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NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Oklahoma signed four receivers as part of a top 25 class on Wednesday, a step the Sooners hope returns them to college football's elite.
Oklahoma opened last season ranked No. 4 but finished out of the Top 25. Since then, the Sooners have fired co-offensive coordinators Josh Heupel and Jay Norvell and hired Lincoln Riley to step in.
Riley now has some options for his pass-happy Air Raid system.
John Humphrey is a 160-pound speedster who passed up offers from Notre Dame, Clemson, Baylor and others. Dede Westbrook, a transfer from Blinn Community College, led the nation's junior college ranks with 1,487 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Dahu Green, a 6-5 leaper from Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City, caught 14 touchdowns as a senior. A.D. Miller, from Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas, used his 6-3 frame to haul in 18 touchdown passes last season.
''The direction changed midway through, after the holidays and in the last two weeks,'' Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. ''In the end, we wanted to get more speed and quickness in some of the inside spots. And then we had a couple of guys that could go up and get the ball outside as well.''
The top overall addition, linebacker Ricky DeBerry of Mechanicsville, Virginia, is considered one of the nation's top overall recruits.
''More of an outside guy, rusher, but a cover guy, great tackler,'' Stoops said.
Neville Gallimore of the Canada Prep Football Academy in St. Catherine's, Ontario, Canada, is the Sooners' top offensive line pickup. The junior is one of four additions on the line.
Stoops acknowledged that the Sooners have been thin in the secondary the past few years. He felt that need was addressed with six players who Stoops says comprises the best group he's recruited in his 16 years at the school.
''We got players at every position that we needed,'' Stoops said. ''I felt we hit our target on numbers to start camp next year at the right numbers, really, at every position.''
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OKLAHOMA
Top 25 Class: Yes
Best in class: Ricky DeBerry, LB, Mechanicsville, Va.
Best of the rest: Neville Gallimore, OL, St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada.
Late addition: Prentice McKinney, db, Dallas.
One that got away: Josh Wariboko-Alali, OL, Oklahoma City (UCLA).
