Gladd Has Offer but More Trips to Come

The news on Saturday that Oklahoma had offered Sallisaw, Okla. offensive guard Garrett Gladd came as a surprise to many who follow Oklahoma's recruiting efforts. But according to the 6-foot-4, 280-pound Gladd there was perhaps no one more surprised than himself when he received the official word from offensive line coach James Patton.

While Gladd knew the Sooners were interested it may have been the timing that truly caught him off guard.

"It surprised me really, I didn't expect to get anything this early," Gladd said. "I got it last Monday, we were out of school that day because of snow. I got it Monday morning and I was kind of shocked it was there.

"The last I had heard the coaches sais they were going to keep evaluating me and watch some more film of mine.

"My first feeling was just shock."

Oklahoma may have been his first offer but Gladd is hoping they won't be his last as he still wants to look around at several programs. And while it would be hard to call his scope narrow, he certainly knows the region in which he'd like to play college football.

"We talked to coach Patton, I told him I am going to still look around and see what other schools send me offers before I make a final decision, I don't want to jump to it and commit. I want to see what I have on the table and then make a thought-out decision," he said.

"There isn't anyone in particular I want to hear from really. I mean Oklahoma State I was wanting to see what the Big 12 and Southern schools and see if they were going to make offers, I'm looking to be at a Southern school a little closer to home."

Among those schools that are 'closer to home' Gladd took a visit to Manhattan, Kan. to have a look at Kansas State on Saturday. The Wildcats did not follow Oklahoma's lead but did manage to make a positive impression on the player currently ranked by SoonerScoop.com as the state's No. 20 prospect.

"It was pretty cool, we got up there and looked around and got to see all of their facilities and met with coach (Bill) Snyder and then met with our position coaches for about 30 minutes," Gladd recalled.

"They didn't really say much about being interested, just wanted me to know they were recruiting me. They didn't say anything about an offer or anything.

"They were saying that in a year or two they are going to graduate some guys and were looking for some guys to help out."

The Wildcats may not have extended an offer but Gladd has hopes that his next junior day trip, this weekend at Oklahoma State, will hold a different ending for him. Either way Gladd is open to all comers and is still waiting to receive more junior day invitations.

"I don't know where I'll visit yet. Kansas State, I just got their invitation to their junior day about two weeks ago. So I guess I may get some here soon," he said. "Oklahoma State's first one was cancelled but I'll be going this week. But other than that, I haven't gotten any more invitations."