The Tulsa Golden Hurricane have gotten stronger and stronger as a team over the past few seasons under the guidance of Steve Kragthorpe and first year head coach Todd Graham.
One reason for their sustained success has been their ability to recruit the best talent in the “Sooner State” to stay at home and represent the team out on the field.
They kept up the hot pace by landing their first commitment towards their 2009 recruiting efforts when Brian DeShane, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound offensive lineman from Union High pulled the trigger on an early declaration.
“It was more about the school and the education,” DeShane explained. “It was also the fact that TU is on the uprising with the football program and the facilities. There is a real good feeling at TU.”
“We have not really talked about red-shirting or anything like that. I know they only have on senior returning along the offensive line next year and they are the top in the country as far as offense is concerned. I will play guard or help out however the team needs me.”
The relationship between Tulsa and Union High has traditionally been a strong one, and now that former Redskin head man Bill Blankenship is an assistant coach on the staff that relationship will most likely become stronger and stronger.
“There has been a lot of Union guys come through there,” DeShane said. “It is awesome how eople go through the school and get great jobs. It is just an awesome place to be.”
DeShane is fresh off of a solid performance at the U.S. Army Combine where he more than held his own in the one-on-one portion of the event.
“It was so much fun,” DeShane informed of the experience. “I got to go up against some of the top guys in the nation. I thought I did pretty good. I held my own in the one-on-ones. Technique wise I feel like I was one of the best out there.”