Weekend Open Post | February 14th – 16th
Posted on: February 14, 2025
Big Board | Interior Defensive Line | 2026
– Charlie S – Posted on: February 10, 2025
Continuing to roll out the class of ’26 Big Boards.
We will now turn our attention to the ’26 Interior Defensive Line Board.
You can find the previous Big Boards by clicking the links below:
The Sooners have extended around 20 offers at this point on the Interior Defensive Line in the ’26 class:
Interior Defensive Line (20)
Tajh Overton – Owasso (Owasso, OK) – 6’3 275
Valdin Sone – Blue Ridge School (Dyke, VA) – 6’3 320
Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais – Cherry Creek (Englewood, CO) – 6’3 307
Corey Wells – Petal (Petal, MS) – 6’5 290
Deuce Geralds – Collins Hill (Suwanee, GA) – 6’2.5 265
James Carrington – Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) – 6’2 240
Tavian Branch – Riverside (Taylor, PA) – 6’3 285
Kamhariyan Johnson – Muscle Shoals City (Muscle Shoals, AL) – 6’4 260
Darryus McKinley – Acadiana (Lafayette, LA) – 6’2 245
Joseph Terry – Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) – 6’4 280
Damari Simeon – St. Augustine Prep (Richland, NJ) – 6’3 275
Elijah Golden -Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota, FL) – 6’3 275
Vodney Cleveland – Parker (Birmingham, AL) – 6’3 305
Danny Beale – Cross County (Cherry Valley, AR) – 6’3.5 315
Tomuhini Topui – Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) – 6’3 320
Nolan Wilson – Picayune Memorial (Picayune, MS) – 6’4 240
James Johnson – North Fort Myers (North Fort Myers, FL) – 6’2 260
Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais – Cherry Creek (Englewood, CO) – 6’3 307
Cameron Brickle – IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) – 6’2 305
Preston Carey – IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) – 6’4.5 285
Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu – Katy Jordan (Fulshear, TX) – 6’3 265
JJ Finch – Warren Central (Indianapolis, IN) – 6’3 260
Commits at this time: 0
Number of commits OU is looking to take out of high school: 2-3 (preferably 3)
Todd Bates has arguably been the best and most consistent recruiter on the defensive side of the ball for the Sooners since his arrival in Norman. He will have his work cut out for him in the 2026 class after only taking one high school interior defensive line prospect out of high school last cycle (Trenton Wilson) and the Sooners will likely lose some heavy hitters to the draft following this season.
While the 2026 class is slightly deeper than the 2025 class at defensive tackle, there still is not an overabundance of talent in the region who are legit targets for Bates and company.
There is one in-state target who is atop the wish list for Bates and the boys, and that is Tajh Overton who is a priority target and OU is doing all they can to keep him in state and get him to campus at the end of the cycle. Overton is receptive to the Sooners and OU will be in this one till the decision is made. Right now, I would say OU is at or near the top, but some other programs like Ole Miss, USC, Arkansas, and Florida (among others) are going to push hard for him. I would say he is the guy at IDL that OU is in the best shape for right now.
After Overton, it is a bit of a guessing game as far as where OU stands with some of their top targets.
Valdin Sone is an international kid who landed on the east coast of the state and OU immediately showed interest and got a visit from him. Sounds like the Sooners made a nice impression and you can expect a return visit.
Damari Simeon is another East Coast target who is one of the more recent offers from Bates as OU extended the offer on February 5th. Sounds like Simeon has some legitimate interest in OU and I expect him to take a visit to Norman this spring.
Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais out of Colorado is a guy who has been to Norman a couple of times previously, including for a game last season, and sources around OU feel like they are in a pretty solid spot with him at this time. He will be one to keep an eye on should OU start to push.
As for some other names to keep an eye on, you start with Deuce Geralds (No I am not expecting him to land at OU at this time, but you have to pursue if he shows the slightest interest), Joseph Terry (who I see as a swing DE/DT like Nigel Smith when all is said and done), Vodney Cleveland, Corey Wells, and Danny Beale.
I expect OU to do all they can to bring Overton into the class and then from there, Bates will be putting in the work to secure some signatures. The good thing for OU is… it’s Todd Bates and he has proven to be the guy who can and will get it done.
We will be keeping an eye on the visits that get set up and that should paint a clearer picture of where OU’s focus will be.
You Can Go With This, or You Can Go With That
– Charlie S – Posted on: February 10, 2025
Just a little football hypothetical game here ahead of spring ball.
Below, I present you with three distinct “This or That’ scenarios.
In each scenario, I give you the option of taking a better offensive output vs an enhanced defensive output when compared to results from the ’24 season (in parenthesis).
You can only take one option from each scenario and the option you do not choose reverts to being no better than the ’24 production. For this exercise, all of the other OU individual stats, both offensively and defensively, stay close to the same as the ’24 season (in other words, these are the only guys that make substantial improvement).
Are you taking this?
Or are you taking that?
This: Taylor Tatum rushes for 980 yards (’24 Barnes 577)
OR
That: Kip Lewis records 135 tackles (’24 Stutsman 110)
This: John Mateer throws for 3,200 yards (’24 Arnold, Hawkins, Elzinga, Tatum combined for 2,286)
OR
That: R Mason Thomas records 15 sacks (’24 RMT 9 sacks)
This: Deion Burks records 60 receptions (’24 Bauer Sharp 42)
OR
That: Peyton Bowen secures 6 interceptions (’24 Bowman/Lewis 2 each)
Have some fun!
Big Board | EDGE | 2026
– Charlie S – Posted on: February 11, 2025
Continuing to roll out the class of ’26 Big Boards.
We will now turn our attention to the ’26 EDGE Board.
You can find the previous Big Boards by clicking the links below:
The Sooners have extended around 16 offers at this point on the EDGE in the ’26 class (A couple of the names from the IDL Board will appear on this Board as well)
EDGE (16)
Kevin Ford Jr. – Duncanville (Duncanville, TX) – 6’3 245
Jake Kreul – IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) – 6’3 230
Kamhariyan Johnson – Muscle Shoals (Muscle Shoals, AL) – 6’4 260
Hudson Woods – Smithson Valley (Spring Branch, TX) – 6’3 220
Ronelle Johnson – Blue Springs (Blue Springs, MO) – 6’4 245
Zion Elee – St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) – 6’3.5 220
Trenton Henderson – Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola, FL) – 6’4 225
Nolan Wilson – Picayune Memorial (Picayune, MS) – 6’4 240
Xavier Griffin – Gainesville, GA – 6’3 205
Shaun Scott – Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) – 6’3 230
Titan Davis – DeSmet (Saint Louis, MO) – 6’5 238
Luke Wafle – Hun School (Princeton, NJ) – 6’5 240
Zach Groves – East Robertson (Cross Plains, TN) – 6’4 212
Dre Quinn – Greater Atlanta Christian School (Norcross, GA) – 6’4 228
Hunter Higgins – Maize South (Wichita, KS) – 6’5 240
Dutch Horisk – St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) – 6’2 240
Commits at this time: 0
Number of commits OU is looking to take out of high school: 2 (3 max for the right guys, I just do not see it)
When it comes to high school recruiting for the EDGE position, Miguel Chavis has had a few really nice wins mixed with a handful of project guys over the course of his 3 years in Norman.
The ’25 cycle saw the Sooners cast a decent-sized net on a handful of big time prospects. At the end of the day, Chavis landed a very raw yet high-ceiling prospect in CJ Nickson and another guy who will need time to develop in Alex Shieldnight.
As the ’26 cycle gets up to speed, the Sooners are once again aiming high with offers out to a handful of coveted guys.
One name that OU has been keenly focused on is KJ Ford. Fors is yet another Duncanville, Texas product that OU is targeting and to this point, he has been very receptive to OU and has developed a nice relationship with Chavis, Bates and Venables. Going forward, it will be vitally important for OU to show improvement on the field in order to keep Ford’s attention as basically every major program is pursuing Ford and OU cannot afford to provide them with any additional negative fodder. This is one where I like what OU has done to this point, but I would not recommend anyone getting out over their skies here with a highly coveted kid out of Duncanville.
Another guy who has OU’s full attention is Jake Kreul who is currently at IMG Academy. Kreul is being recruited aggressively by OU staff and players and he has developed a nice relationship with Chavis. This is one of those recruitments where I think I like OU’s position more than most. The connection with Jayden Jackson and David Stone that Kreul has is playing a nice role here and the more he gets on campus, the better things set up for OU. Expect Kreul back in Norman this spring.
So right now, the top two targets are pretty easily identifiable. Behind Ford and Kreul, you have guys like Kamhariyan Johnson, Hudson Woods and Ronelle Johnson who are all up-and-coming names. I expect each of those guys to be back on campus this spring and should OU push, things could get interesting with them. I expect there to be some additions to the list in the spring as well.
Luke Wafle is a guy OU is very high on, but it is my understanding it would be a real surprise for OU to be a major player in that recruitment at this time. The Sooners will continue to work there with hopes of getting an official visit, and should that come together, that may change my outlook on his recruitment a bit, we will see.
If you are looking for a headliner guy who could be a potential spring commitment, I would focus on Kreul (not saying he will make his decision in the spring) as I believe he would be more apt to make a decision than Ford would be.
Chavis has some nice prospects on his list, it would be great for OU if the EDGE room (and team in general) could go out there and play some solid football this fall.
This Defense can be Special
– Super K – Posted on: February 13, 2025
Have been talking with folks about the potential of the Sooners 2025 season defense and as you would expect, there is a lot of excitement.
But in terms of potential, I think this defense has the raw material to be a top five defense.
What typically makes a great defense is a combination of talent and experience. The Sooners will have that at every level.
They will also have one of the best defensive coordinators (BV) fully in control of a group that has been in this defense for going on their fourth season.
If, as our sources indicate, Okoye takes a jump, OU is going to add a dangerous pass rusher to a room that has a devastating pass rusher in R Mason Thomas.
The interior line is loaded with experience and explosive guys who play with great technique and effort.
The defensive front was good enough to be an elite defense last year, it should only get better.
A source did tell me that the staff has high hopes for Kobie McKinzie and I feel like we’ve seen enough from him to know the Sooners are going to have the weapons for BV to wield.
The secondary was the primary question but after talking to a source – and as I mentioned earlier this week – the feeling in the building is that this actual group will be much better than last season’s group.
I’m not telling anyone anything they don’t know other than this. This defense has, on paper, to be a top five defense. Not just a good or great defense but a game changing defense.
Big Board | Linebacker | 2026
– Charlie S – Posted on: February 13, 2025
Continuing to roll out the class of ’26 Big Boards.
We will now turn our attention to the ’26 Linebacker Board.
You can find the previous Big Boards by clicking the links below:
The Sooners have extended around 20 offers at this point on the Linebacker Board in the ’26 class.
Linebacker (20)
Dejon Ackerson – Putnam City (Oklahoma City, OK) – 6’2 195
Jakore Smith – Parkview Magnet (Little Rock, AR) – 6’0 190
Beau Jandreau – Hamilton (Chandler, AZ) – 6’1 215
Cincere Johnson – Glenville (Cleveland, OH) – 6’3 225
Tyler Atkinson – Grayson (Loganville, GA) – 6’2 205
Jamarion Phillips – South Oak Cliff (Dallas, TX) – 6’0 220
Talanoa Ili – Orange Lutheran (Orange, CA) – 6’3 215
Brayden Rouse – Kell (Marietta, GA) – 6’3 210
Daquives Beck – Carthage (Carthage, TX) – 6’1 205
Shadarius Toodle – Cottage Hill Christian Academy (Mobile, AL) – 6’3 210
Malik Morris – Lakeland (Lakeland, FL) – 6’1 225
Anthony Davis Jr. – Grayson (Loganville, GA) – 6’2 200
Storm Miller – Strongsville (Strongsville, OH) – 6’3 220
Kenneth Goodwin – Narbonne (Harbor City, CA) – 6’1 205
CJ Sanna – Olentangy (Lewis Center, OH) – 6’3 225
Tank King – Memorial (Port Arthur, TX) – 6’0 205
Kosi Okpala – Mayde Creek (Houston, TX) – 6’1.5 215
Hudson Dunn – Liberty (Peoria, AZ)- 6/1 205
Colsen Gatten – Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA) – 6’1 215
Karon Maycock – Miami Central (Miami, FL) – 6’1 200
Commits at this time: 0
Number of commits OU is looking to take out of high school: 2
The Sooners projected starters at linebacker this year, Kobie McKinzie and Kip Lewis, were evaluated, offered, and signed by…checks notes…OU linebacker coach Brian Odom. There have now been three other linebacker coaches at OU since Odom reluctantly left Norman. Over the course of the last 3 seasons, it has been Odom’s recruits/players who have blossomed into one of the better linebacker units in the country, and Danny Stutsman receiving the notoriety and accolades he did throughout his career was the cherry on top.
Now, I am not saying Odom is responsible for the success of the linebacker room at this point as the current regime led by Brent Venables himself, has had a massive role in developing them, but I am saying Brian Odom left the room in tremendous shape with his evaluating and recruiting prowess.
Fast forward through Ted Rood and Zac Alley, and we now arrive at Nate Dreiling as the man in charge of that room. Over the course of the last 3 cycles, including the 2025 class, the Sooners have added five high school linebackers to the fold in Sammy Omosigho, Lewis Carter, Jaren Kanak, Phil Picciotti, Taylor Heim, James Nesta and Marcus James.
While Omosigho figures to have a prominent role in the defense in 2025, Carter has left the program, Picciotti is no longer in Norman, Kanak is exploring the offensive side of the ball (will still play some defense I would imagine), Wein is still searching for his groove, Nesta is playing baseball in the spring and James just arrived on campus. Only Omisigho, at this point, appears to have a clear path to being an impact player. The others certainly could come along, but right now, there is a long way to go for them.
This brings us to the 2026 Linebacker Big Board.
Of the offers that have gone out, I would focus on Dejon Ackerson and Jakore Smith as the guys that OU is in the best shape with right now. Anderson is the in-state kid that OU has prioritized and sources say things are heading in the right direction there. Smith is a guy who has close ties to OU as his former teammate Omarion Robinson made the jump to Norman last cycle and Smith has been to campus multiple times and has a favorable view of OU. The Sooners have kept up in his recruitment despite the musical chairs at linebacker coach and you can expect him to be back in Norman in the spring.
After that, it’s pretty much a reset (once again) as Dreiling is starting to push out some new offers and he is going to be active in the spring in regard to identifying and offering his preferred prospects.
One brand name that OU has made a nice impression on is Cincere Johnson out of Ohio who recently made his way to Norman for the junior day. Johnson had some nice things to say about his time in Norman and he really likes the idea of Brent Venables having a role in his development at the collegiate level, but there is a long way to go in that one before OU would be able to take the top spot in that recruitment.
Some may think it is a bit curious that a Brent Venables led team has not been lighting it up on the recruiting trail at the linebacker position, but the pretty simply explanation is that there has been so much turnover at the linebacker coaching position that it is difficult to develop and maintain relationships with recruits and folks around them. With each new coach comes a new personality and a new preference for what they are looking for.
Heading into the spring and official visit season, the linebacker board may be the least clear of all the big boards for the 2026 class.
