Sooners Get Big Help from New Orleans

Oklahoma's run in New Orleans continued on Wednesday night.

Less than a week from Oklahoma's crucial win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl the Sooners grabbed their second big win, this one quite literal, in the crescent city, when New Orleans St. Augustine offensive lineman Joseph Paul committed to Oklahoma defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery on Wednesday evening.

Paul, who Oklahoma was on last spring prior to his commitment to Florida, reemerged on Oklahoma's radar just before Christmas and visited one of the Sooners practices in New Orleans prior to their 45-31 victory.

Ever since that visit he has stayed in frequent contact with Montgomery and things finally came together fully on Wednesday night.

"I just now did it. I knew where I wanted to go and I talked to my coach and I told coach that I would call coach (Bob) Stoops and he sounded excited," Paul said.

"He was excited, he was real excited. He was real pumped up even though it was late there. It was a great experience, I got a lot of love when I was out there at practice and that's part of why I was so sure about Oklahoma - I could tell they wanted me there."

"I went to one practice but coach Montgomery he keeps checking up on me, we talk about every other day. Coach Montgomery he has been recruiting me pretty hard. I know that's where I want to be."

To have the decision made is a great cause of relaxation for the 6-foot-4, 340-pound offensive lineman who at one time or another has held offers from not only Florida but Texas, Florida State, Texas, and Texas A&M among many others.

"It's a big relief off my shoulders, I feel a big old relief. I can just focus on getting in shape and for when I get there (in June)," the 3.0 student said. "I talked to coach Montgomery, he was the first one I called, he was real pumped up and said he wanted to get me on the phone which coach Stoops. We talked for about 10-15 minutes. He let me know how much he loved it and how much of an impact I was going to make."

The offensive lineman has the size to potentially play outside but the frame that could quite easily handle playing on the interior of the offensive line.

"Coach Stoops says he loves my athletic ability. He thinks I can easily get to the second level and play outside. I'm just working to get into shape, even though I'm pretty agile; I want to get even more so."