The Football Brainiacs

Image of Josh Smith via 247 Sports

Following the loss of Anthony Wheeler on Friday, there have been some requests for a breakdown of where OU stands now in this 2015 class with regards to other linebacker targets.

As far as I’m concerned, if they’re going to continue to run a 3-4 scheme, they shouldn’t be taken any less than four LBs in this class. Maybe three if the overall numbers hamstring you, but that would be the bare minimum. But we’re obviously very late in the process and things are looking somewhat suspect with just one LB currently in the fold. Admittedly one with a super high ceiling, but still just one nonetheless.

We are exactly one month from National Signing Day and here is how things stand.

* Josh Smith 6’3″ 219 lbs – Currently committed to Vanderbilt, but has seen interest pick up considerably in recent months. Possesses legit size and athelticism. If he’s not already at the top of OU’s board, he should be. I’d like to believe in OU’s chances here if for no other reason they’re OU and it’s Vandy.

* Arthur McGinnis 6’3″ 228 lbs – Maybe not drawing the kind of interest one might expect for a NOLA kid, but still has a pretty impressive offer list. OU should have a very good shot here, but McGinnis has scheduled trip to Norman multiple times previously yet never been actually to make one.

* Anthony McKee 6’2″ 195 lbs – This one seems to change by the month. At one point OU was though to be way out in front, only to presumably fall back to the back. The assumption being now that it’s a battle between OU and Michigan State. Don’t love the idea that MSU is reportedly looking at him as a safety, considering OU already has too many undersized guys playing at LB. Quiet kid, difficult to truly know where OU stands.

* John Houston 6’4″ 207 lbs – One of, if not the, top ranked LBs in the country. Has talked about having interest in OU, even scheduled an official visit at one point but didn’t wind up making the trip, although he may reschedule that visit. Some people would lead you to believe OU has a shot here. I am not one of them. To me, this is a pipe dream. I don’t see him leaving the west coast.

* Fotu Leitao 6’0″ 195 lbs – This may or may not be just an excuse to post this kid’s highlight tape again. And I say that because if he is a take for OU, I would have to believe it’d be as a safety, not LB. But he’s listed as a LB by most services, so I figured if I didn’t list him here somebody would ask.

As you can see, if they’re going to take four LBs in this class, as I feel they need to, then odds are they’re going to have to make some more offers. Or I suppose they could try and flip a kid or two who are currently committed elsewhere. But as things stand today, given their current offers, I’d have a hard time getting them to the necessary four.

– UPDATE: I’ve already received some questions about it on Twitter once the story posted, and I see at least one comment about it below as I’m typing this. The only reason I didn’t list Dwaine Thomas was because unlike the others above, he doesn’t currently have an OU offer. Although, as TFB told you recently, with Bob Stoops taking interest, we expect it should just be a matter of time before that changes. So consider Thomas a viable and deserving addition to the guys already listed above.