Niceville's Finch latches on with the Oklahoma Sooners

NICEVILLE – Sitting center stage tucked inside a packed Niceville High School Auditorium, Roy Finch – a player regarded by Rivals as the nation’s No. 4 all-purpose back and one of just three state prospects to be named a PARADE All-American – found himself at a loss for words.

“I’m kind of nervous,” Finch said.

And with that, the recruitment of one of the state’s most highly-regarded prospects came to a fitting end, with Finch graciously thanking those who had crammed inside the auditorium to watch on as he officially signed with the University of Oklahoma.

“It’s a blessing,” Finch said. “I just thank God for putting me in this position. I’m just ready to go out to Oklahoma and make an immediate impact.

It was in July that Finch verbally committed to the Sooners program. Finch followed that verbal commitment with a senior season in which he ran for 1,670 yards and 25 touchdowns, racked up 507 yards receiving and accounted for 35 total touchdowns in guiding Niceville to a 13-1 record a No.1 ranking and a berth in the Class 4A State Championship game in Orlando.

Niceville coach John Hicks, whose program has witnessed its share of Division I signings, said Wednesday’s ceremony was special.

“We’ve had a lot of athletes come up here and sign (a scholarship) but I don’t think we’ve had many – there’s been a few – that the student body liked, respected and appreciated and I think that’s because he’s humble, unselfish.

“I cannot remember a time all year that he said, ‘Coach, give the ball’… for a guy of his talent that says a lot,” Hicks added. “The only time he said that was when we got behind at Lincoln in the third round of the playoffs. I think he was telling me ‘If you want to win this game you better give me the ball.’ He was right.”

Finch’s impact was not lost on other programs, and despite a late push by several schools following a standout senior season, Finch remained true to his word on National Signing Day.

“The late push kind of played tricks on your mind a little bit,” Finch admitted. “You’re vulnerable, but at the same time I had to fall back and be firm with my decision. I appreciated them still trying to contact me… but at the same time it came down to me sticking with my decision.”

At Oklahoma, Finch will become part of a program that since the 2000 season has played for the national championship four times, winning its seventh title in the 2001 Orange Bowl by defeating Florida State, 13-2. Asked in January about the reason behind his decision to sign with Oklahoma, Finch pointed to a strong, cohesive coaching staff and a 2010 signee class that he felt could be “scary.”

“What made the decision so firm so early was the coaching staff that they have there,” Finch said. “Not just the offensive staff I’ll be working with but the defensive staff also took me in. The whole coaching staff is just great people to hang out with and great people to be around.

“Looking at the commitments that have, it’s pretty scary for the future with what we’re bringing in on both sides of the ball.”

According to Rivals, Oklahoma’s current crop of signees is regarded as the seventh-best class in the country.