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Oklahoma football: Top-10 Sooner football recruits (2000-present)

By Brandon Self

Dec 28, 2019; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; View of the eye tape on Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (2) before the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game between the LSU Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2019; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; View of the eye tape on Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (2) before the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game between the LSU Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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8. Gerald McCoy – Defensive tackle – Recruiting class of 2006

Norman, OK, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell (6) is sacked by Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Norman, OK, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell (6) is sacked by Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

McCoy is the highest-rated high school football recruit in the history of the state of Oklahoma. Coming to Norman from Southeast high school in Oklahoma City, Gerald was a consensus 5-star defensive tackle and the number four ranked high school football player overall in the nation, according to Rivals.com.

McCoy was a three-year starter at OU, where he racked up 40 total starts, 51 career solo tackles, and 14.5 career sacks. In his freshman year, McCoy was named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. In the following two seasons (2008, 2009), McCoy was named a first-team All-Big-12 and an All-America selection. McCoy finished as a finalist for the 2009 Lombardi Award for the nation’s top interior lineman. The award instead went to Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh (which is understandable if we’re being honest).

The standout Sooner defensive tackle was selected 3rd overall in the 2010 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent the next nine years making a name for himself as one of the NFL’s top defensive linemen.

During his pro career, McCoy compiled 140 starts, 235 solo tackles, 59.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles. McCoy was named a Pro Bowler 6 times and an All-Pro on 3 occasions. However, McCoy’s most outstanding contribution to the program occurs off the field. McCoy is widely regarded as one of Sooner nation’s most beloved players and one of the state of Oklahoma’s proudest representations. His character, humility, and enthusiasm are constantly on display. He has long served as a shining example of what the Sooner football program’s best qualities represent.

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