and 12 TDs as a receiver, rusher, passer and kick returner.
In his high school career, Presley rushed for 4,978 yards and totaled 102 career touchdowns as a rusher, receiver and kick return specialist in helping lead Bixby to a 49-game winning streak and four state championships.
As for the incoming receivers, Smith totaled 956 yards and 14 TDs in his final two seasons at Fort Smith Northside and on the track became the state of Arkansas’ fastest high school sprinter. Hughes, at 6’3″, brings good size to the outside receiver slot where he caught 48 passes for 681 yards and seven TDs in his final two seasons at Timber Creek. Ogunrin had 57 receptions for 888 yards and five TDs in his prep career at Tompkins High School, while Schumann hauled in 80 passes for 1,525 yards and 21 TDs in his three-year career as a starter at Clear Springs High School.
Eaglin was credited with 28 tackles and four TFL while earning first-team all-district honors from his defensive line position at Ridge Point.
“Our philosophy will be to recruit athletes with a good skill set and talent to reach championship level play, as well as to fit the culture of the university academically and socially, and that of the city of Tulsa,” said Wilson, who is still coaching with Ohio State as the Buckeyes prepare for their CFP semifinal matchup against Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on December 31.
2023 Tulsa Football Signees
DECEMBER SIGNEES
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown / Previous School
James Eaglin DL 6-4 300 Fr. Missouri City, Texas / Ridge Point HS
Jahrid Hughes WR 6-3 185 Fr. Fort Worth, Texas / Timber Creek HS
Matthew Ogunrin WR 6-0 170 Fr. Katy, Texas / Tompkins HS
Braylin Presley RB 5-8 170 So-TR Bixby, Okla. / Bixby HS / Oklahoma State
Devin Robinson SAF 6-1 189 Fr. Tulsa, Okla. / Union HS
Ashton Schumann WR 6-2 180 Fr. League City, Texas / Clear Springs HS
Mari Smith WR 6-0 160 Fr. Fort Smith, Ark. / Northside HS
Grayson Tempest ATH 5-11 170 Fr. Tulsa, Okla. / Union HS
James Eaglin DL 6-4 300 Fr. Missouri City, Texas / Ridge Point HS
Was a three-year letterwinner at Ridge Point High School … earned Texas 20-6A first-team all-district honors both his junior and senior seasons … totaled 28 tackles and four TFL along with a 19-yard pick-6 his senior campaign … high school coach was Rick Lafavers.
Coach Wilson on James Eaglin … James is a big inside interior defensive lineman. He’s an inside gap guy. He’s strong, has a big frame and is very disruptive on the inside. He’s a big plugger, physical interior defensive line prospect.
Jahrid Hughes WR 6-3 185 Fr. Fort Worth, Texas / Timber Creek HS
Was a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter at Timber Creek High School … started his junior and senior seasons at receiver and his sophomore and senior seasons in the defensive secondary … caught 55 passes for 750 yards and seven TDs in his final two seasons … played receiver and cornerback … named all-District 4-6A second team as a senior … had 30 receptions for 485 yards and four TDs as a senior … high school coach was Marshall Williams.
Coach Wilson on Jahrid Hughes … Jahrid is a bigger outside receiver. He has a big frame. He has the capability to make big plays. He’s a big guy who can make over the top plays and be a great outside target.
Matthew Ogunrin WR 6-0 170 Fr. Katy, Texas / Tompkins HS
Was a three-year letterman at Katy Tompkins High School … played receiver and also returned kicks … caught 57 passes for 888 yards and five TDs in his career … had 25 receptions for 296 yards and one TD as a senior … earned second-team all-district honors his senior season … hauled in 17 passes for 375 yards and three TDs his junior season … played his freshman season at Katy Seven Lakes High School … high school coach at Tompkins was Todd McVey.
Coach Wilson on Matthew Ogunrin … Matthew has the size and speed to play outside, but athletic enough to be a slot receiver. He’s pretty dynamic and has big play ability. He’s fast. He shows a lot of speed and athleticism.
Braylin Presley ATH 5-8 170 So-TR Bixby, Okla. / Bixby HS / Oklahoma State
Spent the 2022 season at Oklahoma State … saw limited playing time in seven games as a true freshman … caught five passes for 26 yards and had two carries for three yards … also returned one kickoff for 19 yards … HIGH SCHOOL – Was a four-year letterwinner and starter at Bixby High School … helped lead Bixby to a 49-game winning streak and four Class 6A-II state titles (2018-21) … was a four-star prospect … named the 2021 Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year … earned Tulsa World Oklahoma Player of the Year honors twice … totaled 102 career touchdowns – 75 rushing, 23 receiving and four on returns … rushed for 4,978 yards and 75 touchdowns on 579 carries for an 8.6 average per attempt and 101.6 yards per game in his career … also caught 145 passes for 1,684 yards, 116 average per catch and 23 TDs … totaled 22 100+ yard rushing games in 49 career games played … had 13 career kick returns for 442 yards and a 34.0 average and two TDs … also returned 29 punts for 305 yards a 10.5 average per return and two touchdowns … as a senior, rushed for 1,105 yards, 17 TDs, 10.1-yard average per carry and 92.1 yards per game … also added 665 yards receiving for seven TDs on 56 receptions as a senior … totaled 1,744 rushing yards, 158.5 yards per game, 7.9 yards per carry and 25 TDs his junior campaign … high school coach was Loren Montgomery.
Coach Wilson on Braylin Presley … Braylin is a tremendous, dynamic talent. He’s very good with the ball in his hands. He will come in as a running back but has the ability to play in space and move around. He’s very good in the return game as well. He comes in with a lot of notoriety, and appears to be tremendous young man with great character.
Devin Robinson SAF 6-1 189 Fr. Tulsa, Okla. / Union HS
Was a three-year letterwinner and starter at Union High School … played safety … totaled 72 tackles, including 47 solos, and had four INTs, including two pick sixes his senior season … earned all-district honors … was the District 6AI-2 co-Defensive Player of the Year his senior campaign … had 64 tackles and 5 pickoffs as a junior … had 28 stops as a sophomore … was team captain as a senior … a three-star prospect by 247Sports … high school coach was Kirk Fridrich.
Coach Wilson on Devin Robinson … Devin has really good size and speed. He was very productive and very physical in the defensive secondary. He’ll fit well into our defensive system as we move forward at Tulsa. He was a tremendous player from a great local school. He’s a tremendous early signee for us. I’m glad he’s on board.
Ashton Schumann WR 6-2 180 Fr. League City, Texas / Clear Springs HS
Was a three-year letterwinner and starter at Clear Springs High School … a three-star prospect by 247Sports … was a three-time 24-6A all-district selection … hauled in 80 passes for 1,525 yards and 21 touchdowns in his prep career … had 44 receptions for 798 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior in leading his team to an 8-4 record … caught 30 passes for 560 yards and seven TDs his junior season … high school coach was Anthony Renfro.
Coach Wilson on Ashton Schumann … Ashton will be a mid-year enrollee. He looks to be a very solid receiver and good route runner, who caught it well. He has length to be outside guy. He’s a strong student and looking forward to getting him on campus in January.
Mari Smith WR 6-0 160 Fr. Fort Smith, Ark. / Northside HS
Was a three-year starter at Fort Smith Northside High School … compiled 956 receiving yards and 14 TDs in his final two seasons … caught 28 passes for 528 yards and nine TDs for an 18.9 average per receptions and 88.0 yards per game as a senior … had an 89-yard fumble return for a touchdown during his junior season … also a track star in the state, laying claim to the fastest prep sprinter in Arkansas … was the 200m state champion as a junior … best prep times of 10.60 in the 100m and 21.32 in the 200m … high school football coach was Felix Curry.
Coach Wilson on Mari Smith … Mari is fast and dynamic. I thought he was very productive in high school. He probably has the ability to play multiple receiving positions, in the slot or outside, but a very productive guy. He made a lot of big plays and showed good speed and versatility.
Grayson Tempest ATH 5-11 170 Fr. Tulsa, Okla. / Union HS
Was a three-year letterwinner and starter at Union High School … caught 48 passes for 646 yards and 5 TDs in his first season at receiver as a senior … was the starting quarterback his sophomore and junior seasons … scored as a receiver, rusher, passer, punt returner and kickoff returner as a senior … was team captain as a senior … had 1,216 all-purpose yards with 12 TDs his senior season … helped lead his team to an 11-1 record, district title and the state semifinals as a senior … threw for 1,832 yards and 14 TDs while completing 118-of-225 passes in his two seasons at quarterback … named the 6AI District 2 co-MVP as a senior … earned academic all-state honors in each of his three seasons … high school coach was Kirk Fridrich.
Coach Wilson on Grayson Tempest … Grayson was a high school quarterback who moved to receiver as a senior. He’s really a well-rounded athlete and a very strong student. He’s very fast and dynamic. A great athlete who can play multiple positions, maybe on either side of the ball. He’s a big playmaker and good in the return game with the ball in his hands.
