Reports: OU Tight End Recruit Quits Football

News9.com

NORMAN, Oklahoma – According to two different reports, Oklahoma tight end commit Dan Tapko is walking away from football.

The news was first reported by Metro Sports in Kansas City – where Tapko's high school is located – Saturday, and since has been confirmed by SoonerScoop.com.

Tapko is 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and was ranked the No. 25 tight end recruit in the nation by Rivals.com. He was more developed as a blocker and likely would have been used in the same mold as former Sooner Brody Eldridge.

Tapko was the last commit OU received for the 2011 season and was one of two tight ends the Sooners signed. The other is Max Stevenson, who is a pure pass catcher.

"It was a tough decision and it was made for medical and personal reasons that would have made my life really difficult trying to go to school and play football," Tapko said in an e-mail correspondence with SoonerScoop.com. "I want to clear up that it was not the knee. My knee is 100% good to go."

Tapko had been working out with the team during the summer, but had not attended for the last few days. He will transfer to another school, but will not join any other football teams.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity to play at OU and I can tell you right now I'm going to be OU's number one fan no matter where I go to college next year. It's been fun," he said.

The loss of Tapko will free a scholarship for Oklahoma to offer to another athlete, but the options will be limited this late in the recruitment process.