Published: June 23, 2009 09:46 pm      

A verbal commit

With senior year looming, Huntsville football standout accepts offer from Oklahoma State

The folks at Oklahoma State did not roll out the red carpet when Justin Gilbert and a few of his Huntsville football teammates visited late last month. But the Cowboys did show the Hornets around Stillwater and made them feel welcome.

That warm greeting was enough to sway Gilbert to make a verbal commitment to Oklahoma State. Last week, Gilbert told Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy he would accept his scholarship offer.

Gilbert wants to be a Cowboy after his senior season at HHS.

“It all started with playing time and how they made me feel. Stillwater felt like a home away from home,” Gilbert said Tuesday. “Our visit to Stillwater helped me out a lot.

“Oklahoma State was not really one of my top schools, so I’m glad I took that visit.”

Along with Huntsville coaches David Cooper and Joseph Granville, plus Hornet teammates Joseph Maxey, Shaquille Ross and Tremaine Ashley, Gilbert made an unofficial visit to Oklahoma State before school let out for the summer. He also made earlier visits to Oklahoma and Baylor.

“I talked to some of the players and I talked to coach Gundy,” Gilbert said of his trip to Oklahoma State. “He told me they had a scholarship for me even if I get hurt or something. Oklahoma State also has the nicest facilities I’ve ever seen.

“I just felt at home there. I could see myself living there even after I get done with school. I can see myself staying there.”

The Hornets’ starting quarterback, who also plays basketball and runs track, chose Oklahoma State over Oklahoma, Miami, Colorado, Texas A&M, Baylor, SMU, TCU, Houston, Nebraska, Mississippi and North Texas. All of those schools had offered the talented Hornet a football scholarship.

Gilbert said Oklahoma State has left the door open for him to play cornerback, receiver possibly, and also return punts.

It was not easy making a decision, Gilbert admitted, but the talented senior-to-be said he feels pretty solid about his commitment to Oklahoma State, even though letters and e-mails keep coming.

“Oklahoma State and Oklahoma were in the top two, and it really came down to which one made me feel at home,” Gilbert said. “I’m not saying Oklahoma treated me bad, but Oklahoma State was really nice. I think I’m pretty much done with the recruiting business, but you never know what might happen. I’m still getting mail and e-mails from schools showing an interest in me.”