By Michael Kinney
During last week's 58-15 victory over Moore, the Southmoore sideline was visited by a few collegiate coaches. While the SaberCats had plenty of talent for them to watch, Sooner coach Bob Stoops and his crew had their eyes on Kendal Thompson and Austin Haywood.
Haywood scored five touchdowns, including a 19-yard pass from Thompson. Thompson threw for three more scores.
The OU brass must have liked what they saw because, Saturday, Thompson and Haywood each received scholarships offers from the Sooners. Monday night they made it official, verbally committing to OU.
Haywood can sign as soon as National Signing Day, Feb. 3. Thompson can sign February 2011.
They join cornerback teammate Julian Wilson as SaberCats committed to OU. Wilson committed over the summer.
"It's really significant," Southmoore coach Chris Jensen said. "It validates all the hard work they put in and their talent level. To have three guys that have been offered by OU, that's big for our program. It's a lot of good exposure for our kids. It's fun to watch those guys go out and play every week."
Haywood, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end, also has offers from Arizona, Baylor and Kansas. He's caught 26 passes for 411 yards this season. Defensively, he has two interceptions, three forced fumbles, 49 tackles and four sacks from his defensive end spot.
Haywood transferred from Anadarko last year and led the SaberCats to the state basketball tournament. Rivals.com rates him the No. 15 prospect in the state.
Thompson (6-2, 180), a junior, has one other offer to date, in Tulsa, but as many as 14 other schools have shown interest. He is the son of former Oklahoma quarterback Charles Thompson and has completed 116-of-174 passes for 1,903 yards with 23 touchdowns against five interceptions.
Thompson joins Kameel Jackson of Arlington, Texas, as Oklahoma's first 2011 commitments.
Michael Kinney 366-3537 mkinney@normantranscript.com
