Weekend Open Post | April 25th – 27th
Posted on: April 25, 2025
What I Learned From the Stone Ordeal
– Super K – Posted on: April 22, 2025
I knew the Sooner fan base was struggling to find the hope. It’s been such an inconsistent few years. And, the inaugural season in the SEC was, mildly put, less than stellar.
But the defense has continued to improve. And the Sooners have brought in some of the best possible pieces from the portal.
This David Stone ordeal showed me that the Sooner fan base is in even more stress and consternation than I may have thought.
I dare say a portion of the fan base is fragile, if not broken.
David Stone was going to get a reaction, sure. But let’s put this in context.
The past many, many years, the Sooners have had almost no DL the speak of. Until BV came back to OU, the defensive line was really poor.
So, it isn’t as if the Sooner faithful had some super high standards for what a DL should look like.
BV brought the Sooners a high quality defensive line. Going into this season, they have at least three excellent interior linemen who are ahead and David Stone in the line-up. Additionally, the DE room looks excellent with R Mason having a chance to be a high draft pick.
The defensive line this year should be better than last year’s defensive line and last year’s defensive line was excellent. And that is without Stone. Why? Because Stone had almost no stats last year!
Some will say, but K, the potential! Ok, even if I concede that there is tremendous potential (I don’t know if that’s true or not, yet). I’ll say three things…
First, we know at least from freshman year that Stone isn’t Ed Oliver or Tommy Harris or even Jayden Jackson! Could he become that, sure? But those are all guys who made an impact in their freshman year.
Second, we live in the NIL era. Stone could literally leave and next year OU could buy another DL. I understand it’s not ideal if you assume Stone is going to break out, but right now OU’s top DL is a guy they purchased from TCU (who also made an impact his true freshman year).
Third, we live in the NIL era, and you can’t possibly expect the Sooners to keep a roster of 1 million dollar men four deep!
I’m not telling anyone anything they don’t know. And I’m not even saying it wouldn’t’ve been unfortunate that Stone left. It is certainly better to have him than not, especially if he turns on the juice this year.
What I was surprised by was the degree of the reaction. It was so pronounced that it laid bare just how on edge this fan base is.
What I took from that reaction was really simple: there is no longer any room for error for BV. None. I’m not saying that is my personal opinion. I’m saying the fan base, despite its claims of support, has had it. Any little thing makes it feel like the sky is falling.
If BV drops that Michigan game, the reaction is going to be even fiercer than I would’ve previously thought.
Quick Hitter | The Beat Goes on at Tight End
– Charlie S – Posted on: April 22, 2025
As you know, the Sooners hosted Missouri State tight end Lance Mason yesterday.
By all accounts, Mason enjoyed the visit, and the Sooners presented him with an appealing option as his next school. OU is once again optimistic about how this one will turn out at the end of the day.
The Sooners were hoping that they could lock this one up yesterday, but Mason will stick to his plan and visit Wisconsin later this week.
So now, you are left to hoping this one turns out like things did with OL Jake Maikkula, who visited OU first, took some additional visits, and wound up choosing the Sooners in the end.
Portal Quick Hitter | Sooners Offer WR
– Charlie S – Posted on: April 22, 2025
The Sooners have offered McNeese State WR Jer’Michael Carter.
Carter is listed at 6’4 192.
He recorded 37 catches last season for 537 yards and 3 touchdowns. He has 2 years of eligibility remaining.
More of a note to confirm the Sooners are still perusing the portal in search of play makers at the WR position than anything else at this time.
Carter, originally from Kentwood, Louisiana, has picked up offers from Utah, Vandy, and Baylor among others since entering the portal.
We will monitor where this goes as Carter is set to visit Friday.
The Stone Cold Truth | Sourced
– Super K – Posted on: April 23, 2025
Before we put the Stone issue to rest, I wanted to use “Stone Cold” in a title of a post and I wanted to give you exactly what we have heard happened which corroborates what Charlie has told you.
This should serve to confirm some of what you’ve heard and hopefully clarify other things.
***Yes, Stone’s original NIL was reduced at an earlier point due the lack of production last season.
***Yes, we do believe that Stone feels a sense of obligation to those around him to be a kind of care taker.
***No, there was increase to his NIL over his original NIL. His original NIL (that had been reduced) was simply reinstated.
***I’m told that the staff really like Stone and think he’s a great young man. I’m also told that the staff has had nothing but good interactions with the Stone family. David’s sense of obligation to his family is a separate matter.
***Yes, Stone did have other schools coming at him and offering him some big numbers.
***Yes, Stone wanted to be at OU and we believe the matter is put to rest.
Portal Summary With One Day Left to Enter
– Charlie S – Posted on: April 24, 2025
The Sooners have had an active spring portal season to this point.
OU has added three players to the program in former Cal running back Jaydn Ott, former Stanford offensive lineman Jake Maikkula, and former Utah State defensive tackle Ricky Lolohea.
(Four now with Kicker Tate Sandell)
The Sooners have seen six players leave the program and enter the portal this cycle, as offensive lineman Josh Aisosa, tight end Davon Mitchell, running back Sam Franklin, and defensive backs Pete Schuh, Jocelyn Malaska and Mykel Patterson McDonald have all left the program.
Prior to the portal opening, I mentioned that I could see 5-7 Sooners enter, and we have pretty much hit that mark with the six, but I have to be honest, I thought we may have seen another WR and a RB enter the portal. Still time I suppose, but I have not heard of any imminent portal departures out of OU.
(Seven OU players have now hit the Portal with QB Cole Gonzales jumping in after this was written)
Tomorrow night at midnight is the cutoff for players to submit their names. Should anyone else enter the portal, they may not be announced immediately, and they could hit the portal up to 48 hours after the April 25th deadline.
Players in the portal can sign with their next school at any point, as there is no expiration date. Sadly, many players will not have a next destination…such is the way of the portal.
The Sooners are still in the market for several positions, including kicker, wide receiver, and if the right CB is there.
OU is currently hosting a kicker (UTSA Tate Sandell), and they plan on hosting WR Jer’Michael Carter (McNeese) tomorrow. Carter is currently on campus at Baylor, and he has additional visits planned following the OU trip.
(Sandrell signed with OU)
Oklahoma is also currently waiting on a decision from former Missouri State tight end Lance Mason, who they hosted last week.
News From the Portal | UTSA Kicker Tate Sandell = IN at OU
– Charlie S – Posted on: April 25, 2025
The Sooners went from having former UTSA kicker Tate Sandell as a name to know less than 48 hours ago to newly signed kicker.
Sandell has two years of eligibility remaining and he was 19 for 23 on field goal attempts.
The addition of Sandell checks off another box in the ‘needs’ column for OU as their kicking situation was less than stellar this spring.
I like it, nice way to start the morning.
