Open Post | Wednesday, May 21st (UPDATE 1:45 pm)

Image of Josh Moore via wholehogsports.com

– In case you missed it, UCLA did indeed end up offering Max Wariboko (Josh’s brother). From everyone I’ve spoken to around Josh, I get the impression he is genuinely torn. His parents are OU alums, obviously big fans of the program, and that tends to be passed down. But just as an outside observer it would be hard for someone to pass up playing at a great school like UCLA, when you know you’re brother has been offered as well. And I know the Wariboko’s are pretty well off, but who doesn’t want their kid to get a free education to a prestigious academic institution like UCLA?

From what we’ve heard, OU certainly isn’t waiting around to find out. Which is not to imply they’ve moved on from the elder Wariboko, rather they have to plan/recruit for every scenario.

– Coach Heupel stopped by Kingfisher HS to see one of our favorite in-state recruits, OG Kaden Clay Jackson. Kaden currently holds three offers including an offer from North Texas. His recruitment is set to take off. He’s had a number of schools come through to see him during this evaluation period, and I suspect he’ll pick up a number of mid-major offers. The major conference offer should come through at some point. Kaden is just too athletic. The University of Houston is sending a couple coaches up to see him later this week.

– We had a reader ask whether there was any truth to the rumor that Natrell Curtis and Orlando Brown are having qualification issues. We checked on that and it appears the rumors are indeed true. As we understand it, it’s not final yet but it does seem to be an issue.

– Last week DL Joshua Little out of Millwood picked up a Purdue offer, which was shortly followed by a Texas State offer. Earlier this week he also picked up an Iowa State offer.

– We recently caught up with new OU TE offer Josh Moore. Interesting to learn that Moore has actually already visited Oklahoma in the past…twice in fact! Certainly makes me wonder why Oklahoma had not offered until now. Fortunately, the delayed offer hasn’t seemed to turn Moore off. He seems very excited about the offer, and said that he will “definitely be down there (in Norman) again.” Can’t help but wonder whether or not with an early offer to Moore and/or Austin Cantrell, Oklahoma might have both already committed.

– Spoke to 2016 DE Isaiah Chambers the other day, and he continues to build a good relationship with Coach Montgomery. He really wants to make it up to OU. I think TAMU would be the main competitor with Chambers right now. Also, he and Ed Oliver are friends. And I get the sense Ed is NOT going to consider Texas, so if they want to play together it’ll likely have to be at another school.

– Akylen Mayfield, another OK HS stud that we recently featured, just picked up his first offer yesterday. Arkansas State extended an offer and Houston is coming by to see him later in the week. I still contend that Mayfield may have more upside, from a pure physical standpoint, than any player in the state.

– Coach Bedenbaugh was recently in Florida, and he stopped by Apopka HS to visit FB target Chandler Cox and OT target Martez Ivy.

– I also caught up with 6’2″ CB Derrick Baity the other day, and I am still baffled by the fact that OU has not extended an offer to the young man. He is as good or better than any CB we have on our board, and I have friends in the area that are former college DBs that have coached him and vouch for his ability. Coach Kish went by to see Baity and apparently loved him. It sounds like Baity actually really hit it off with Kish. Oh, and by the way, Baity is already qualified academically! He scored nearly a 1200 on the 2-part of his SAT! With the recent commitment of Jaylon Lane to Ok. State, this offer needed to happen already. And honestly should have happened regardless of Lane, in my opinion. Baity is every bit the corner that Lane and Mbanasor are, and y’all know I’ve been fans of both since the beginning, before they had any offers. Baity is special.

– OU DE target Neville Gallimore continues to pick up offers. He recently picked up one from Michigan State. Neville plans on visiting OU with his coach this summer. I haven’t spoken to his coach since last week, but I’ve got to think the Michigan State offer caught his eye. As a former All-American, Coach McArthur is all about finding the right fit for his kids. The Spartans would have to be intriguing, both due to the proximity and, of course, the style defense they play.

If I am OU, I’m going hard after Neville, Gabriel Campbell, Breylin Mitchell, Kingsley Keke and continuing with Breiden Fehoko (in case the wheels really fall of at Tech). With OU needing two DEs, I think they can absolutely win a commitment from at least one of those guys, if not two, and along with a stud NG they’d be done with a nice DL class. And even if they only got one, there are still guys out there like Brandon Wilson who would love an offer.

– UPDATE (10:10 am): We’re working to get more info on this, but since it’s out there on social media we wanted to let you know about two new reported offers to JUCO defensive linemen.

The players referred to in the tweet are Contra Costa C.C. DE Takkarist McKinley (VIDEO) & DT Deonte Reynolds (VIDEO).

– UPDATE (11:24 am): Coach Kish out in California checking in with 2016 LB and OU offer, Lokeni Toailoa (VIDEO)

– UPDATE (11:43 am): OU coaches were by to see Kahlil McKenzie yesterday per his Twitter.

UPDATE (1:40 pm): Well it looks like OU is finally involved with one of our favorite slot WRs, James Proche. Coach Boulware stopped by today to see him and an offer might be coming soon. Proche is very interested in Oklahoma. Very interested.

UPDATE (1:42 pm): Also got word that Coach Heupel stopped by Norman North yesterday for spring practice to get a look at John Kolar and 2016 RB Quan Hogan.

UPDATE (1:45 pm): Per Josh McCuistion of Soonerscoop.com Southern Miss has offered stud Spiro, OK ATH, McKinley Whitfield. Whitfield already holds a few offers including a Minnesota offer. Apparently Minnesota saw him on film and came down to see him and offered on the spot. Whitfield is an absolute stud. If I’m Oklahoma he’s an offer just based on film alone and certainly a kid they should at least go see. Unfortunately he has been hearing a lot from Okie State and Arkansas but absolutely nothing from OU. I only recently came across Whitfield thanks to some of the local writers like Josh McCuistion and Bob Przybylo of Scout.com and the kid is unreal. Long frame and can literally do anything. He can jam at the line and turn and run. He can strike in the open field. He’s got great speed and lateral quickness. He’s violent. He even throws the ball pretty well. He’s being recruited by schools to play either LB or FS and IMO he can play any of them. Do yourselves a favor and watch 5 or 6 minutes of his film. I’d personally take him as an OLB but I need to watch his film a few more times to say for sure.

 

43 Comments

  • Zack says:

    Thanks for the updates. We need to quit dragging our feet on that baity kid. Where do we stand with the Cali corners? Do you guys get the feeling any of our top targets may commit soon?

    • Super K says:

      A buddy of mine knows the Langley fam well and said the dad likes OU but Isaiah is all about USC so that doesn’t look great. Holiday looks UCLA bound. And Ykili plans on visiting OU for an official but I honestly don’t get the sense OU is recruiting him particularly hard.

      • Zack says:

        Thanks man I liked Langley and Ross would hate to see both end up at USC but wouldn’t be too surprised.

      • SoonerPhins says:

        What about Stanley Norman? or would OU put him in the WR/ATH category?

      • Mr. Jones says:

        When TFB did the write up on cornerback recruiting, you felt pretty good about OU’s cb outlook at that time. Do you still feel like OU will come away with two really good cb’s?

  • wolfbuilder says:

    So I take it that the UCLA offer to Max is only if Josh signs with them

    • Super K says:

      That’s what I’d assume

    • Sooner Ray says:

      I would really like to see what UCLA would do if Josh said”Thanks for taking my brother but I’m going elsewhere”. Sad thing is, any school that signs them both can drop little brother anytime they want. Hope he thinks this through like an adult.

  • thegoodmagneto(CJ) says:

    I like McKinley’s film a lot.. Reminds me of John Williams/Geno Grissom.

  • Joe says:

    I’m curious as to why we are offering JUCO DL with the line depth we currently have (i.e. Walker, Wade, Phillips, Romar, etc)

    • Zack says:

      I’m thinking they just want to add depth that has experience. Grissom will be gone. Tapper and Phillips may leave early and likely will if they stay healthy and have productive years.

      • Thomas Lenard says:

        Quincy Russell??

        • Zack says:

          I think they managed to redshirt him for last year so yeah he will be eligible through 2015 but is he maybe a bust? I don’t know how healthy he was but I don’t know that the coaches can do more than hope he gets better. And with the lack of linebacker depth right now we need to have depth up front.

  • Steven White says:

    Looking froward to a day of good news. Seems like we have a lot of offers out but kids just are not ready to pull the trigger. It also seems as though qualification for the big boys is an issue. Off season stinks

  • BigJoeBrown says:

    I know it may sound crazy but I really like OU’s record of creating good OT’s. Sam Grant is one I am curious about. You got a guy with height and athletic ability then build him up with strength, size through Schmidt bulking him up, makes me think of some great potential.

    • Super K says:

      No doubt OU has an amazing track record with OT development and getting them drafted. One of the many reasons I wish we would have offered Tristan Hill from Mustang last year.

  • Thomas Lenard says:

    I’m not sure of why the two JC DL offers….. I wonder if Kish likes Renolds as an OLB, he plays standing up so I am going to assume that, and thast would make sense, but I did not care for Tak, and here is the reason why…. Watch for the Tak in Reynolds highligt reel…he’s almost nonexistant, meanwhile Reynolds is all over the place in Tak’s highlight reel.

    • Super K says:

      I want to check but I have a feeling the NG, Reynolds, is an OG for us. But that’s just a hunch based on his film and our needs.

  • Brian says:

    Why not offer Baity? Mbanasor is the only lean at CB right now…Lane may or may not come back around to us…

    • Super K says:

      No clue. I’m going to see Baity tomorrow. I’m heading over to Florida for a few days.

  • Stikboy says:

    Well so much for all the excitement over Orlando Brown! But the Natrell Curtis deal is really bad. ’15 on the OL for OU is looking pretty dire…

  • John Garner says:

    Great update as usual. Many thanks for a good read. Still stunned that UCLA offered Max. Well, we’ll see where OU stands at next week’s camp. Understand Max will be attending.

  • Zack says:

    That josh Moore is a big dude. We are recruiting him as a TE right? He’s not the fastest guy but you can tell the athleticism is there like say a Gresham but he runs so hard that I wouldn’t want to be even a linebacker trying to get him to the ground.

  • BigJoeBrown says:

    Any update on Frank Shannon?

    • Zack says:

      All I know is I won’t believe he is out or available until the season starts. I really think for a kid who this is the only incident I’m aware of from him and the DA isn’t pursuing, the only thing I could see happening is a one or 2 game suspension just because we don’t want this kind of noise going around the program.

      • Sooner Ray says:

        I’m not even sure there will be a suspension. Off the field and no legal charges, I hope Bob is just letting things die down and work themselves out then slip him right in like nothing ever happened. Let’s hope.

  • Super Keith says:

    It’s so hard to know what’s really going on in recruiting. I mean what happening within the program. When I see that we haven’t offered a kid that we’ve been by to see, and that kid appears to be really good, I have to wonder if we are close to a commit from someone else already on the board.

  • Swanny says:

    The Whitfield kid looks the part man. 6’4″ would make a lot of sense at OLB. Seems like one of those kids that will fly WAY under the radar due to the fact that he isn’t playing his college position in high school. Give the kid one position and watch his athleticism just take over. Long arms, turns his hips well, loves violent contact, and can run.

  • bmrsnr says:

    And Demetric Warren predicts McKinley Witfield to OU. Anything happen to justify that?

  • L'carpetron Dookmarriot says:

    I don’t appreciate you all wasting my time by telling me to watch 5 or 6 minutes of Whitfield’s film. I could see all I needed to in 1 minute. And I also don’t appreciate you all leading me to watching his video, which made me cuss out loud at his physical ability. Just not appreciated…
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    Yes, this is a joke. Whitfield is a freak. Gallimore-type freak.

  • Jason Vos says:

    i’d recruit McKinley Whitfield as a CB. He has great length and fluid hips

  • Sooner Ray says:

    I like Whitfield as an athlete, the kind of kid this coaching staff can work wonders with. Like L’carpetron, I didn’t need to watch it all.

    • EasTex says:

      I was kind of ho-hum early in the video when he had the ball in his hand, but sat straight up when the video switched to him on defense. If he doesn’t grow anymore I see him as a S, CB or NB. What I really liked most, beyond his speed and determination to get to the ball, was the way he delivered a blow when he got there. He’s a baller.

  • Shifty says:

    McKinley needs an offer…like how he times the hits and the fluid hips to turn and run…he’ll turn into a nice backer

  • Shifty says:

    Glad we are looking at Proche…I’m starting to pull for him to wear the C&C…stars be dammed!