Open Post | Weekend, Feb. 19th – 21st (UPDATE Sat., 3:51 pm) By: The Brainiacs Posted on: February 19, 2016

– Defensive Line Coaching Search Notes: We’ve talked to a number of sources regarding Oklahoma’s current search for a new defensive line coach and heading into the weekend wanted to offer you all an update as to some of what we’ve heard thus far.

– We have been told the preference is to make a hire sooner rather than later, and if at all possible no later than the end of next week.

– That said, based on what we have been told as of right now we believe the top two candidates for the job are Michigan State’s Ron Burton & Penn State’s Sean Spencer. However with regards to Burton specifically, over the last 24 hours we have received some conflicting information with regards to his interest level in the job. So we are continuing to get confirmation as to what, if any, kind of realistic chance OU may or may not have of landing him.

– We have been told the Sooners interviewed long-time NFL assistant Brian Baker, but have decided to go in another direction.

– A more recent name we’ve been told is also a candidate is that of South Florida defensive line coach, Eric Mathies. We are checking with some of our South Florida contacts to see where things stand exactly on this front and hope to hear back soon.

– Kansas defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux is also a candidate for the job. However, we had been told from the very beginning there were at least some concerns he may still be a little too inexperienced. Nothing we’ve heard since leads us to believe anything has changed in that regard, but one source close to the KU program told TFB “they (OU) have contact him (Thibodeaux) about the job…wouldn’t shock me at all if he gets a shot at it.”

– Another name being discussed by OU has a possible candidate is Washington State defensive line coach, Joe Salave’a. At this point we’re not entirely sure just how much interest there is on either side of things, but we did have a source indicate Salave’a as a possible candidate.

– We know some folks have also mentioned C.J. Ah You as a possible candidate but again as we mentioned in Thursday’s Open Post, our sources at Vanderbilt told TFB that, to their knowledge, there has been no indication given that Ah You is going anywhere. – (Brandon & Super K)

– New Impact Walk-on?: The Sooners have had pretty good luck at finding walk-on players that come in, make an impact, and eventually earn a scholarship. And they just may have found another in speedy wide receiver, Reggie Turner (Pasadena, TX).

Turner is a lightning fast wide receiver who was a qualifier out of high school, but some missteps in his recruiting process led him to a couple JUCO stops. One of which was well known Blinn Community College, where he got to know current OU wideout Dede Westbrook.

Turner is expected to arrive in Norman later this summer, and has been told he will come in as a preferred walk-on with a chance to earn a scholarship (much like OU did with Jarvis Baxter just last year). Turner told TFB that he’s always mirrored his game after that of another popular former Sooner, Ryan Broyles. “I was always amazed at how smart he is…how he finds a way to get open.” – (Super K)

– UPDATE (Fri., 11:44 am):

– UPDATE (Sat., 3:51 pm): Last week we were told that OU had generated a list of eight candidates for the OU defensive line coaching vacancy. Thus far we’ve mentioned six. We were able to confirm another name. As first reported by Carey Murdock of Soonerscoop.com, Mississippi State defensive line coach, David Turner, confirmed through a source close to Turner that he has been in contact with Oklahoma. We are told that Turner is, “discussing things with his family”. We were also told that Turner will make a decision sometime early this upcoming week on whether he wants to remain in contention for the position or not. – (Super K)

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