Texas-OU recruiting battles: Ones that mattered the most
It’s Hate Week, and that carries over to recruiting.
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The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners have engaged in bloodbath recruiting battles over the years for many of the top prospects in the Lone Star State.
My early days in this industry brought so many major battles between Mack Brown and Bob Stoops. Stoops and Oklahoma were extremely frustrated that they were winning big on the field in the Cotton Bowl, and Mack Brown was winning many of the recruiting battles inside the state lines.
Inside Texas takes a quick look at ten Texas-OU recruiting battles with major implications.
Earl Campbell, RB, Tyler (Texas) John Tyler, Class of 1973
East Texas has been the center of some memorable Texas-OU recruiting battles. For the Longhorns, this was probably the biggest win. Barry Switzer had just taken over as head coach, and the Sooners would have liked nothing more than to beat out Texas for the best running back in the Lone Star State. Any time there is a Heisman Trophy winner and Hall of Fame player, he will always bat lead off on a list such as this.
Tommie Harris, DT, Killeen (Texas) High, Class of 2001
Like East Texas, Central Texas has been home to some memorable battles for the bluest of blue chips. The Sooners beat out Texas for one of the most explosive defensive tackle prospects to ever come out of Texas. And his presence for the Sooners was immediately felt.
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Derrick Johnson, LB, Waco (Texas) High, Class of 2001
Like Harris, the explosive linebacker was a Central Texas battle between the Longhorns and Sooners. Baylor was on the periphery due to family ties. Simply put, this was considered a “must get” recruit by Mack Brown and staff.
Jamarkus McFarland, DT, Lufkin (Texas) High, Class of 2009
McFarland was a hotly contested recruitment out of East Texas. While McFarland is one of the rare battles that didn’t end up as an NFL player, there was extreme message board warfare with this recruitment. Many Inside Texas members will have their owns thoughts and memories of this recruitment.
Justin Blalock, OG, Plano (Texas) East, Class of 2002
Blalock was a key member of Texas’ No. 1 ranked recruiting class in 2002. A DFW area battle for the 5-star offensive lineman was a huge win for Mack Brown and the Texas staff over Oklahoma and others. Blalock ended up being a key member of the Longhorns’ National Championship team.
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Sergio Kindle, ATH/LB, Dallas (Texas) Woodrow Wilson, Class of 2006
Kindle came out of Woodrow Wilson as a 5-star athlete with a future on defense. To this day, he’s one of the most talented prospects that the Longhorns and Sooners have battled over. This was another huge win for Brown and staff in DFW.
Bryan Pickryl, DE, Jenks (Okla.) High, Class of 2002
Another member of the No. 1 ranked 2002 class. Pickryl picking Texas over Oklahoma coming out of Jenks High after Bob Stoops won the National Championship was a massive win for the Longhorns. This was a 5-star prospect with a career lost to injury, but the recruitment was a shot across the bow by Mack Brown.
Roy Miller, DT, Killeen (Texas) Shoemaker, Class of 2005
After Tommie Harris went from Killeen to Oklahoma, Mack Brown wasn’t about to let Roy Miller head north too. The flip of Miller from Oklahoma to Texas would have sent social media and message boards into a frenzy today.
Tarell Brown, CB, Mesquite (Texas) North Mesquite, Class of 2003
Brown was a hotly contested recruitment out of the DFW area. The borderline 5-star recruit was one of the top cornerbacks in the country, and a player the Longhorns and Sooners coveted. Brown picking Texas the year after North Mesquite linebacker Aaron Harris did the same were huge wins for Mack Brown and staff. And both players have National Championship rings.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Palestine (Texas) High, Class of 2004
Peterson is on here because it was an engaged recruitment among fan bases. The Longhorns eventually fell behind Oklahoma, Texas A&M and USC (wasn’t going there) for various reasons. But Peterson’s recruitment certainly lit up message boards. Any time the No. 1 ranked prospect in the country from Texas goes to Oklahoma, they will make the list.
