Open Post | Weekend, April 7th – 9th
Posted on: April 7, 2023
Recruiting | Sourced | Xavier Jordan
– Super K – Posted on: April 3, 2023
Last week I mentioned that the Sooners getting 4-star Cali WR, Xavier Jordan on campus put Oklahoma squarely in the race (HERE).
Spoke with a source yesterday who tells me that the Sooners aren’t just in the race, they’re in the top two.
Was told that this is already down to an OU vs. USC battle. It doesn’t look like Jordan plans on dragging this out too long. I’m told he will take an official visit to OU and I imagine a decision will come shortly thereafter.
Again, SC is seen as the favorite but multiple sources have indicated to me that his mother would like him to get away from LA.
Sourced Note | Tight End Room
– Charlie S – Posted on: April 4, 2023
The Sooners are really struggling with depth at the tight end position in the spring as Jason Llewellyn, Kaden Helms, and Blake Smith are banged up and missing time.
That is putting a huge burden on Austin Stogner and OU has been using some walkons and a few other bodies to man the position at times in practice.
Llewellyn, Helms and Smith are all rehabbing and expected back for summer session at the latest.
There are more bodies coming in for the summer semester in Kade McIntyre and possibly Taylor Heim (if that is where he lands, and that has not been completely decided yet).
We asked around recently to see if OU planned on pursuing a tight end in the portal when the window opens on May 1st.
Sources indicate that OU “Is always looking for a game changer”. We asked specifically about UNT TE Var’Keyes Gumms who has announced his plans to enter the portal when it opens and we have been told that OU has had internal discussions about him yet they are not sure if they will have room for any additions to the TE room.
So while the need and desire for another tight end are there right now, it’s a tough situation for the Sooners as they currently have only one scholarship tight end who is available in Stogner, but as many as six scholarship guys may be available in a matter of weeks.
How Good can the Sooners be This Season?
– Super K – Posted on: April 4, 2023
Some of you have been asking for my thoughts on how good Oklahoma can be this season and what my expectations are. But, perhaps, you should be asking me how good I think TCU is going to be as I fared a lot better predicting their outcome, last season! Ha!
Last season, the Sooners fell short of even some of the most bearish predictions. Once conference play began, they could never seem to put together a complete game on either side of the ball. Something was always coming apart.
It wasn’t that the team was bad last year, I think it was that folks around the program who are typically good at being able to assess how good a team is, didn’t account for certain factors that come with having a regime change. And, in this case, the differences between the two regimes were significant.
OU went from an offensive coach who relies heavily on the talent of his quarterback to a defensive first time head coach who is the ultimate team coach – everyone carries their weight.
Last year’s team was far more talented than 6-7 but as a unit, the whole was less than the sum of its parts.
Additionally, folks around the program new and old didn’t have a frame of reference.
So, while I’m still taking what we hear this season with a grain of salt, I think the fact that people inside the program now have things to gauge this team against will give them a clearer sense of what they’ve got.
And again, Brent hasn’t been shy. He told the media that this year’s defense would be on another planet compared to last year’s defense.
I have had some recent lengthy discussions with multiple sources about the team. I’ll pass along some of what I’ve heard in subsequent posts.
But the overall sense I’m getting right now is that the defense will indeed be vastly improved and could end up being a special unit.
The sense is that the offense is still a question mark but there are some pieces that could allow Oklahoma to be successful on that side of the ball. But, certain guys are going to need to step up.
How much do I buy that their sense that the defense can be good? I do. I’ll get into more of why, later. But I just think overall there is far too much speed and depth on this defense as compared to years past to not field a good defense – assuming of course that Brent is the DC, they better be.
And I would agree that the jury is out on the offense, in part because we just don’t know yet what Emmett is going to be able to do with that WR group.
We know Oklahoma will field a good offensive line. Some scoffed when we said there were draft picks on last year’s offensive line and I think this upcoming draft and the next one, will once again vindicate our position.
But the skill position group overall, while talented, is largely unproven.
Again, more on all this later.
Sourced | What I’m Hearing on Jackson Arnold
– Super K – Posted on: April 4, 2023
I spoke with a source about Sooners freshman quarterback, Jackson Arnold. I thought the source’s insight was interesting.
***Source said they do not believe Arnold will be the starter but the reason for that probably isn’t for reasons you would’ve thought.
***This particular source has been around the program for quite a while and said that the difference in Arnold and say Rattler or Caleb was that despite how young Rattler and Caleb were, they never deferred to the starter. The source said, they seemed to always believe they were better than incumbent.
***Source said, Rattler came in thinking he was going to beat out Hurts. And then even when Rattler was the pre-season Heisman favorite going into Caleb’s freshman year, Caleb believed he was going to stay Rattler’s spot.
***There wasn’t this idea from those young guys that this is someone else’s team and they are there to sit behind the other guy and learn. They came in thinking they were better than whoever was in front of them and their plan was to take the spot.
***I’m told that is not how Jackson carries himself. Source said the sense is that Jackson carries himself more like what you might expect from a player who came up through a team oriented powerhouse program in a Dallas suburb – you defer to your senior and you come in and learn.
***I imagine some of that has to do with the culture difference between Riley and Venables. You even saw this with Klubnik out at Clemson. Despite the fact that DJ Uiagalelei struggled throughout the season, when interviewed Klubnik seemed to go out of his way to repeat Dabo’s line – the team belongs to DJ.
***I don’t really know if there is a right or wrong way to go about it. Dabo’s culture has had a lot of success at the QB position and Riley has, as well.
***But the bottom line is, source said the sense is that as of right now, Jackson seems to be content to be a sponge and show deference to the incumbent.
***The question though is even if Arnold didn’t come in with the same kind of audacity as Caleb and Spencer, does he have that kind of talent? Source said, “absolutely”. Said he has that kind of elite arm talent and accuracy and he moves well.
***Second source I spoke to corroborated that and said the staff absolutely believes Arnold will be a heck of a player for them.
The Latest | ’24 QB Michael Hawkins
– Charlie S – Posted on: April 5, 2023
Sooners ’24 quarterback target Michael Hawkins is set to make his commitment on Saturday, April 8th.
Hawkins made his way up to Norman for another visit last Wednesday and he really enjoyed the opportunity he had to take in the Sooners practice.
I asked him if there was anything different that stood out to him this trip and he said “Really watched the QBs yesterday and how they move around and operate.” He added, “That was really big for me. Then we went in the film room.”
So that was last Thursday when I was in touch with him, and I asked him if he had any plans to get back to TCU before making his announcement. Hawkins said “Thats what me and my dad are trying to figure out. I’ve been really busy with track.”
Sources around TCU indicate that TCU was out at his track meet this weekend, but they have not told us that Hawkins made it back to campus. A separate source said OU’s NIL game was a difference maker.
Last night, a source in Norman expressed their continued optimism. Source said “I would be surprised if he chose anywhere but OU’.
Sourced | Team Notes | Defense
– Super K – Posted on: April 6, 2023
Some notes on how the defense is looking per sources:
***First, I’ll emphasize again that there is a reason BV seems so confident in the defense. Not only are they second year in the system, there is a tremendous amount of flat out speed and athleticism on this defense compared to years past.
***I’m not saying they can’t improve the personnel. They’re going to continue to work on that. But there is absolutely no reason this defense can’t be excellent and they expect it to be.
***Let’s go front to back…
***Multiple people have told me that the guy to watch on the defensive line is absolutely Wake Forest transfer, Rondell Bothroyd. Was told he is absolutely bona fide.
***Another guy that I have heard is playing really well is Jonah Laulu. That shouldn’t come as a surpise. He was starting come on at the end of last year.
***Was told a starting front of R Mason (also taking a big step forward), Laulu, Jordan Kelley and Bothroyd is a more athletic defensive front that OU has had in some time. Kelley flashed a number of times last year. Just height alone you’re going 6’2, 6’5, 6’4, 6’3 respectively. And then when McCullough is in at Cheetah and he’s rolled down you’re adding another 6’5. And all these guys can run.
***That doesn’t include discussion of improvement from guys like Coe, Halton, Downs, etc.
***But I’ll emphasize again that the two guys I’m hearing the most are Bothroyd and Laulu and then probably R Mason.
***At LB both your starting backers can fly – Stutsman and Kanak. And the guys behind them can run too. Again, a very athletic group.
***Source said, Stutsman has AA potential but, “he’s got to do it. Until he does it, it’s just potential.” That’s what they’re looking for. They’re looking for Danny to put it together and go be who they know he can be.
***The Cheetah position is extremely deep so let me go into that a bit…
***I’m told McCullough is picking things up really quickly but the issue is that he was primarily used to being a third down pass rusher type. And I’m told he is very very good at that. But in this defense, there is so much more that he has to do so while he’s athletic, he’s going to have to continue to develop his understanding of the defense so that his athleticism can manifest itself in the defense. But, again, was told the staff is pleased with his progress.
***Both Reggie Pearson and Harrington are having good camps. Everyone raves about Pearson’s ability to strike. We saw that last year at Tech.
***But man, the praise for Harrington is really strong. I know it might make you roll your eyes a bit because we heard it last year. But I have to tell you what we are hearing and sources tell me the staff is having him playing every inside DB spot – Cheetah, SS and FS.
***He’s just such a big athletic kid. One source said, as he gets this defense down he’s a Bama level defender.
***Again, that entire LB group from Cheetah to MLB to WILL is extremely athletic and deep.
***We already know what the Sooners have at corner in Woodi and Jaden. Both should improve this season as should the guys behind them. I think this will be a solid group for the Sooners.
***Was also told that Billy and Key Lawrence have made big improvements. Both are playing well. Again, another very athletic group.
***BV and co have the pieces. I’m not saying they can be Georgia right now but IMO there is no question they have the players to be the best defense in the Big 12. Barring a series of injuries (God forbid) OU will know what they have in BV as a defensive coach, this season. If he’s up to it, the combination of the athletes he has and the schedule he’s playing should give him the runway to field a salty defense.
Big Board | 24K Corners
– Charlie S – Posted on: April 6, 2023
Continuing the roll out the class of ’24 Big Boards.
Today we will take a look at the Safety board.
You can find the Running Back Big Board HERE.
You can find the Wide Receiver Big Board HERE.
You can find the Offensive Line Big Board HERE.
You can find the Tight End Big Board HERE.
You can find the Safety Big Board HERE.
As I type this on April 5th, 2023, the Sooners only have one commit in the ’24k’ class and that is from cornerback Jeremiah Newcombe out of Casteel (Queen Creek, AZ) – 5’11 175.
OU corners coach and Co-DC Jay Valai is in a position where he could wrap up his class early as he has multiple guys that OU is in a very good position to land and with one spot already filled, he has the luxury of being picky.
The corners room for the ’23 season may turn out to be engineered from back to front regarding the 2’s and 3’s having higher ceilings than the projected starters. That, my friends, is a good thing.
Below you will find a list of the high school recruits that OU has offered at the corner position:
Travaris Banks – Hillcrest Academy (Tuscaloosa, AL) – 6’1 190
Kaleb Beasley – Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, TN) – 6’0 179 – Tennessee Commit
Kobe Black – Connally (Waco, TX) – 6’0 190
Eli Bowen – Guyer (Denton, TX) – 5’9 165
Selman Bridges – Lake Belton (Temple, TX) – 6’3 170
Jalyn Crawford – Parkview (Lilburn, GA) – 6’0 180
Tavoy Feagin – Carrollwood Day (Tampa, FL) – 5’11 165 – Clemson Commit
Corian Gipson – Lancaster (Lancaster, TX) – 6’0 170
Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins – Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) – 5’11 175 – UCLA
Jamari Howard – Westland Hialeah (Hialeah, FL) – 6’2 175 – Michigan State Commit
Devon Jordan – Union (Tulsa, OK) – 6’0 165
Charles Lester III – Riverview (Sarasota, FL) – 6’1 171
Jeremiah Newcombe – Casteel (Queen Creek, AZ) – 5’11 175 – Oklahoma Commit
Ify Obidegwu – St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) – 6’1 185
Ellis Robinson IV – IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) – 6’1 185 – Georgia Commit
Aaron Scott – Springfield (Holland, OH) – 6’0 170
Dedaunte Scott – Kennedale (Kennedale, TX) – 6’1 170
Jaylen Thompson – Riverdale (Murfreesboro, TN) – 6’0.5 173 – Michigan State Commit
Chase Tyler – Hiram (Hiram, GA) – 6’2 160
Bryce West – Glenville (Cleveland, OH) – 5’11 177
Marcelles Williams – St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) – 6’0 176
With Newcombe on board already, Valai is currently looking for a maximum of two more corners to add to the room. That number could change should there be some attrition between now and signing day, but we are working under the impression that OU would like to take four defensive backs (2 Corner and 2 Safety) with the flexibility to expand to five should the right guy present himself…and Marcelles Willimas would be an example of ‘that guy’.
Williams visited Norman and OU made enough of an impression to jump squarely into the mix in his recruitment as is the case with Travaris Banks. Kobe Black would be that guy, and he visited OU this spring already and while OU may get a return visit at some point, we don’t see that one coming together.
Eli Bowen is a guy that I have long believed will end up in the Sooners class and if he does, between him and Newcombe, that’s a dang fine class. While Bowen is a bit undersized, he is a really good corner and it’s not like OU is reverting back to the days of Dakota Austin. Bowen has the pedigree, the athleticism, the football IQ and the drive to be a very good college corner. This staff won’t run away from kids they believe in because of measurables, ala Andrew Mukuba.
Dedaunte Scott and Corian Gipson are still in contact with OU and we expect them to visit this spring and OU recently offered Devon Jordan out of Tulsa…so chances are, Valai will walk this one down at his pace and pinpoint and prioritize his guys accordingly.
Bottom line, the 24k corners class will be good and will likely be one of the first rooms ‘finished’ when it comes to recruiting.
