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Sooners add much needed defensive depth

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Attempting to stiffen up a defense that faded late for a second straight season, Oklahoma loaded up along the front line and in the secondary Wednesday on national signing day.

Coach Bob Stoops and his staff received letters of intent from seven defensive linemen and four defensive backs, making up just under half of a 23-player recruiting class. Junior college transfer Quincy Russell is among four defensive tackles in the class, with in-state products D.J. Ward at defensive end and Stanvon Taylor at cornerback highlighting those position groups.

Stoops says he believes the Sooners addressed their "major needs'' through the recruiting class.

Oklahoma also added running back Keith Ford and quarterback Cody Thomas, a major-league baseball prospect who Stoops says is committed to playing football for the Sooners.

Oklahoma's 2013 football signees announced Wednesday:

Dominique Alexander, lb, 6-2, 198, Booker T. Washington HS, Tulsa, Okla.

Dakota Austin, cb, 5-11, 167, Lancaster (Texas) HS

Jed Barnett, p, 6-2, 215, Laney College (Calif.)

Austin Bennett, wr, 6-0, 170, Manvel (Texas) HS

Hatari Byrd, s, 6-1, 195, Central East HS, Fresno, Calif.

Dannon Cavil, wr, 6-5, 205, Madison HS, San Antonio

Christian Daimler, ot, 6-6, 270, Stratford HS, Houston

Matt Dimon, de, 6-2, 252, Katy (Texas) HS

Jordan Evans, lb, 6-3, 210, Norman North HS, Norman, Okla.

Keith Ford, rb, 5-11, 208, Cypress Ranch HS, Cypress, Texas

Kerrick Huggins, dl, 6-3, 289, Skyline HS, Dallas

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, de, 6-3, 220, Alief Taylor HS, Houston

Matthew Romar, dl, 6-3, 268, Memorial HS, Port Arthur, Texas

Quincy Russell, dl, 6-4, 315, Trinity Valley CC (Texas)

Dionte Savage, ol, 6-5, 345, Arizona Western College

Jordan Smallwood, wr, 6-2, 190, Jenks (Okla.) HS

Josiah St. John, ot, 6-6, 305, Trinity Valley CC (Texas)

Stanvon Taylor, cb, 5-11, 175, East Central HS, Tulsa, Okla.

Ahmad Thomas, cb, 6-1, 205, Miami Central HS, Miami

Cody Thomas, qb, 6-5, 220, Colleyville Heritage (Texas) HS

Charles Walker, dl, 6-3, 280, South Garland HS, Garland, Texas

D.J. Ward, de, 6-2, 245, Southmoore HS, Moore, Okla.

K.J. Young, wr, 6-1 182, Citrus Hill HS, Perris, Calif.

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