The University of Tulsa added nine high school seniors to its 2023 recruiting class, bringing the total number of prep newcomers to 16, it was announced today by first-year Tulsa head coach Kevin Wilson. Tulsa also added eight transfers at mid-semester to bring the total count of scholarship newcomers to 24.
Seven transfers and one December high school signee joined the Golden Hurricane team at mid-semester.
Among the nine February signees, five are on the defensive side of the ball, three on offense and one athlete. In all, Tulsa added 14 on defense, eight on offense and two athletes to this year’s signing class. A total of nine Oklahomans, including seven from the Tulsa area, and nine from the state of Texas join the Hurricane roster.
“We’re excited about filling out our first recruiting class with these nine student-athletes. We were able to address what we see as some of our needs going forward, while adding quality young men who are good students,” said Wilson. “It’s important for us to have a solid presence in the city of Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma and still have a regional reach within a 5-6 hour radius of Tulsa and that’s pretty much where we landed with this group.”
Today’s signees consist of four each from the states of Oklahoma and Texas and one from Arkansas. Local signees – offensive lineman Bennett Ringleb from Union High School and Owasso defensive lineman Tyler Rich – are joined by fellow Oklahoman’s –– Choctaw defensive linemen R.J. Jackson and Cushing athlete Cam Crooks.
Ringleb earned first-team all-state honors, while Rich recorded 60 total tackles, 24 TFL and 15 QB pressures his senior season for the Rams. Crooks was named to the 2022 MaxPreps Small Town All-America High School first team after totaling 67 receptions for 1,528 yards and 23 TDs, while adding 46 tackles with four interceptions from his secondary position. Jackson was the Class 6A-II District II Defensive Lineman of the Year.
The Texas signees are defensive lineman Reeves Baller (Liberty Christian Argyle HS), offensive lineman Kasen Carpenter (Allen HS), linebacker Elijah Wilson (Duncanville HS) and tight end Luke McGary (Plano Prestonwood Christian HS).
Baller, Carpenter and McGary each earned all-state honors, while Wilson earned first-team all-district honors in helping lead Duncanville to an overall 15-0 record and the Texas 6A Division I state championship. Baller was named the District Defensive MVP, Carpenter earned District 5-6A Offensive Line MVP accolades and McGary led his team in receiving from his tight end position with 41 receptions for 503 yards.
Defensive back C.J. Turner comes to Tulsa from Star City High School in Arkansas, where he earned Class 4A all-state honors his senior season.
2023 Tulsa Football Signees
FEBRUARY HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES (9)
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown / Previous School
Reeves Baller DL 6-6 215 Fr-HS Argyle, Texas / Liberty Christian
Kasen Carpenter OL 6-3 275 Fr-HS Allen, Texas / Allen
Cam Crooks ATH 6-1 185 Fr-HS Cushing, Okla. / Cushing
R.J. Jackson DL 6-4 240 Fr-HS Choctaw, Okla. / Choctaw
Luke McGary TE 6-3 225 Fr-HS Plano, Texas / Prestonwood Christian
Tyler Rich DL 6-3 290 Fr-HS Owasso, Okla. / Owasso
Bennett Ringleb OL 6-5 275 Fr-HS Tulsa, Okla. / Union
C.J. Turner DB6-1 210 Fr-HS Star City, Ark. / Star City
Elijah Wilson LB 6-0 210 Fr-HS Duncanville, Texas / Duncanville
DECEMBER HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES (7)
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown / Previous School
James Eaglin DL 6-4 300 Fr-HS Missouri City, Texas / Ridge Point
Jahrid Hughes WR 6-3 185 Fr-HS Fort Worth, Texas / Timber Creek
Matthew Ogunrin WR 6-0 170 Fr-HS Katy, Texas / Tompkins
Devin Robinson DB 6-1 189 Fr-HS Tulsa, Okla. / Union
Ashton Schumann# WR 6-2 180 Fr-HS League City, Texas / Clear Springs
Mari Smith WR 6-0 160 Fr-HS Fort Smith, Ark. / Northside
Grayson Tempest ATH 5-11 170 Fr-HS Tulsa, Okla. / Union
MID-SEMESTER SIGNEES/TRANSFERS (8)
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown / Previous School
Zaid Hamden# DL 6-0 255 Gr-TR Mason, Ohio / William Mason / SIU
Adrian Huey# DB 6-0 172 So-TR Nashville, Tenn. / Hillsboro / Kentucky
Demarco Jones DB 6-0 185 Gr-TR Tulsa, Okla. / BT Washington / Oklahoma State
Keuan Parker# DB 5-11 178 So-TR Tulsa, Okla. / BT Washington / Arkansas
Julien Simon# LB 6-1 230 So-TR Tacoma, Wash. / Lincoln / USC
Coleton Smith# LB 6-2 230 Gr-TR Appleton City, Mo. /Appleton City / SW Baptist
Kanion Williams# DB 6-0 190 Gr-TR Dallas, Texas / South Oak Cliff / Oklahoma State
Braylin Presley# RB 5-8 170 So-TR Bixby, Okla. / Bixby / Oklahoma State
#Enrolled in January 2023
TULSA’S FEBRUARY SIGNEE BIOS
Reeves Baller DL 6-6 215 Fr-HS Argyle, Texas / Liberty Christian Argyle
Was a two-year letterwinner and starter at Liberty Christian Argyle High School … totaled 177 tackles, 71 TFL, 27 sacks, blocked three punts, recovered four fumbles and forced two fumbles in his career … helped lead his team to a 10-2 record, area championship and state quarterfinals his senior campaign … earned first-team TAPPS 5A all-state and all-district honors as defensive end … recorded 100 tackles with 38 TFL, 18 sacks and 32 quarterback hurries during his senior season … was named the District Defensive MVP as a senior … earned academic all-state accolades … was a two-time state of Texas prep wrestling champion and placed ninth at nationals his senior season … posted a 95-14 record in three years wrestling … high school coach was Dallas Cowboys great Jason Witten.
Kasen Carpenter OL 6-3 275 Fr-HS Allen, Texas / Allen
Played his senior season at Allen High School … spent his first three seasons at Midlothian Heritage High School … was a first-team all-state selection his senior season … earned District 5-6A Offensive Line MVP accolades as a senior … high school coach was Lee Wiginton.
Cam Crooks ATH 6-1 185 Fr-HS Cushing, Okla. / Cushing
Played receiver and defensive back at Cushing High School … had career totals of 271 catches for 4,713 yards and 44 touchdowns … had 60 career touchdowns, including five touchdowns on punt returns and one on a kickoff return as a senior … on defense, had 272 tackles and 16 interceptions in his career … had 67 catches for 1,528 yards and 23 TDs plus 46 tackles with four interceptions as a senior … was named to the 2022 MaxPreps Small Town All-America High School first team … selected as the Prep Redzone Oklahoma Class 4A Player of the Year as a senior … was the Prep Redzone Career Achievement Award Winner … earned OCA All State East Team honors as a senior … caught seven passes for 101 yards and two TDs, while scoring twice on punt returns against Blanchard, and had seven tackles plus a fumble recovery on defense as a senior … caught 93 passes for 1,624 yards and 21 TDs his junior campaign … came up with nine turnovers on five interceptions and four fumble recoveries on defense, while totaling 81 tackles his junior campaign … was the Stillwater News Press All-Area Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year after his junior season … was a two-time 300m hurdle state champion … also placed first in state in the 181-pound powerlifting division as a junior … high school football coach was Rusty Morgan.
R.J. Jackson DL 6-4 240 Fr-HS Choctaw, Okla. / Choctaw
Played tight end and defensive end at Choctaw High School … totaled 21 TFL, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions his senior campaign … was named to The Oklahoman’s Big All-City first team as a senior … was the Class 6A-II District II Defensive Lineman of the Year… named to the OCA All-State West Roster … ranked No. 16 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 postseason rankings of the state’s top high school recruits in the 2023 class … high school coach was Jake Corbin.
Luke McGary TE 6-3 225 Fr-HS Plano, Texas / Prestonwood Christian
Played linebacker and tight end at Prestonwood Christian High School … caught a team-leading 41 passes for 503 yards and three TDs his senior season … earned TAPPS all-state and first-team all-district honors on offense and defense … was an academic all-state selection … had 136 tackles, 12 TFL and nine pass breakups as a junior … high school coach was Donnie Yantis.
Tyler Rich DL 6-3 290 Fr-HS Owasso, Okla. / Owasso
Was a three-year starter at Owasso High School … totaled 121 career tackles, 36 tackles for lost yardage and 10 sacks … helped the Rams reach the Class 6A-I state title game as a senior … recorded 60 total tackles, 36 solos, 24 TFL, six sacks and 15 QB pressures his senior season … earned OCA All State East Team honors as a senior … high school coach was Bill Blankenship.
Bennett Ringleb OL 6-5 275 Fr-HS Tulsa, Okla. / Union
Was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at Union High School … started at left offensive tackle … earned first-team all-state honors by The Oklahoman his senior season … helped his team post a 31-6 record in his three years as a starter … high school coach was Kirk Fridrich.
C.J. Turner DB 6-1 210 Fr-HS Star City, Ark. / Star City
Played at Star City High School … earned Class 4A all-state honors his senior season … was a three-star rating by 247Sports … one of his top games as a senior offensively was when he rushed 15 times for 202 yards and three TDs against Monticello … defensively, he totaled 11 tackles, two TFL and two sacks vs. Hamburg … also had 126 rushing yards and two TDs, while compiling four tackles, three QB hurries and one fumble recovery vs. Dumas … played in only four games as a junior due to a knee injury … was committed to Colorado from April to December of 2022 … high school coach was Chris Vereen.
Elijah Wilson LB 6-0 210 Fr-HS Duncanville, Texas / Duncanville
Played linebacker at Duncanville High School … earned first-team all- District 11-6A honors as a senior … was a second-team academic all-state selection his senior campaign … helped lead his team to an overall 15-0 record and 6A Division I state championship his senior season … high school coach was Reginald Samples.
TULSA’S DECEMBER HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEE BIOS
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.
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.
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.
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 … ranked No. 29 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 Recruit rankings … Oklahoman’s 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.
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.
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.
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.
MID-SEMESTER SIGNEES/TRANSFERS (8)
Zaid Hamden DL 6-0 255 Gr-TR Mason, Ohio / William Mason / SIU
Comes to Tulsa from Southern Illinois … spent the 2021 season at James Madison after graduating from Ohio State, where he spent three seasons … played in five games and record five tackles, one TFL and one pass breakup at JMU … spent the 2018-20 seasons at Ohio State … played in five career games at OSU … red-shirted in 2018 … played in three games in 2019 and two in 2020 … was named as an OSU Scholar-Athlete in 2019 and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2020 … HIGH SCHOOL – Earned all-Ohio honors as a junior and senior at William Mason High School … earned all-region and all-conference honors as a junior and senior … had 45 tackles, 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble as a senior … was also a prep wrestler, winning the sectional championship and qualifying for the state meet at 285 pounds.
Adrian Huey DB 6-0 172 So-TR Nashville, Tenn. / Hillsboro / Kentucky
Comes to Tulsa following two seasons at Kentucky …red-shirted in 2021 and did not see action in 2022 … was a 2021-22 SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient … HIGH SCHOOL – Was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starting cornerback at Hillsboro High School … was a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports … ranked as the No. 23 player in the state of Tennessee and the No. 72 cornerback nationally by 247Sports … named to the 2020 preseason second-team all-Tennessee by MaxPreps.com …
Demarco Jones DB 6-0 185 Gr-TR Tulsa, Okla. / BT Washington / OSU
Transferring to Tulsa from Oklahoma State … will enroll following his spring semester at OSU … spent four years at Oklahoma State … was an important special teams contributor who has also rotated in on defense and made several impactful plays during his career … played in 31 career games … had 20 career tackles … played in eight games in 2022 and totaled seven tackles and had one pass breakup … HIGH SCHOOL – Played his prep football at Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington High School … credited with 21 tackles as a senior before a shoulder injury ended his prep career in mid-October … recorded 25 tackles, two interceptions and 16 pass breakups during his junior season … helped guide BTW to the Oklahoma Class 6A-II state title in 2017 … in the championship game, he tallied 19 tackles and an interception on defense and caught eight passes for 135 yards and a receiving touchdown on offense … rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … slotted as the 10th-best player in the state of Oklahoma by 247Sports and ESPN … ESPN ranked him as the No. 68 cornerback in the 2019 recruiting class … ranked No. 10 in The Oklahoman’s Super 30 recruit rankings.
Keuan Parker DB 5-11 178 So-TR Tulsa, Okla. / BT Washington / Arkansas
Comes to Tulsa after spending two years at Arkansas, redshirting in 2021 and playing in five games during the 2022 season … saw action against Cincinnati, Mississippi State, BYU, Auburn and LSU … had one tackle, coming against BYU … HIGH SCHOOL – Was touted as one of the top overall recruits in Oklahoma in 2020 coming out of Booker T. Washington High School … played corner and strong safety … had 94 tackles and six interceptions in his prep career … consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … rated the No. 2 player in Oklahoma by Rivals and No. 10 by 247Sports … rated the No. 32 cornerback in his class by 247Sports … ranked No. 8 on the Oklahoman’s Super 30 list.
Braylin Presley RB 5-8 170 So-TR Bixby, Okla. / Bixby / Oklahoma State
Comes to Tulsa after spending 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.
Julien Simon LB 6-1 230 So-TR Tacoma, Wash. / Lincoln / USC
Comes to Tulsa after two seasons at Southern Cal … played in a total of five games … redshirted in 2021, but saw action in the BYU and Cal games … played in three games in 2022 … made the 2021 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll … HIGH SCHOOL –Made the2020PrepStar Dream Team and Southern California News Group Fab 15 second teamas a senior linebacker, wide receiver and running back at Lincoln High School … was a Max Preps Junior All-America second teamin 2019, when he tallied 55 tackles, with five TFL and two sacks, four interceptions (2 for TDs), 10 deflections and a fumble recovery on defense … also had 83 receptions for 1,033 yards (12.4 avg) with 12 TDs and 38 carries for 182 yards with 7 TDs on offense … made theMax Preps Sophomore All-America first teamin 2018.
Coleton Smith LB 6-2 230 Gr-TR Appleton City, Mo. /Appleton City / SW Baptist
A graduate transfer from Southwest Baptist University … led his team in tackles both his junior and senior seasons … totaled 287 career tackles, 10.5 TFL for -101 yards and 13 QB hurries … had a team-high 93 tackles, including 53 solos, in his senior season … earned first-team all-Great Lakes Valley Conference performer as a senior … was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Division II player of the year award as a junior in 2021 … led all NCAA Division II schools in 2021 with 161 stops … also added 11 QB hurries, five TFL for -46 yards, two sacks, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles in his junior season … was named an AFCA second-team All-American in 2021 … was also a first-team all-region and second-team all-conference selection as a junior … his first season at Southwest Baptist was 2017 as a true freshman walk-on … HIGH SCHOOL – Played his prep football at Appleton City High School.
Kanion Williams DB 6-0 190 Gr-TR Dallas, Texas / South Oak Cliff / Oklahoma St.
Transferred to Tulsa after spending five seasons at Oklahoma State … was an outstanding performer on special teams and also rotated in on defense … voted a team captain by his teammates in 2021 … played in 45 career games at OSU … played in six games and tallied six tackles in 2022 … played a vital role on OSU’s special teams units in 2021, playing all 14 games … credited with seven tackles on the year … played in 11 games as a sophomore in 2020 and finished the season with 11 total tackles … saw action in nine games, primarily on special teams as a redshirt freshman in 2019 … tied for the team lead with six tackles on kickoffs in 2019 … redshirted as a true freshman in 2018, but played in four games … HIGH SCHOOL – Played his prep football at South Oak Cliff High School … recorded 32 total tackles, 24 solos, and tallied three tackles for loss as a senior in 2017 … also defended four passes in just seven games played … racked up 62 total tackles, including 34 solo stops, during his junior campaign … earned a three-star rating by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports … ESPN listed him as the No. 35 safety in the 2018 recruiting class.
