Open Post | Weekend, February 17th – 19th (UPDATED 2:11 pm) By: The Brainiacs Posted on: February 17, 2017

– Big Weekend Ahead: The Sooners will host a ton of top 2018 talent this weekend. Over the past couple weeks we’ve been dropping names in the Open Posts. Let’s review some of the names and add a name or two.

Vernon Jackson: This past week Oklahoma offered 2018 DE, Vernon Jackson (Boling, TX).

https://twitter.com/vjackkk/status/832065117361684480

Jackson confirmed that he will be at Oklahoma’s jr day this weekend.

Jordan Kelley: In case you missed it, yesterday we noted that the Sooners will host 2018 DT, Jordan Kelley (Tulsa, OK). Kelley doesn’t yet hold an offer from Oklahoma but he’s hoping that will change. He says he currently has offers from Oklahoma State, Kansas, TCU, Tulsa and he picked up an offer from Iowa State last night. Kelley said the Sooners haven’t yet said anything to him about an offer.

Should OU offer though, Oklahoma could be tough to beat. Kelley said he did grow up an OU fan.

Kelley also added that Texas has been in touch with him and he will be visiting Austin for the UT jr day next weekend.

Calvin Avery: As we mentioned in our February 7th Open Post, the Sooners will host 2018 DT, Calvin Avery (Dallas, TX) this weekend. Avery is a monster sized defensive tackle. He tells me he’s currently around 6’3-6’4 and well over 300 lbs.

Avery says the Sooners have been among the schools that are recruiting him the hardest. When I spoke with Avery over the phone earlier in the week he didn’t have any other visits set up. This will be a return trip for Avery. Oklahoma is putting themselves in a good position here. I’ll be catching up with Avery after the visit.

Rafiti Ghirmai: We also previously mentioned that 2018 OL, Rafiti Ghirmai (Frisco, TX) says he will be in town for the OU jr day. As we noted, Ghirmai’s brother is a student at Oklahoma so this will not be the first visit for him. Ghirmai doesn’t hold an OU offer yet but has picked up offers from schools like Texas, Baylor, Florida and others.

Izaih Filikitonga: 2018 DE, Izaih Filikitonga (Euless, TX) is another big man who doesn’t hold an OU offer but has picked up a number of other FBS offers.

Jalen Green: Jalen Green (Houston, TX) is one of the top 2018 DBs in the country. It’s certainly good news that he’s making his way up to Norman this early. Green will also visit Oklahoma State this weekend. Teams to watch early are Texas and LSU.

Starrland Baldwin: Starrland Baldwin is a 2018 DB out of the Houston area that I mentioned last weekend in a tweet…

This is definitely a OU level player in my opinion. I was at a 7v7 RR with a lot of talent and Baldwin was the best DB I saw.

Leon O’Neal: 2018 DB, Leon O’Neal is another Houston area DB that you all know by now will be at this weekend’s jr day. I actually saw O’Neal live last weekend as well and he is quite impressive. A very big safety that can cover. I think the early leaders for O’Neal are the regional schools like Texas, TCU, TAMU, OU, etc. This visit will be telling.

Patrick Fields: In-state DB, Patrick Fields (Tulsa, OK) is another top defensive back who let us know a while back that he will attend this weekend’s jr day.

As noted before, Fields has already visited TCU, as school that he tells us is he is very high on. He will also visit Texas next weekend, a school, he tells me, that some of his family roots for. Fields has also mentioned that at one time going to OU may have been a foregone conclusion but he’s now looking to take his time a bit with the process to continue evaluating his options.

Delarrin Turner-Yell: 2018 DB and recent OU offer, Delarrin Turner-Yell (Hempstead, TX) was expected to visit this weekend but told me earlier today that his ride fell through but he still plans on visiting OU in the near future.

Kolby Peel: 2018 DB, Kolby Peel (College Station, TX) said he is trying to make it up to Norman this weekend. I am waiting on a response to confirm if that trip will happen. Peel is a guy, I’m told, OU likes and could get an offer soon.

Brennan Eagles: 2018 WR, Brennan Eagles (Houston, TX) is another WR I saw live last week. Eagles confirmed in person that he will be at this weekend’s jr day. I think it’s safe to say that him making OU one of his early trips is a good sign for the Sooners.

Keaontay Ingram: 2018 RB Keaontay Ingram (Carthage, TX) is considered by most to be the top RB in Texas. There is a lot of competition for this young man’s commitment. When I spoke to Ingram recently he kept bringing the conversation back to new Texas RB coach, Stan Drayton and his development of Cowboys RB, Ezekiel Elliott. At that time Texas was the only visit he confirmed he would take (next weekend) and said he did grow up a Texas fan. However, the Sooners have obviously recruited Ingram hard and Ingram decided to take the trip up to OU for the jr day. I’ve been saying for a while now, no one in this area handles visits as well as Oklahoma. If a regional kid gets on campus, the Sooners will typically make it tough for other schools even if a player has a favorite going into the visit.

This will be a critical visit for OU. Ingram has already visited TCU and TAMU and with this visit upcoming to OU and next weekend’s to Texas, I think a decision could come fairly soon.

Jalen Knox: The Sooners will, as we’ve mentioned, also host 2018 RB Jalen Knox (Mansfield, TX). Knox doesn’t yet hold an OU offer but he has picked up offers from Duke, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin and others.

DaShaun White: 2018 LB, DaShaun White (North Richland Hills, TX) is hoping this return trip to OU will be the one that lands him a Sooner offer.

Taylor Upshaw: As our Andrew King noted a while back, the Sooners will receive a visit from FL DE, Taylor Upshaw. Again, Upshaw doesn’t have an offer from OU.

Jalen Redmond: 2018 in-state DE/OLB and OU offer, Jalen Redmond also says he will make a return trip to OU this weekend. Redmond said he will “most likely not be committing to any school early” so I’m not expecting a sudden BOOM from his this weekend. But obviously with a player who lives just up the road from Norman, you’ve got to like OU’s chances with Redmond.

Byron Hobbs: One of my favorite recent offers was to long, athletic 2018 LB, Byron Hobbs (Ft. Worth, TX). Hobbs let us know last week that he plans on visiting Oklahoma this weekend. – (Super K)

– UPDATED (Friday, 2:11 pm): 2018 DB, Trent Gordon (Manvel, TX) tells me he will visit OU this Sunday. Gordon holds offers from LSU, TCU, Tennessee, Oregon, TAMU and many others. Gordon does hold an OU offer.