Open Post | Weekend, June 28th – 30th
Posted on: June 28, 2019
Notes From The Road | 2020 DL Tyler Baron
– Super K
Recently went out to Knoxville, Tennessee to speak with 2020 DL Tyler Baron (6’5″ 255, Knoxville, TN),
Unfortunately, I lost my quotes from my conversation with him so I’m typing this up while our conversation is still fresh in my mind.
***As you know Baron took an official visit to Oklahoma last week. That was the first official visit he’s taken.
***I asked him what made him take the visit and he said that he has a really good relationship with coach Lincoln Riley. “We communicate almost every day”. He also said he has a previous relationship with coach Grinch from Grinch’s time at Ohio State.
***I asked him what stood out about the visit and he said that while the facilities are great, it was really about the people there. He liked the staff and the support staff at Oklahoma.
***He commented on what’s really driving his interest in Oklahoma. He knows the defense has struggled but said that he truly believes in Lincoln Riley. He said (and I’m paraphrasing because I lost my quotes), if Lincoln can make it as far as he has without a defense, it’s going to be scary what he can do if Grinch turns the defense around.
***I did ask him if he chose Oklahoma, what would be the reasons? Again, he said that if he chose Oklahoma it would be because of Lincoln Riley.
***Baron said that he is going to be out at Oklahoma for an unofficial visit. He wants to be there for a game. He’s said that what he’s watching for with Oklahoma is how the defense is going to improve this season.
***I asked him about his interest in Ohio State and he said, “Larry Johnson”. Johnson is the Ohio State defensive line coach. He said he loves what Johnson does with his defensive front and he’s putting guys in the league. He also noted that it’s close to home. He said Ohio State, in his mind, doesn’t really have weaknesses. They are producing defensive talent and they are the type of team that can compete for a national championship.
***He talked about Tennessee and said that if he chose Tennessee it would be because of his comfort level there. As you know, Baron’s father is on staff. He also said that he believes he can play early at Tennessee. However, he says he wants to wait till the season to see what coach Pruitt and the Vols do and how they perform.
***Baron is a sharp young man. He isn’t cocky but he knows that with the right work ethic, he has the God-given ability to get drafted (I agree…he’s physically very gifted). He said he sees that at a place like Tennessee he can get on the field very early.
***This leads me to Alabama. Tyler says Alabama will likely be his next official visit. He said Alabama has no weakness either. They’re competing for national championships and producing on defense. The issue, however, that he noted is that at Alabama, in all likelihood you’re going to sit for a year or two before you get on the field.
***The Sooners, like Tennessee, obviously offer Baron the very likely case that he will play as a true freshman. But again, the question is how both will perform during the season. In the case of Tennessee, it’s whether they will win games. In the case of Oklahoma, it’s whether the defense will improve.
***In terms of a timeline, he said he doesn’t know when he will decide just yet. He did say that he wants to take at least two more official visits, Alabama and Tennessee. He says he may possibly take a fourth but hasn’t decided which or if it will happen. My guess is it would be to Ohio State. I sense that this is a Tennessee, OU, Bama, Ohio State battle but admittedly that’s my take and not anything he overtly articulated.
Quick Hitter | 2020 WR Jalen McMillan Commits To Washington
– Charlie S
One time Sooners target at wide receiver, Jalen McMillan (Fresno, CA) has verbally committed to the Washington Huskies.
As K mentioned a few weeks back, the Sooners and McMillan had gone their separate ways on the recruiting trail after it felt for a time that it was a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ he would commit to OU.
Now, the real reason for this quick note was to let you know he was not one of the remaining sets of ‘eyes’ that Lincoln Riley had flashed.
I know some of you were thinking he was perhaps the ‘Big one’, he was not.
We are working on refreshing the OU WR Big Board, but right now we feel the focus would be on Gary Bryant (Corona, CA) and Marvin Mims (Frisco, TX).
OU is in a good spot with both, however, Bryant will be a battle on several fronts and while it would not be an impossible pull, right now, there are some obstacles they will have to overcome.
I would look for some new offers or renewed engagements of some current offers in the near future.
Brock Vandagriff | Post Video Notes
– Super K
While I was out in Georgia (still here…spending a few days in Savannah with some friends) shooting the Brock Vandagriff video with our videographer, there were a few things I noted about Brock and his family and community that I thought you all might be interested in hearing.
***First, I’m sure most of you know this but for those that don’t, Brock’s father is the head coach at Brock’s high school. The school is a private school called Prince Avenue Christian School. It’s in a small but lovely and tight-knit community just outside of Athen (GA).
***We walked off the field after the video shoot to say goodbye to Brock’s mom and dad and there was another man standing there, clearly someone they were very close to. We were talking about Brock’s decision and he said he was happy he picked OU. Given it’s SEC territory, that’s surprising.
It turns out that gentlemen was the church preacher and community leader. And, get this, he’s originally from Norman and a huge OU fan.
So, it sounds like OU has some allies in SEC territory!
***In terms of Brock’s personality, he’s an absolute alpha. Very down to earth but has a maturity and a seriousness about him that separates him from a lot of kids his age. It was interesting watching him with all his friends. He’s definitely the leader.
A few little things I noted was…
1) He would direct his friends to do things in a way that was kind but up front.
2) He’d have fun with them and joke but never like, over the top, silly or in some undignified manner. He’s one of the boys but also different in a way.
***Another thing worth mentioning was related to that video of a kid who took a picture with Tom Herman and did the Horns down. For those of you haven’t seen it, it’s below…
I overheard Brock’s dad telling some people about it. I figured, as a coach, maybe he wouldn’t have been into it.
Boy, was I wrong. They have stepped right into the rivalry and Brock’s dad said he absolutely loved it. He thought it was hilarious. I got the sense it comes from an ultra-competitive side of Brock and his dad.
2020 DL Blayne Toll Announcing Today
– Charlie S
Earlier yesterday morning, 2020 OU defensive line target Blayne Toll tweeted out that he will be announcing his commitment to his school of choice tomorrow…
As Super K reported last week, Toll’s decision seemed imminent.
With that said, what once seemed like an OU slam dunk, no longer appears to be the case.
While we cannot rule anything out in regards to where he will choose, the fact that OU and Toll never got their official visit together and he is coming off of officials to Arkansas and Tennessee does not bode well for the Sooners in this case.
In his conversation with Toll’s mother, Tabitha, Super K came away with the feeling that if the decision was not delayed a bit, OU would not be the call. It was in the Sooners best interest to have Toll extend his timeline and make it to Norman for the BBQ or an early season official visit.
I am not saying it’s definitely not OU at this point and we will do some checking, but the signs are currently pointing in the wrong direction and trending away from the Sooners.
Fast Five | Team Notes | Summer Workouts
– Super K
***Want to reiterate again, what I wrote in a post earlier this summer about this class, namely, just how good the staff feels about this class, in general.
I spoke with another source about it and that was emphasized to me once again. However, it does sound like there are one or two guys who, early on, I’m told you can kind of tell may not be quite ready for OU level. I won’t mention any names.
***Have been told that both Jaden Davis and Woodi Washington are having good summers. Was told Davis has stood out as someone who doesn’t shy away from competition. Not really a surprise though given his football IQ and the program and area of the country he comes from (St. Thomas Aquinas and South Florida respectively).
***Was told that the two OLBs, Joseph Wete and Davis Ugwoegbu have stood out. It sounds like Ugwoegbu is seen as an A+ talent but was told that Wete’s work ethic is rare. One person said the young man is in the gym morning and night.
***Continue to hear that there are big hopes for Neville and Kenneth Murray to have break out years this upcoming year. I keep hearing things like, “if they do what they’re supposed to do”. In other words, the sense is that these two guys in particular, along with perhaps Mann, could get drafted and help not only OU’s defense but OU’s defensive recruiting efforts.
***Murray has been a leader but not necessarily a vocal one. Heard he’s been much more vocal in holding guys accountable and the person I spoke to seemed to think this is stemming from Grinch’s communication style.
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Updates | Bryson Washington, Andrew Raym & Mail
– Super K
***I checked in with Bryson Washington immediately after his Texas OV and it was pretty clear he was leaning Texas. I spoke to him today and he said he’s going back and forth and will have a final decision by Saturday or Sunday (this weekend).
Reminder he is announcing on the 4th.
***I have checked around on the Andrew Raym front. I’ll keep this pretty simple.
– According to sources, Raym and OU have been in a very good spot for a very long time.
– According to our sources, OU hasn’t been told any different.
– If you ask folks around the Tulsa community, they think he’s leaning Georgia and I imagine that’s where a lot of the Georgia talk is coming from.
– Charlie and I spoke about this and he mentioned that this could end up being a situation like Creed Humphrey (committed to TAMU before he ultimately chose OU). Also, see what happened with Akinola.
– I’ll be honest, if an in-state OL passes up the in-state school where he was offered early, a school that is producing offensive linemen like no other school in the country, competing for championships and playoff spots every year and is led by Lincoln Riley, then…I say…oh well. That’s not to be any disrespect to Raym.
Everyone is free to make a choice. But it says nothing at all about OU. On paper, OU makes far more sense than Georgia for an in-state OL and this won’t be anything more than a blip on the radar. To me, this would be a little like a high school defensive lineman in Alabama who was pursued by Saban and company choosing to go somewhere like Wisconsin.
– It’s for the reasons above that I think Raym probably ends up at OU whether he commits to UGA this summer or not. Either way, the beat goes on.
***Mailbag: A bunch of you all asked if this week’s eyes were Tyler Baron. The answer is no. Baron to OU is possible but there is still a lot that needs to happen this season.
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