David Oku finally admitted what most recruiting experts have been saying all along. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound tailback from Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Okla., confirmed his decision to play for football for Tennessee on Sunday.
Oku is widely considered one of the top 100 prospects in the nation. He’s the second running back in that group that the Vols have a pledge from for the 2009 signing class, along with Jarvis Giles from Gaither High in Tampa, Fla.
Oku was long thought to be strongly leaning to UT, if not silently committed months ago.
Oku scheduled a press conference in September but canceled it just days before. Oku said he wanted to wait to announce his decision in order to wait for his father to return home from serving in Iraq in October.
UT now has 19 verbal commitments for the 2009 class.
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Comments » 97
tnbigg writes:
Welcome to UT! Make a difference!
pammyvol1000 writes:
Wa-hooooooooooooo!
pammyvol1000 writes:
I'm surprised Savage did not make it official first..
Where is Savage?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Come on young man, wear the Orange.
tnbigg writes:
He posted it last night...
mempuss writes:
Welcome to the Big Orange Nation David!
fltapout writes:
Has anyone seen this guy play? Is he as good as everyone says? If so, he should make an immediate impact.
TDTN writes:
This guy is supposed to be outstanding. I am concerned with his academics though. GPA and ACT are very low. Rivals has our class of running backs as #1 for the SEC. They have been counting him as a Vol for several weeks. Any word on Marlon Brown? There are a couple of good QB's still available. The guy who backed out of WV would be a good one to get.
tnvol27#546179 writes:
Successful college programs need 2 or 3 solid backs..J Giles should be complimented to have this guy as well. Great possible tandum for the future!!!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
In the words of George Washington, "Yes!"
Urbiewerecomingtogetyou writes:
pammy:I believe Savage reported this yesterday!!
pammyvol1000 writes:
oh.. I'm always a day late..lol! I ppv the game and I can tell you that I am hate it when they cut into game time to do commercials.
huntined#565710 writes:
Looks like this may be one of our best classes in a long time..
andy112382#209793 writes:
Great pick up! Another DT or two and Morgan Moses would be awesome! As that one article on here pointed out, amazing job on recruiting despite how the season is going.
thesavageorange writes:
pammyvol1000 ,
tnbigg and coach are right.I posted it last night during the game.
TDTN,
I think UGA has atleast pulled even w/ us on Brown.The Nunes de-commitment hurt.However , I think if we can land Boyd then we move back in front.
hotrodvol writes:
Thanks Savage,for keeping us in the know. OKU great, awsome, are we going to get a top QB next?
thesavageorange writes:
hotrodvol ,
No problem.I think we get either Boyd or Newsome.
jlight#347852 writes:
Great. Another player who probably will struggle to even pass enough classes to remain eligible.
hotrodvol writes:
Has anyone got a link or info on Boyd, I don't no much about him.
utchris writes:
Brown is not going to announce until signing day. He visited Ohio State two weeks ago. Five schools are in on it, but it is seeming like a two horse race between UGA and UT. His official visit to UT will come a couple of days before signing day when he visits for the UT-Florida basketball game.
gotnmann1#216421 writes:
Nothing that wasn't already widely known in the OKC, OK area...welcome to the Orange and White Big man...I love your style bring it to the next level!
vol2211insc writes:
Savage is the man....I'm excited about this recruiting class! I think it shows that the vols still get looked at. I think its great to get this guy from Oklahoma because if you notice with Meachem, G. Jones, and now Oku we can create a pipeline. Lets try and keep it up!!!
ncvol writes:
Great news...
Go Vols !!
HilltopperVolPhi608 writes:
Savage,
Are you talking about Kevin Newsome, the QB from Hargrave? When I looked on rivals, he doesn't even have Tennessee on his list. I was just curious what your source was.
threehundredbowler writes:
Let UT coaches recruit. Then we, the fans,will tell them how they should be coached and when they are ready to play.
trap2240#1340138 writes:
i wish him luck
Go4Two writes:
Seems like a lot of recruits like our current coaching staff. GO BIG ORANGE
Looks like Big Albert got bama week off to a fast start knocking out Brodie Croyle.
ctownvol writes:
S-W-E-E-T! Finally. Some good news. How's Bigg?
pms151 writes:
If this is all the good news there is....well you get my point. Once again Bama will be news on the Hill.
spvol writes:
A tip of my Big Orange cap to you for your observation!
TommyJack writes:
Savage: What's the skinny on Warren?
Does Oku not know he won't get any PT for 3-4 years under CPF's system? :)
thesavageorange writes:
HilltopperVolPhi608 ,
yes.That list hasn't been updated since he de-commited.I'm not saying we are on top, but our QB situation has him intrigued.I think we will be in his top 5 when he widdles it down over the next couple of weeks, but Penn State & Va Tech will be tough to beat.Sometimes you don't need a source if you know what I mean.
murrayvol writes:
Yeah, but can he hit the curveball?
pammyvol1000 writes:
Savage.. I thought Bruce was helping us with Marlon. Is he out of that now that the season is getting started?
I thought he was pretty much leaning more toward TN.
thesavageorange writes:
TommyJack , could you be more specific?I'm not exactly sure what you are asking.I've been working on a halloween project for my son's school and my brain is a little numb.
pammy,I still think in the end BP is our trump card.A top level QB like Boyd or Newsome would almost seal it IMO.
TommyJack writes:
I mean something hinky is going on with respect to Warren and his lack of PT. Are there issues we don't know about? thanks
thesavageorange writes:
TJ,
check your e-mail.
utvolz#637682 writes:
Great because CBP's Vols will continue to DOMINATE the Gators! Welcome to the Big Orange Nation and I'm glad your dad made it back home safe and sound from Iraq!
Frank in Manchester, TN!
TommyJack writes:
Thanks. BTW, how's the website coming along?
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Welcome to the family David. Can't wait to see you shreading defenses for the big orange! Go Vols!!!
thesavageorange writes:
TommyJack ,
it's actually in the works.I have to find some mods to help out to keep it fresh, but other than that it is still in the works.I even have a couple of sponsors lined up.Not promising anything yet , but things look good so far.
TNfaninMS writes:
Savage - always great to hear from you on this site. Anything else going on in the recruiting front? Anyone else set to make UT home in the near future?
TommyJack writes:
Excellent. Keep us posted about it.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Just and FYI on Toney Williams our commit from Milton High. He is the talk of the town. He is a beast!! He's listed as a 3*** but I can tell you that should change by year end.
TNfaninMS writes:
I know devonte holloman is on the market again, but with stephon gilmore comitting to SC does that have any bearing to what he will do?
luvorange writes:
I would think one thing that would excite these kids is how they could ignite the fan base. Our fans are starved for big time playmakers on the field, like Eric Berry. At some of these other schools, Georgia, Bama, they would have to wait a bit as compared with us. We need them NOW as in yesterday!
orangecountry21 writes:
Like Branden Smith, Morgan Moses, Chris Bonds, etc;
thesavageorange writes:
TNfaninMS,
I'm working on who might pull next, but it may take a few days.Devonte has pretty much ruled us out citing that he fears we are in a similar situation that Clemson is in w/ all the talk of a coaching change and he doesn't want to go through that again.Now, a win against the mighty Tide might change the perception of that situation.He really ,really likes UT , but would have to be reassured that CPF will be here.
pammyvol1000 ,
excellent observation.Williams is a load.Although I think there is a good possibility he's a LB in college.
thesavageorange writes:
orangecountry21 ,
Bonds- UT, ND, and UA.He will be here this weekend so I will know more after that.
Moses- We are still out in front.Will also be here this weekend.
Smith- I think UGA has the lead followed by UF,FSU, and UT.Clemson was in the mix, but the coaching change made him change his mind.Will also be here this weekend.
In other words, we need to play well.
TNfaninMS writes:
Savage - Looking at our offensive line play the last couple of weeks, do you think we have a shot at landing some other great offensive lineman like Peter White and others.
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