Westmoore TE commits to Tulsa
After an up-and-down recruiting process, Moore (OK) Westmoore tight end James Palmer ended on a high note with a commitment to Tulsa after an official visit to the campus.
"The visit was great, I really enjoyed myself," he told Inside Tulsa Sports on Saturday morning. "I loved everyone on the coaching staff. (Head) Coach (Philip) Montgomery is a very great coach and person, and I look forward to winning a lot of ball games at TU."
The academic stature of the University of Tulsa was another reason for his decision.
"It is top of the line," he noted. "I look forward to getting a degree with a such a reputable school."
The 6-foot-2 and 225-pound H-back picked up early offers from Oklahoma State, Colorado State, Arkansas State and others after an impressive sophomore season in which he caught 35 passes for 508 yards. At a prospect camp before his junior season, Palmer put on an impressive diplay.
"The talented Jaguar has shown up on tape since the early days of his career, usually as a receiver," Rivals.com's Josh McCuiston wrote. "However, watching him at the camp, Palmer also has the ability to be an H-back type thanks to his ability, and willingness, to block. Now that being said, Palmer is a quality receiver who caught the ball at multiple levels and looks to be the next in line of Oklahoma's quality tight end products."
Unfortunately, a ruptured Achilles at the beginning of his junior season stunted Palmer's recruitment, and the contact from college coaches decreased.
Palmer worked hard that fall and the next spring, returning last summer bigger, faster and stronger than he was before his injury. He eventually picked up additional offers from Memphis, Ohio, Louisiana-Monroe and several others.
Even after Palmer had picked up nine offers, Westmoore coach Lorenzo Williams, who was a defensive tackle at Missouri and on NFL practice squads, believed his talented tight end was being under-recruited.
"His success is going to come from always being looked down at," Williams told The Oklahoman. "Somebody is going to get him and somebody is going to be very, very happy."
After a solid senior season, Palmer committed to Sam Houston State on January 19. But Tulsa extended an offer on January 27 and got him in for an official visit on February 1, ultimately convincing him to choose the Hurricane.
"I think it's a great program, the education is top of the line," he added. "The football program is elite and is taking steps in the right direction to being championship contenders."
Over his high school career, Palmer has proven to be a solid pass-catching threat, but he also doesn't mind doing the dirty work as a blocker. He runs a 4.65 forty-yard dash, squats 500 pounds and possesses a 30-inch vertical.
In 10 games as a senior, Palmer had 28 receptions for 448 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 16 yards per catch. He also helped Westmoore rush for 227 yards per game this season and is ranked No. 22 in The Oklahoman's Super 30.
"I'd like to think I'm a versatile player," Palmer described. "I catch the ball very well, and I’m also not afraid to do the dirty work. I allow an offense to keep the tight end or H-back on the field and be a match-up killer."
Palmer earned a place on The Oklahoman's Big All-City Second Team as a senior, and he also landed on the Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference First-Team.
Palmer's commitment is a nice finish to the Golden Hurricane's 2018 class. Tulsa signed 17 prospects in the early period and now has five additional commitments with the regular signing period beginning on February 7.