UCO head coach Nick Bobeck leads his team on the field before a game last season. Bobeck signed his sixth recruiting class Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. [UCO Photo Services]
EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma football team Wednesday received national letters of intent from 24 high school football players across three states who have committed to play at UCO next fall.
Head coach Nick Bobeck tabbed 16 from Oklahoma, seven from Texas, and one from Arkansas among a group that was slightly more offense-oriented. Bobeck has 14 offensive players and 10 defensive in this his sixth recruiting class at Central.
"This is always an exciting time of year because you get to see a glimpse of the future," Bobeck said. "It is an honor to recruit great kids and families into our UCO football family. We are excited about this group of young men that signed today.
"The process of putting together a quality class takes the entire university community. Obviously, our coaches have done a great job of evaluating and building trusting relationships with these student athletes, their families, and high school coaches."
Bobeck wanted to thank the following people for their help in the various processes of this year's class.
Compliance – Darnell Smith and Jeremy Rogers
NCAA Eligibility Office – Jake Hillemeyer
Athletic Aid & Student Success – Drew Duke & Reggie Jordan
Marketing – Brandon Baker
Sports Information – Chris Brannick
Leadership Central – Jarrett Jobe, Laura Butler, and Jakey Dobbs
Tutoring Central – Blaize Dicus, Darla Sherman, Brian McKinney, Nick Brush, & Carl Tyler
Football Team – Our team plays a very important role in the recruiting process. Whether it be hosting recruits on their official visit or participating in the player panel.
"We feel this is a complete class that addressed needs and will create competition," Bobeck continued. "Every year our goal in recruiting is to sign kids that fit our programs core values and the university community.
"We believe that we have done that while also getting the long flexible kids that will develop throughout their time at UCO. This is the most athletic and versatile group that we have signed. Their development over the course of their degree will be fun to watch. We are looking forward to them joining the outstanding group of student athletes that are already on campus."
Here is a complete look at the future Bronchos.
2017 UCO Signing Class
Vaughn Appleman, DE, 6-7, 240, Ada, Okla. (Ada)
Big defensive lineman who earned All-District, Oklahoma Coaches Association All Star, and All-Southeast Football from Vype Magazine … Had a blocked punt in a game as a senior, which he then scooped up and took back for a touchdown.
Coach Bobeck: He is a surprisingly athletic big body that played in space quite a bit his senior year. We love his upside and believe his best football is still in front of him as he develops in the weight room.
Casey Base, QB, 6-2, 208, Oologah, Okla. (Oologah)
A quarterback made for the Broncho offense … Threw for 5,954 yards and 64 touchdowns at Oologah High School … Threw for 2,680 yards and 29 TDs as a senior … Earned All-District Offensive Player of the Year, All-Conference, and All-State as a senior … Led Oologah to the state championship game as a senior with a 12-2 record … Also lettered in basketball and track & field.
Coach Bobeck: A player that has a descent amount of polish to him. He had a great deal of success throughout his high school career. We feel our offensive scheme fits Casey's skill set well.
Daniel Baughman, S, 6-3, 165, Frisco, Texas (Independence)
Talented defensive back who can play strong against both the run and the pass ... Made 110 tackles as a senior and broke up seven passes ... Earned All-District ... Also lettered in baseball and track & field.
Coach Bobeck: Daniel is a long athletic kid that really came on as a senior. We love his range against the run and pass. He is another athlete that we feel will play his best football in college.
Trenton Bell, RB, 6-1, 205, Duncan, Okla. (Duncan)
Big presence in the back field and a bruising running back … Scored 39 touchdowns at Duncan … Ran for almost six yards per carry as a senior for Duncan with 805 yards and 13 touchdowns … All-District running back and all-star running back as a senior.
Coach Bobeck: A big physical back that can finish. He has a knack for always having a foot in the ground with his gliding running style. A very clean fit to our offensive scheme.
Broc Berus, LB, 6-0, 210, Springdale, Ark. (Shiloh Christian)
Strong defender who can play multiple positions for the Bronchos … All-State selection and First-Team All-Conference for Shiloh Christian … Made 117 tackles and made one interception last season, and also picked up one fumble recovery which he took back for a touchdown … Also lettered in basketball and track & field.
Coach Bobeck: A coach's kid that has a nice feel for the game and plays the correct way. He displays outstanding range and physicality at a variety of positions.
Hunter Capehart • RB, 6-0, 200, Sallisaw, Okla. (Sallisaw)
Class 4A-4 running back of the year in 2016 and a Southwest Times All-Area player from Sallisaw … Rushed for 3,403 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior for the Black Diamonds … Totaled 519 all-purpose yards in a game against Metro Christian last season … Also a four-year letterman in baseball.
Coach Bobeck: Another big bodied back that can run. He plays with good pad level and physicality. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield adds a dimension to his game.
Seth Carmack, OL, 6-2, 265, Yukon, Okla. (Bethany)
Talented big body that will play offensive line for the Bronchos … All-Star and Class 4A-2 Defensive Player of the Year … Oklahoman Little All-City as an offensive lineman and Oklahoman All-State honorable mention … Multi-sport standout who played soccer, track & field, basketball, baseball, and competed in powerlifting.
Coach Bobeck: An athletic lineman that will play inside for us. He possesses outstanding strength and mobility that allows him to maintain blocks on the first and second level.
Kaine Carraway, S, 6-2, 175, Mineral Wells, Texas (Mineral Wells)
Disruptive defensive back from Mineral Wells, Texas … Made 224 career tackles and picked off nine passes … A two-time First-Team All-District selection in Class 4A … Also earned First-team All-State … Owns a school record 94-yard interception return.
Coach Bobeck: Another long rangy athlete with a high ceiling. His ball skills and ability to close on the ball carrier make him a complete player.
Saboor Daniels, WR, 6-1, 175, Tulsa, Okla. (Tulsa Central)
Talented athlete with a 1,000 yard rushing season as a junior and a 1,000 yard passing season as a senior … Big playmaker scored a 75-yard touchdown run in a game last season … Also lettered in basketball and was a state champion with Tulsa Central … Track & Field star earned a state runner up finish.
Coach Bobeck: A raw athlete that will play receiver for us. He's very talented with the ball in his hands and is a problem in space.
Sevin Franklin, DL, 6-2, 250, Ardmore, Okla. (Ardmore)
Disruptive defender from Ardmore who brings a powerful push to the defensive line … Earned All-District as a senior … Also lettered in basketball and track & field.
Coach Bobeck: Sevin is a flexible kid with outstanding raw strength. He played both sides of the ball in high school and will really develop when he's able to concentrate on one side of the ball.
Mekail Hall, WR, 6-4, 180, Oklahoma City, Okla. (John Marshall)
Playmaker wide receiver from John Marshall High School in Oklahoma City … Caught 50 passes as a senior for 895 yards and 10 touchdowns … All-District Wide Receiver of the Year and Oklahoman All-State honorable mention as a senior … Also a letterman in basketball and an Oklahoman All-City selection.
Coach Bobeck: A big long athlete with outstanding ball skills. With his unique size he will have the ability to separate in his routes.
Micah Hutchins, DT, 6-1, 255, Ada, Okla. (Ada)
Another big defensive lineman that pushes opponents backward … All-State selection and the Class 4A-2 Defensive Player of the Year … Made 119 tackles during his senior season … Also a letterman in wrestling and track & field.
Coach Bobeck: An explosive interior lineman that has the ability to rush the passer. He does a great job of recreating the line of scrimmage and making negative yardage plays.
Noah Ingram, LB/DE, 6-1, 235, Mesquite, Texas (Poteet)
Big time defender from Mesquite, Texas who can play multiple positions … Was an All-District performer in 2015 and 2016, and made All-State in 2016 … Also a regional qualifier in the discus in track & field.
Coach Bobeck: He's a versatile athlete that could play LB or DE when he gets on campus. He has a great motor and plays the game with intensity. He possesses outstanding leadership skills.
Bailey Jarolim, OL, 6-2, 275, Edmond, Okla. (Edmond Memorial)
Coach Bobeck: A local kid that we are really excited about. He is extremely versatile as he played three different positions this year. He has the flexibility and mobility to maintain leverage throughout the block.
Collin Klein, WR, 6-2, 180, Norman, Okla. (North)
Talented wide receiver from Norman who can find the ball with the best of them … Made 49 receptions as a senior and totaled 1,208 yards – an astounding 24.6 yards per catch … Scored 14 touchdowns as well during senior season, scored 20 TDs in his career … Oklahoman All-State honorable mention.
Coach Bobeck: A highly productive player on one of the most explosive offenses in the state. He has a nice feel for the position and does a great job with the ball in the air.
Daunte McGee, HB, 6-4, 220, Yukon, Okla. (Yukon)
Talented athlete with speed adds variety to the offense for the Bronchos … First-team All-Conference and All-District at Yukon … Also lettered in basketball.
Coach Bobeck: A two-way athlete in high school that will transition to a full time offensive player here at UCO. He can run for a big kid and has outstanding ball skills.
Christian Robinson-Moore, WR, 6-1, 175, Noble, Okla. (Noble)
All-State wide receiver is a touchdown machine … Made 72 catches as a senior for the Noble Bears totaling 1,633 yards and 22 touchdowns … Averaged 22 yards per reception …
Coach Bobeck: One of the most productive receivers in Oklahoma the last 2 years. He has the ability to score with the ball in his hands and can separate in his routes.
J. W. Morrow, OL, 6-5, 280, Duncan, Okla. (Duncan)
Big defensive lineman who can create problems for offenses both on the inside of the line and the outside … District Offensive Lineman of the Year and an Oklahoma Football Coaches Association All-State pick.
Coach Bobeck: Versatile lineman who can play inside or outside on the edge. He's a raw player that has a very high ceiling. He will start inside but has the length and athleticism to transition to tackle.
Kaelin Murray, DE, 6-1, 216, Denton, Texas (Denton Ryan)
A headache for quarterbacks out of Denton, Texas … First-Team All-District, First-Team All-Area as a senior at Denton Ryan … Recorded 84 tackles, 20 of those for a losss, and made 10 sacks as a senior … Also forced and recovered one fumble.
Coach Bobeck: An explosive edge rusher that excels in pass rush situations. He is technically sound enough and strong enough to play the run as well.
Alex Quevedo, K, 6-0, 165, Azle, Texas (Azle)
Talented kicker out of Azle, Texas … Averaged 35 yards per punt on 55 kicks last season … Converted 28 of 29 PATs … Made 4 of 5 field goals with a long of 45 yards … Also a soccer standout.
Coach Bobeck: Alex is an athletic kid who plays multiple sports for his high school. He has a strong leg and lifts the ball well with accuracy.
SirRyan Royal, DL, 6-2, 240, Lawton, Okla. (Lawton MacArthur)
A defensive lineman Lawton MacArthur who can play up and down the line … Earned All-District and was the Class 5A-1 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … Also earned from the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State honors … Also lettered in track & field.
Coach Bobeck: A big physical kid that has versatility to play on the edge and move inside because of his experience in high school. He can really run and changes direction easily.
Chase Slack, OL, 6-5, 285, Azle, Texas (Azle)
Big offensive lineman who fits well in Broncho offense … Is an All-District selection as a junior and a senior at Azle High School in Texas … Also earned Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Coach Bobeck: A long kid that shows physicality and the willingness to finish. He also shows nice flexibility and timing in his pass set.
Kolby Underwood, CB, 5-10, 165, Arlington, Texas (Lamar)
Another playmaker in the defensive back field for the Bronchos … Can score touchdowns as he took two interceptions back for six points, returned two kickoffs and one punt return for touchdowns as well … Made 32 tackles as a senior and broke up 16 passes … High School highlight is a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown … A First-Team All-District selection at Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas … Also and Academic All-District performer … Lettered in Track & Field.
Coach Bobeck: He's a confident kid that we saw in multiple camps. We loved his competitiveness and playmaking ability. Another kid that has a nice feel for the game.
Tyree York, WR, 5-9, 165, Shawnee, Okla. (Shawnee)
Caught 201 passes in his career at Class 5A Shawnee High School … As a senior, made 23 catches for 459 yards and nine touchdowns.
Coach Bobeck: A versatile athlete that missed part of his senior year. He is a good route runner and has the ability to separate at the top of routes. We like his toughness and playmaking ability.
