The Football Brainiacs

Image of Marcus Mays via Tulsa World (James Gibbard)

– Austin Kendall: As you all know by now, Oklahoma landed the highly touted 2016 QB yesterday. I caught up with Kendall’s QB coach, Tony Ballard, yesterday evening to get a better sense of who the Sooners are getting in the Waxhaw (NC) product.

Ballard trains a number of quarterbacks including one time OU 2016 target Jarrett Gaurantano as well as Southmoore’s young stud 2018 QB Casey Thomson. He said the thing that separated Kendall from other QBs in his class is the fact that he processes information so much more quickly. Ballard said it’s scary how good he believes Kendall will be as he continues to develop physically. Ballard has been training Kendall since he was in the 7th grade and said from Day 1, Kendall reminded him of Matt Ryan in that he has a similar cerebral disposition and similar arm strength. And if you’ve watched even just a couple minutes of Kendall’s film, you’ll quickly see he is a much better overall athlete than Ryan. So he has that going for him. Ballard feels that OU got the steal of this 2016 QB class in Kendall.

And perhaps just as importantly, Kendall gives OU “the face” of their 2016 class. Talent loves to be around/play with other talent. Now OU can showcase Kendall as a key member of their 2016 class, and he seems more than willing to start recruiting others to join him in Norman. This could be exactly what OU needed to jump start their recruiting on the offensive side of the ball. – (Brandon)

– More on Kendall: Just wanted to add a quick follow up note to what Brandon said. When I became aware OU was first recruiting Kendall, I reached out to a friend of mine. Steve Calhoun is a QB guru out in California, who has trained guys like EJ Emanual, Russell Wilson, and a number of other quarterbacks. Additionally, he has also worked with guys like Kenny Stills and our own Ryan Broyles. I trust Calhoun’s eye and know he’ll shoot me straight, so I sent him Kendall’s film just to get his take. His response after watching the film was short and sweet. “This kid can play! Needs some work with his mechanics, but he can definitely play.” Personally, that was all I needed to hear. – (Super K)

– QB Recruiting: For a while now we have been hearing that OU may be taking two quarterbacks in this 2016 class. However following Kendall’s commitment yesterday, I wanted to dig a little more on that to see if it was still the case. As some of you may be aware, a lot of the talk surrounding Kendall’s decision to decommit from Tennessee is believed to be as a result of their decision to continue pursuing other 2016 QBs. So based on that (again, assuming there is at least some degree of truth to it), on its surface it doesn’t seem to make a ton of sense that OU would still look to sign a second QB in this class. Hence, my decision to keep digging.

To that point, yesterday, I spoke with Joshua Jackson, who you might recall was planning to be in Norman today. However, shortly after Kendall informed the coaches of his commitment, Jackson received a call from the OU staff and now, well, he’s not in Norman today as a result.

I also reached out to another of OU’s top QB targets in Dwayne Haskins, who also had plans originally to be in Norman this weekend for the Red/White game. However, that visit has also since been cancelled.

Both of which are at least a sign of the possibility OU is done at QB in this 2016 class, but even while seemingly somewhat unlikely you probably cannot rule out entire the chance of a second QB in this class. Although, in my opinion, it seems pretty doubtful. – (Brandon)

– Devin Duvernay: Also spoke with 2016 WR Devin Duvernay (Sachse, TX) yesterday evening, who said the reality of OU getting a QB of Kendall’s caliber was very appealing to him. And Duvernay’s recruitment has only gained even more attention after showing out at the regional Nike Opening event a couple of weeks ago. If you weren’t already aware, Duvernay posted a 4.38 laser timed 40.

The highly sought after Sachse product has already been to Norman once — last month for a Jr. Day — and the speedster tells me that he has plans to get back for another visit later this summer. – (Brandon)

– Jordan Carmouche: Had the chance to catch up last night with another previous OU Jr. Day visitor in 2016 LB Jordan Carmouche (Manvel, TX). As of last night, Carmouche said he is trying to make it up to OU’s spring game this weekend. He said he just has to confirm it with his father. Whether he’s able to make it up is yet to be known for certain, but the fact that he wants to get back up to Norman can’t be a bad sign. – (Alex)

– Luther Harris: Yesterday, JY offered some thoughts on 2016 Heritage Hall offensive lineman Luther Harris. The OK Preps big man was in Norman this past weekend for a second visit in just a matter of weeks. In speaking with some people, Harris is a kid who really stood out to a lot of folks at the recent regional Nike Opening event in Dallas.

Harris says he has been in regular communication with Bill Bedenbaugh and that their communication has picked up quite a bit over the last month or so. Just after getting off the phone with him this past Monday night, Harris picked up a quality offer Ohio University. JY feels as though Harris is definitely a high major, D-I player with his size and athleticism. He’s certainly a player we’ll be watching with great interest as things continue to progress. – (Brandon)

– Mark Jackson: Last night coach Diron Reynolds took a page out of his predecessor’s playbook channeling a little Jerry Montgomery in tweeting out the following:

Good talk with OUr guy from the 254!!! #Rush the Passer #Boomer

— Diron Reynolds (@Coach_Diron) April 8, 2015

The “254” passing rushing specialist he was referring to was none other than 2016 OU offer and DE/OLB target, Mark Jackson (Cibolo, TX). I caught up with Jackson last night, who confirmed he has been communicating with coach Reynolds recently. Jackson was close pretty close with Montgomery, but it seems Reynolds has been working hard on building that same type of relationship with Jackson.

The Cibolo product said he plans on being in College Station this weekend to visit Texas A&M, but did confirm he’s hoping to make it up to Norman at some point this spring. – (Super K)

– Jack Anderson: The Sooners were one of the first offers for 2017 Frisco (TX) offensive lineman Jack Anderson. He was very close with former defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery before he left for the NFL. It has taken some work, but coach Bill Bedenbaugh and Lincoln Riley have made massive strides in regards to their relationship with Anderson

Anderson was in Norman this past weekend taking in the team’s scrimmage and said he really enjoyed the experience. He got to spend about twenty minutes in Bob Stoops’ office talking and trying on all the championship rings. Anderson said he has plans to get back to OU in the fall for a home game. He will also be in College Station this weekend for the Aggies’ final spring scrimmage.

Having just seen Anderson a couple weeks ago at the regional Nike Opening event, he is a very impressive prospect in person especially considering he’s still just a sophomore in high school. He was going up against guys that were more physically mature, but Anderson more than held his own. For the most part, he dominated in the 1-on-1’s. The performance earned him an invitation to the national Opening event up in Oregon this July. In fact, he was one of just a handful of 2017 kids who were invited to attend. If OU continues to recruit him like they have been, I can’t help but see them being in it until the end. – (Brandon)

– Introducing the Next OK Preps Star: I recently came across film of a 2017 DB named Marcus Mays out of Tulsa Edison HS. He’s about 6’1” & 175-pounds, and when I turned on the tape he immediately jumped off the screen. Mays has great length and athleticism, but also has a physical side to his game you rarely see in someone so young. This kid is actually just 15-years old!

He has played S, CB, WR & QB for his squad as well as special teams, so it’s obvious the kid is versatile. Has great ball skills and closes on the ball in a hurry when coming down hill. Watching this film gave me the same type of excitement as when I watched 2017 ATH Jeffrey Okudah a while back. For those that don’t know, Okudah has around 20 offers already from the ‘who’s who’ of college football, including Oklahoma.

I caught up with Mays’ coach, DJ Howell, this week who told me Mays has started both ways, on varsity, since he was a freshman. Howell talked about how impressive Mays is when playing the ball in the air with his ability to ‘jump out the gym.’ Howell said he takes care of business in the classroom and is a great kid off the field as well. Coach said he has to remind himself sometimes that he is still as young as he is.

Another item of note is that Mays also plays basketball and runs track, so he isn’t able to live in the weight room just yet. Which only makes his ceiling that much higher once he is able to get in a weight program. Howell told me that he’s coached a few NFL kids in his day and said in his opinion, Mays definitely has the makings of a future NFL talent.

His film is just starting to get out, but he is a kid we expect to blow up this spring. Brandon recently introduced our readers to 2017 in-state LB Levi Draper, who has already picked up an offer from Louisville is garnering attention from OU, TCU, Alabama and others. It’s early but it’s starting to look like next years OK Preps class could have some serious top end talent. – (Alex)

– More on Mays: Just wanted to throw my two cents in here as well. Most of you know that I love scouting and discussing the DB position. I haven’t had a chance to really talk to Marcus and understand him as a person, which is something that’s very important to me when I’m forming an opinion about a player, but based on film alone he exploded off the screen to me. In fact I was in the movie theater the other night just about to watch Kingsmen (dope movie by the way), when Alex texted me Mays’ film and asked me to take a look.

I told him I was about to start a movie, but I’d give him a call later. While I was sitting there, I decided to watch at least the first little bit of his film before the movie started. Four plays in I got up out of my seat, walked into the hallway, and called Alex just to share my excitement about the young man’s ability.

It’s always especially fun to see glimpses of a fantastic young player who hails from Oklahoma. If Mays has the right mental attitude and a willingness to put in the real work it takes to be special, as far as I’m concerned he has a chance to be an absolute star. – (Super K)

– UPDATE (11:35 am): Exchanged messages with Devwah Whaley earlier this morning, who said he is interested in getting up to the OU spring game this weekend. But at this point he is not 100% certain he will be able to make it. But again, the desire to come says a lot.