Little more than a week ago, Vian wide receiver/defensive back Londell Taylor was trying to decide between Northern Iowa and Central Arkansas.
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Wednesday, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Taylor signed with Oklahoma, picking the Sooners over Butch Davis and North Carolina.
"It was crazy how it all came together,” Taylor said.
Sooners coach Bob Stoops called Vian coach Brandon Tyler about Taylor on Friday when the player was in Chapel Hill, N.C., visiting UNC. By Monday, he had an offer. By later that evening, he'd committed to Oklahoma.
"It all came down to family,” Taylor said. "It came down to how many times they would be able to come down and watch me play.”
The lure of playing for a team he grew up watching was a big draw as well.
"When you grow up in Oklahoma, you dream of playing for the Sooners,” he said. "I liked the visit to North Carolina but
Despite his relative anonymity throughout the process, Taylor insists it won't be long until he's contributing at OU.
"As soon as I get there,” Taylor said when asked how quickly he'd be able to compete for playing time. "I think I can help them right now.”
Even Taylor recruitment by the Tar Heels was a fast development.
Davis and assistant coach John Blake stopped at Vian last week to pick up some tape and watch Taylor play basketball.
UNC made a strong push Wednesday to draw Taylor, calling five times before he made it official by faxing his letter to the Sooners.
As a senior, Taylor had 46 catches for 1,171 yards and 16 touchdowns. On defense, he intercepted seven passes, returning four for scores.
"I know everyone talks about him not being as fast as some people,” Tyler said. "But he never got caught from behind.
"I'm sure when he gets up there and gets to working with OU's strength and conditioning people, he'll improve quickly.”
In Vian's 21-20 Class 2A state championship game loss to Millwood, Taylor returned an interception 59 yards for a score and had one catch for 40 yards.
"That was a big game for him,” Tyler said. "Everyone was talking about Gerald (Jones) and Tramain (Swindall), and rightfully so, but Londell proved he belonged with those kind of players.
"I just don't know what took people so long to come around on him.”
Taylor is happy to have the process over.
"It's been a hectic, crazy week,” he said. "It's nice to be signed.”
Taylor is Vian's first Division I signee since Kenyatta Wright signed with Oklahoma State in 1995.
