Open Post | Weekend, March 19th – 21st
Posted on: March 19, 2021
Observations from Under Armour Camp
– The Football Brainiacs
As y’all know, DT and CJ were out in Arlington this Sunday to watch the Under Armour camp at Martin High School. There were a ton of prospects and several Texas and Oklahoma commits in action.
We’ll dive into some of the biggest takeaways that we had from the camp. CJ will have the defensive side of the ball, while DT will focus on the offensive playmakers.
OFFENSE
*** Allen 2022 OL Neto Umeozulu is built like a brick wall and has the length that coaches covet as well. The big man is agile and has a mean streak. I left Arlington believing that he is undoubtedly one of the best available in 2022. Legitimate 6’3 280+.
*** Arlington Bowie 2022 OL Devon Campbell lived up to his 5-Star billing. Campbell only need 3 reps for it to be made abundantly clear that he was one of the alpha dogs in attendance in the trenches on Sunday. 6’3 310+.
*** Houston Summer Creek 2022 OT Kelvin Banks checks a ton of boxes physically. The big man is athletic, with long arms, and very little bad weight. The upside clearly exists for a Sunday player. Legitimate 6’5 300+.
*** I didn’t see Duncanville 2022 OT Jaylen Early get too many reps, but he held his own in the few that I did see. Early appears to be in the 6’3 280lb range. Major Sooner target.
*** Oklahoma 2022 C Demetrius Hunter looked like a natural in his couple of reps at Center. “Pancake” tried to get him one on each rep. Powerful, nasty player. 6’2 300+.
*** Texas A&M OT commit Hunter Erb took home OL MVP honors and had what was likely the most dominant rep of the day against a poor 2023 soul. Legitimate 6’5-6’6.
*** Duncanville 2022 OL Cameron Williams had an up-and-down showing in his handful of reps. It can be difficult to judge OL in these types of settings. One thing that isn’t questionable is his size. He’s a legitimate 6’6 325+. Williams holds an OU offer.
*** I thought that Frisco 2022 OL Cole Hutson had himself a nice day. He’s got some nice feet to go along with a promising frame. Hutson is a legitimate 6’4 300lbs. Major Sooner and Longhorn target.
*** It was my first time getting to see Odessa Permian 2023 OL Harris Sewell in person. Sewell doesn’t pass protect much at his high school, so it was definitely interesting to see him compete far away from home and out of his element a bit. He more than held his own. 6’2-6’3 280ish. Already holds a Texas offer.
*** It was a bit of a learning experience for Arlington Lamar 2023 OT Isaiah Robinson. It’s easy to see what makes him so attractive to so many P5 programs so early with his physical tools. Legitimate 6’5 270+. Holds a Texas offer.
*** 2022 Texas WR commit Armani Winfield may have had the best day out of all of the Wide Receivers in attendance on Sunday. It was also reported that Winfield posted one of the fastest 40-yard dashes in UA Camp history. Still working on getting that time (I believe it was in the high 4.3 range.) Legitimate 6’3 195+.
*** Frisco Liberty 2022 WR Evan Stewart took all of his reps against some of the best guys in attendance. Stewart is sleek moving around the field, although the timing was often off today with unfamiliar QBs. Stewart is not a big guy at all. 5’11 160+.
*** I found myself impressed with 2022 Oklahoma WR commit WR Talyn Shettron. He’s very fluid for his size and made some tough contested grabs look easy. He’s going to be a good one. Legitimate 6’2 180+.
*** Longview 2023 WR Jalen Hale was smaller than I was expecting (I was thinking 6’2-6’3 nearly 200lbs watching him on tape) but he certainly plays like a bigger WR at the catch point and has an impressive catch radius with his wingspan and athleticism. #6 on the 2023 Top 20. 6’0-6’1 175+.
*** Pilot Point 2022 ATH Ish Harris is being recruited by most to play on the Defensive side of the ball (mostly LB) but decided to compete at RB during the camp because “LB is boring at camps.” Harris is a fluid athlete and is bigger than I was expecting. Legitimate 6’3 200lbs.
*** Tyler Legacy 2022 RB Jamarion Miller was just too quick and fast for the LBs to keep up with on Sunday. He earned himself an invite to the UA All-American Game with his performance. 5’10 190ish.
*** Waco Connally 2023 RB Tre Wisner debuted at #14 on my 2023 Top 20 list last week and after watching him compete on Sunday I may have him a little too low. Wisner was unstoppable in 1-on-1s and has all of the makings of a nationally elite prospect. He will be a major target for the Longhorns and Sooners. 5’11 175+.
*** DeSoto 2023 WR Johntay Cook II is as smooth as it gets when it comes to getting in and out of breaks. He lived up to expectations on Sunday against some of the best. Cook debuted at #15 on the 2023 Top 20. 6’0 175+.
*** North Mesquite 2023 WR Cordale Russell maybe impressed me more than any other young WR in attendance. “Baby T.O.” certainly looks the part and made some impressive grabs throughout the day. Buy stock now. Legitimate 6’2 185+.
*** It was my first time seeing North Richland Hills 2023 WR Ashton Cozart and he did not disappoint. Big, fluid WR that routinely made defenders look silly on Sunday. His stock is starting to take off. 6’2 185+.
*** Lovejoy 2023 WR Jaxson Lavender has my vote for top Slot option in the 2023 class at this early stage. Lavender is a speedster with excellent change-of-direction ability and sticky hands. His offer list is starting to expand quickly. 5’10 160+.
DEFENSE
*** Off the bat, Arlington Martin’s DE Ernest Cooper was spectacular. He received his Under Armour game invite and was recognized as one of the camp’s top performers. Cooper has a tremendous frame and build. Looks like a future NFL talent.
*** Texas commit and teammate of Cooper, Arlington Martin’s Trevell Johnson had one of the best days of anyone at the camp. He moves like a safety and is able to make plays on the football that are pretty eye-popping. I really liked what I saw from him on Sunday.
*** When I went to Carthage and HC Scott Surratt told me LB Kip Lewis might be the best athlete he has ever coached, he wasn’t lying. Lewis shined all afternoon in one-on-one’s. He might just be the most athletic linebacker in the state.
*** Sooners DB target Jarred Kerr made a very nice interception on an out-route. He was not asked to do it much in high school, but if he is moved to cornerback, there will be a learning curve of playing press man. Regardless, very impressive outing.
*** I mentioned it briefly previously in the comment section, but the size of Chris McClellan is simply absurd. He’s listed at 6’4″ and I have no doubt that he is. Texas and OU have yet to offer, and if they don’t soon, you may as well put a pin in this one. On the contrary, Bear Alexander was surprisingly smaller than I anticipated in comparison to other DT’s in attedance.
*** Perhaps the best DB in attendance was 2022 John Paul II CB Terrance Brooks. In one-on-one’s, Brooks lined up against Evan Stewart and successfully won both reps with step-for-step coverage.
*** 2024 Parish Episcopal DB Daniel Demery is a candidate to spin down later in his career. His lower body is ginormous and he still has potential to grow. Will be a dude to follow.
*** It was good to see what 2023 Katy Morton Ranch DE David Hicks Jr. brings to the table in person. He’s going to be one of the most coveted pass rushers in the country and he showed glimpses of why Texas, OU, Texas A&M, and Alabama have already offered.
*** DeSoto had a pair of cornerbacks that turned heads. 2024 Mario Buford is going to be special, he had a great day in coverage. And 2022 CB Devyn Bobby has picked up some smaller offers, but had one-on-one wins against Texas A&M commit Donovan Green, Evan Stewart and several others.
*** One day after winning the 6A State Championship on the hardwood, 2024 Duncanville DE Colin Simmons was in action. As a 6’4″ freshman, he’s going up against Jaylen Early and Cam Williams in practice everyday. Imagine the monster he will be in three years.
No. 1 OLB in Texas Harold Perkins Talks OU
– CJ Vogel
I was able to see Cypress Park 2022 linebacker Harold Perkins in person during the Endzone 7on7 tournament in The Woodlands.
The state’s No. 1 outside linebacker was really impressive all weekend. Perkins played every snap on the defensive side of the ball and roughly 75% of every snap on offense. The dude is a playmaker and certainly lived up to expectations I had coming into the afternoon.
He listed Oklahoma, USC, Texas A&M, Texas, Florida and LSU as the schools hitting him up the most right now.
“I just talked with Coach (Lincoln) Riley (Friday night),” Perkins said. “They stay in touch. I can tell they are really involved and really want me. That’s all I have been looking for other than football.”
From the number of recruits I have talked to about the Sooners, the vast majority have great things to say about the family feel the Sooner staff is able to establish early in their recruitments. I asked Perkins if he felt the same vibe in his talks with them and the answer was an easy yes.
“I feel like they love their players,” Perkins said. “They do everything for their players, so I like that.”
An interesting tidbit from my conversation with Perkins is that he said he does not talk with DC Alex Grinch too often. He does stay in good communication with other members on the staff, but I would expect the DC to be a bit more involved with one of the top linebackers in the region.
Perkins also mentioned wanting to study Sports Broadcasting in college. He wants to stick around the game of football when his playing days are over and has his eyes set on a show like College Gameday when it’s all said and done.
For the time being, this recruitment has a ways to go. Perkins said he will commit at the Under Armour All American game next January. He said he is unsure if he will sign a NLI in the early session and hold off with an announcement.
Sooners in it for 4-Star North Carolina ILB
– Super K
Last Friday, I stopped by Northwest Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina to see Sooners 2022 4-star ILB target, Xavier Simmons.
***Simmons is physically more what OU is looking for at linebacker. He’s more of a true 6’2, if not taller. Already weighs 220+ lbs.
***He hasn’t technically dropped a top list but he does seem to have some favorites in mind – UNC, Virginia Tech, NC State, UVA, South Carolina and…
***Oklahoma.
***Sooners have a real shot in this one. Xavier is hoping they will open things back up. If they do, he absolutely plans on getting out to OU for a visit.
***OU is the primary school outside the region that he seems to be seriously considering.
***He’s done multiple virtual visits with the Sooners and is in regular communication with them.
***When I asked him what comes to mind when he thinks about Oklahoma, he said, “winning. A lot of success. A lot of NFL athletes. A great coaching staff”.
***Obviously proximity helps the other schools but I get the sense that his family isn’t going to have a problem flying out to games at OU.
***I know there are some schools in the area that are pressuring him a bit to commit but his coach seems to be telling him to take his time so he can see the schools. I get the feeling that’s very much what he wants to do.
***If the NCAA opens things up, the Sooners are going to have a chance to knock out the visit and I have a feeling they’re going to put on a show.
Chris McClellan | Making a Case to be the Best in the Region
– Charlie S
I’m not here to knock anyone in regards to who they offer or who they don’t offer. This staff is very good at their jobs and they obviously have a plan.
However, I believe it is time to advocate for an offer for 2022 defensive lineman Chris McClellan out of Owasso, Oklahoma who just picked up another offer, this one to USC.
Our guys finally got a chance to put their eyes on him and the overall sentiment is that ‘Chris McClellan is what you see when you point to SEC linemen’.
Darius and CJ said he was the best defensive lineman at the camp which included Bear Alexander and Kris Ross, both of whom OU pursued or is pursuing.
The guys said McClellan had the height and length advantage over both of those guys with a frame capable of adding more weight (already 280) and he moved very, very well.
I’ll get into his recruitment a little later this week but the offers are beginning to roll in and coming off the Under Armour camp, I don’t see it slowing down.
He may very well be the best defensive lineman in Texas and Oklahoma and right now, it feels like if you don’t get in soon, the mountain may be too high to climb.
Quick Official Visit Note | Dayne Shor
– Charlie S
Sooners 2022 OL offer Dayne Shor (6’6″ 295) out of Alpharetta, GA tweeted out that he was planning an official to Norman.
I exchanged a few messages with Shor and he let me know that this official will be in June.
He confirmed he will be taking the official visit on the weekend of June 11th – 13th, which happens to be the weekend which James previously reported to be a version of the ChampUBBQ which is typically held later in the summer.
Shor had previously confirmed that OU was a top school for him here.
Shor mentioned there were a couple other visits he was hoping to take in June but OU getting him on campus early is a pretty big deal.
Gabriel Dindy | In-Person Initial Update | Things I Learned
– Super K
The biggest target of the 2022 class is likely 5-star defensive end, Gabriel Dindy. As many of you already know, Dindy is a Sooner legacy. Both his mother and father attended the University of Oklahoma.
Yesterday, I spent some time with Dindy out here in Florida and here are some of my initial thoughts.
***He looks like a 5 star. 6’3 and 275 lbs of muscle. You don’t find guys that well put together at that size very often.
***Dindy may be more impressive off the field than he is off the field and he is extremely impressive on the field.
***I know most consider him an interior lineman. However, a major thing I learned coming away from that conversation is that Dindy absolutely wants to play defensive end. He believes he’s more suited to the position and he believes his on-field production demonstrates that. In fact, he noted that he’s in the process of continuing to lean up.
***Dindy sees himself in the mold of a Myles Garrett, a big athletic pass rusher. I’m told Dindy did clock a 4.75 40 laser timed 40, recently at the UA camp.
***Here is the thing that is very important, whether Gabriel’s upside is projects higher as a 5-technique on the outside or a 3-technique on the inside, he is convicted in his desire to play defensive end. And, just given the type of person he is, I don’t get the sense it would be wise for a staff to simply tell him what they think he wants to hear.
***He tells me that the coach Grinch has made it clear to him that he will be a defensive end and Gabriel says he believes Grinch and the Sooners are being forthright with him.
***Dindy is the son of a preacher. He takes his faith and his moral convictions very seriously – about as seriously as you’ll see in a young person. He himself wants to be a preacher and he currently gives sermons.
***So, again, any staff recruiting him, and there are many, really needs to understand that Dindy carries himself very differently than any average high schooler. It’s important, to be honest, and forthright with him.
***Dindy’s discus coach is actually an orthopedic surgeon by trade and I had a conversation with him about Dindy. And, he said that Dindy will end up being the Tim Tebow of the defense wherever he goes. And, if I had to name one person Dindy reminds me of in the way he speaks and carries himself, I’d say Tebow. All the way down to the accent and his cadence.
***Another thing I learned is that while Dindy’s father is from Ada, OK, Dindy was actually born and raised in Louisiana. He moved to Florida around the eighth grade.
***His father is clearly a Sooner fan and while I think Dindy grew up rooting for the Sooners because of his father, it’s pretty clear Dindy isn’t a big college football watcher, in general.
***Dindy has a top eleven but I get the sense he has about four or five schools that are at the top and are likely tied for first.
***He said that is a big part of why he believes he needs to carry this out till the Under Armour game. He says he really has a few schools that are equal and he’s going to need time to visit and really look these men in the eyes and see which of them are the kinds of men he believes are best to play for and be around.
***After spending yesterday afternoon with him, his father, and a number of his coaches, it’s pretty clear that that is what Dindy is going to be looking for, coaches he believes are also good men.
***We went into some detail about a few particular schools. We talked about Clemson, LSU, Alabama, Florida, Texas A&M and of course the Sooners, among others.
***I’ll flesh things out on those a bit more later but I can tell Clemson and the culture that Dabo Swinney has built at Clemson from a religious/spiritual perspective is very appealing to him.
***The Sooners have done a great job of building the relationship with Dindy and trust. He said Oklahoma will absolutely be one of his official visits. I came away from that conversation thinking that the Sooners are doing just about everything they can in this one and they are making a great impression on both Dindy and his family.
***I do believe it is too early to say any school, the Sooners included, is a slam dunk. If he was a more typical young man, then I’d agree with that. But he is so different than most any young person you meet that it’s clear there are much more important things than fandom to him.
***What I can say is that the Sooners are doing a great job recruiting him and I think the family vibe at Oklahoma is going to really help the Sooners. I believe the fact that his father is an OU fan and has great memories of the place (he met his wife there) certainly helps but I think that will play more of a role if things end up being equal in other areas.
***I do expect Dindy to take all of his official visits and wouldn’t be surprised if he takes multiple visits. However, my read is that the main thing he is waiting for is to get on some campuses and get a gut feeling about the place and the coaching staffs.
Team Sourced Notes | Standouts, Positions & Injury News
– Super K – Posted on: March 17, 2021
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Tennessee CB Jaylen Lewis Has OU in Top 2
– CJ Vogel
I was introduced to Jaylen Lewis last weekend at the Endzone 7v7 Tournament in The Woodlands where he was playing for Elite 3 Red.
Lewis was clamps in the games that I was able to watch of him and he really surprised me with his length and speed.
I caught up with him after one of his games to see where things currently stood in his recruitment and how his relationship with the Sooners was progressing.
Off the bat, Lewis told me that Oklahoma and Indiana are the top two teams vying for his services. I’ll dive into it in a bit, but Lewis said both schools are making him feel like a priority and both have done a great job of establishing a family feel, something that Lewis said is a big deal to him.
OU cornerbacks coach Roy Manning and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch have done a great job of establishing a relationship with the 4-star.
“He’s a cool coach,” Lewis said. “Him and defensive coordinator Coach Grinch. All of them, we’re like brothers. They call me once a week, check on me and talk to me – the whole coaching staff. Head coach being there too, we are all just talking about what’s going on with the day and how was their practice and how was my practice. I mess with them tough.”
I mentioned the family vibe being one of the most important aspects for Lewis. He expanded on it a bit and said the Sooners are doing a great job of doing just that.
“That’s very important,” Lewis said about being able to establish a good relationship with a coaching staff. “That’s the number one thing on my list. For me to pick a school, they have to treat me like I am family. And right now, Indiana and Oklahoma are really treating me like I am family.”
Lewis said the staff is pitching a spot anywhere in the secondary to him, though he prefers to stick at cornerback.
Lewis made the announcement on Wednesday that he will be taking his official visit to Norman on the weekend of June 11-13. He will be hitting up Georgia Tech and Indiana in the two proceeding weeks respectively.
Lewis had great things to say about the virtual visit he took with the Sooners. He said the staff had his favorite song queued up for the visit and said it was a “beautiful” visit that the Sooners “knocked out of the park.”
Another note that I found interesting in my conversation with Lewis, is that he grew up a big LSU fan. And while does have a reported LSU offer, he said he is not feeling the same love from the Tigers as he does OU and Indiana, therefore the interest is not the same level.
I got the vibe that things were really trending in the direction of the Sooners, though a decision won’t be coming for a while. Lewis said he is hoping to commit on December 5, to commemorate the passing of his grandmother. Regardless, a good spot for the Sooners to be in right now.
Jacob Sexton High on the Sooners
– CJ Vogel
I was able to catch up with 2022 4-star OL Jacob Sexton out of Edmond, Oklahoma at the Under Armour camp on Sunday.
The Sooners are pegged the (crystal ball) favorite for Sexton, and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh has been pushing all the right buttons to get the Sooners in a good position for Sexton.
“He is sending guys to the NFL all the time. (Creed Humphrey) is a great example. He’s not a huge guy, I think he was a three star coming out of high school and (Coach B) turned him into something great. So that’s also another great coach that can do some amazing things.”
Sexton dropped a top five of Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Alabama on the first of February. He said among the schools in his top five, he has only visited Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, though both trips were rather brief and he was unable to see the entirety of each programs’ facilities.
Head coach Lincoln Riley is involved in this recruitment as well. Sexton told me he has been able to connect and establish a pretty solid relationship with the Sooners’ play caller.
“He’s a great dude,” Sexton said. “I got offered from Oklahoma on Junior Day and I got to talk to him in his office and everything so that was really exciting. Pretty cool to see it from his eyes of the place and seeing everybody come through on game day, so that was awesome.”
Sexton added that he hopes to have a commitment sometime in the next six months or so. Before he gets to that point, he hopes to be able to visit each school to get a feel for the vibe surrounding each campus and city.
While Sexton said he grew up a Texas fan, I would not put too much stock into that statement. I don’t think that childhood allegiance will be playing too big of a role in the remainder of this recruitment. Sexton had great things to say about OU OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh and should the Sooners deem him a take, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the class come the end of the cycle.
Myles Pollard Visiting Sooners
– Super K
As you know, the Sooners are in hot pursuit of 2022 CB, Myles Pollard out of Brentwood, TN (Ravenwood).
After seeing Pollard last weekend at the Atlanta Pylon, we noted that he will be taking a self-guided visit to Michigan and they were considering an OU visit this month, as well.
His father now tells me that they are shooting to be in Norman sometime in mid-April for their self-guided tour. The weather should be great by then!
And his father says, they are “working on an official visit for June if allowed”.
Pollard had a top six or seven but the Sooners are sitting in his unannounced top three.
