Tulsa Union loaded with D-I recruits

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. - Tulsa Union is one of the nation’s top high school programs.

The Redskins aren’t just one of the nation’s best because they win games, it’s also because they produce Division I talent year in and year out.

And this year’s Union team is no exception.

Union is highlighted two of Oklahoma’s top players – defensive linemen Blake Smith and Jared Naylor.

Of the two players, Naylor left the most lasting impression last Friday night in a big victory over Broken Arrow.

Naylor seemed to live in the Tigers’ backfield and he used a number of moves to get to the quarterback, but the one he seemed most effective with was the bull rush.

Naylor would time after time simply out-quick and over-power the man across the line of scrimmage from him. Broken Arrow rarely had time to give the quarterback even three seconds to pass the ball.

The only time that Naylor wouldn’t get to the quarterback would be when he was lined up against Oklahoma commitment Brian Zimpel of Broken Arrow. Those two players seemed to neutralize each other with their strength, size and ability.

Smith also proved to be under-rated as this point by Rivals100.com. Smith had surprising speed, a great motor and nose for the football. He, too, would often spend more time in the Broken Arrow backfield than Broken Arrow’s running backs.

Naylor appears to be more filled out than Smith at this point and he probably passes the eyeball test a little better. But Smith definitely has the look also. If he can add some more muscle then he’s going to be a very solid college player and maybe one of the biggest sleeper pickups in the Midlands for whoever lands him.

Speaking of sleepers, Union has quite a few others players that deserve Division I attention.

If Smith is one of the more under-rated players, then his teammate Jonathan Radford has to be the most under-rated.

Radford, who is a legit 6-foot and 228 pounds, plays middle linebacker for the Redskins. And let’s just say that this kid came to play last Friday night. With his reported 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash, Radford got to the ball no matter where it was on the field.

He was especially impressive rushing the passer in third-down situations and even made some solid plays from his hook zone spot on passing plays.

If you’re a college coach looking for a solid linebacker in this year’s class, then find a way to get in touch with Radford because it’ll be worth your time and effort.

Usman Mahmood of Union also showed signs of being a potential Division I prospect from his offensive guard spot. The first thing that strikes you about Mahmood is his size.

He’s all of 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, and he paved the way for running back Spencer McIllwain to rush for almost 300 yards against Broken Arrow. He still needs to work on his pass protection and get somewhat stronger, but he’s a sleeper prospect that’s bound to get some attention.

Then there are Union’s junior prospects, and they’re quite of few of them. However, defensive lineman Nathan Peterson has to lead the way.

The 6-foot-3, 235 pound Peterson looks like a defensive end, but often lined up inside as a defensive tackle. He was simply too fast and too strong to be blocked. Peterson also lined up on the end in a few passing situations and was able to get to the quarterback several times for a sack.

When he teams with Naylor and Smith, they have to form one of the best defensive line combinations in the entire country.

Coach Bill Blankenship has another promising son on the horizon as a D-I recruit. Junior tight end/defensive end Adam Blankenship is 6-3 and 215 pounds and has a good nose for the football. He should be exciting to watch develop as a junior and into his senior season.

If you’re looking for a chance to see these players in action, one of the best times of the season is going to be next Friday night when Union battles Jenks in it’s annual early-season clash of titans.

Jenks is the six-time defending state champ in Oklahoma and Union is really the only program that has pushed the Trojans during that time period.

Jenks, too, is loaded with Division I prospects, so it should be a recruiting fan’s delight Friday night at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa.