Open Post | Wednesday, September 24th (Updated 9:13 am)
Posted on: September 24, 2014
Image of KeShawn Somerville via 247 Sports
Justin Reid: As most of you know, 2015 OU safety target Justin Reid is the younger brother of former LSU standout safety, Eric Reid. Yesterday, Louisiana native and LSU safety commit Kevin Henry decommitted from the Tigers and flipped to Oklahoma State (per @DemtricDWarren).
If you saw this news at the time, most of you probably thought two things? One, OSU? And two, will this lead to an LSU offer for Justin Reid?
To answer the first, OSU has a couple coaches on staff that are originally from Louisiana, including Coach Malone (DB coach). To answer the second, we caught up with Justin yesterday and he said that he still has not heard much from LSU. Additionally, I’ve been told that Henry was actually projected to play linebacker so this doesn’t necessarily mean that a safety position opened up at LSU.
OU currently leads for Reid, but obviously if LSU offered…they would immediately take the lead.
Bobby Evans: As Jordan mentioned in today’s Sooner News Daily, 2015 OU offensive tackle commit Bobby Evans tore his ACL. Our northern Texas recruiting analyst, Alex King, told us that Evans injured himself last week. He caught up with Evans and it seems he originally thought everything was ok but the worst was confirmed this week. We wish him a speedy and full recovery.
KeShawn Somerville & PJ Mbanasor: Spoke to Mbanasor last night and he told us that Bobby Jack Wright will be in Pflugerville this week for their Thursday game. We suspect coach Wright will be there to see not only Mbanasor, but also 2016 Baylor commit, KeShawn Somerville. Coach Wright spoke with him some last spring. Somerville is an extremely fast safety/cornerback for Hendrickson. He earned a Baylor offer by running a sub 4.4 40 at a Baylor camp this past summer.
Neville Gallimore: We also caught up with Neville Gallimore’s coach and apparently Jerry Montgomery will be up north of the border this week to visit the big defensive lineman. Gallimore recently released a Top 5 which includes: Oklahoma, Oregon, Florida, Florida State and Ohio State. In speaking to Neville and his coach, it seems he has the best relationship with Montgomery and clearly the dynamic OU assistant is looking to continue to solidify that relationship.
Antoine Stephens: We recently mentioned a very big and physical 2015 cornerback out of Kimball, HS in Dallas named Antoine Stephens (HERE). Caught up with a coach from Kimball yesterday and it sounds like OU could be sending a coach down this week to take an up close look at Stephens. I’ve been told there are a number of coaches starting to show interest in Stephens, who had another interception last weekend.
Brian Bullock: This past summer, 2016 cornerback Brian Bullock out of Round Rock, Texas took an unofficial visit to Oklahoma. We checked in with Bullock last night, and he said that he and his father are in the process of planning another trip up to Norman to see a game. He said they are looking at possibly attending either the Kansas State or Baylor game. We expect Coach Wright will stop by Round Rock when he’s in the Austin area this coming Thursday.
UPDATE (9:13 am): 2016 CB, Obi Eboh out of Southlake Carroll tells us that coach Bedenbaugh will be down to visit him tomorrow. Eboh is another long CB that Oklahoma is currently recruiting and evaluating. He made the trip up to Norman for the Louisiana Tech game a few weeks ago and is still hoping for an OU offer. He currently holds offers from Miss. State, Duke, Ole Miss, Rice and Texas Tech.
103 Comments
I’m going to try and attend a Hendrickson game this year b/c I’d like to see PJ in person. Sounds like Somerville is someone to watch as well.
Indeed. Somerville (at safety) will probably see a lot more action. Teams are throwing to PJ’s side much at all.
I think you missed a word. My understanding was thru the first 2 or 3 weeks, not a SINGLE pass had been thrown at PJ. Not sure since then.
I tweeted/asked him where his game is tomorrow night (since Coach BJW will be there), so I might actually go to that one.
lol yes I meant “NOT” throw to PJ’s side much at all 🙂
Poster on LT from the Louisiana area said after the Henry decommit that LSU received a commitment from a JUCO safety. So Reid is still not likely in their plans..
good to know
Jeremy Cutrer was committed to them out of high school, is i think the number 1 safety prospect in Juco..
This is open post so I’ll ask here. Why are folks convinced Jalin Barnett is a lock for OU? I hope he is, but someone who’s been a reliable source in the past told me, Barnett is telling Arkansas coaches he is genuinely on the fence about his decision. Just wonder if TFB is hearing anything on him.
I think it’s for somewhat similar reasons in that people close to Barnett have been given the impression re: OU’s strong position (or at least presumed strong position). I know this recent Arky visit and subsequent interview got most of this started, but you have to understand just how delusional not only Arky fans are when it comes to recruiting but also a number of their recruiting “analysts.”
Remember, many of them (both fans & some media) were absolutely convinced they were getting Steven Parker. Also back in 2012 were adamant they were getting DGB as well.
They are the most infamous fans on recruiting message boards for a reason. Actually, lots and lots of reasons.
Ha. I couldn’t agree more about Arky fans being delusional. I spent four years in Arkansas in college and I had to argue with buddies nearly everyday about how AD was a better RB than McFadden as if it wasn’t obvious. Also, many pig fans seriously believed that UA was as tradition-rich as OU….I wish I was kidding.
They’re insane.
The Razorbacks were 3 plays away from NCG last year and the year before that and the year before that and so on. True story…or so the Piggies think anyway
Just three plays, huh?
lol just being facetious
Oh, I know. Just messin’ w/ ya 🙂 Or really more them as it were
Agree. Live back in the woods of central Arkansas now and the weak signal which reaches here is chock full of Hawg delusion!
My local ABC/CBS/Fox/NBC affiliates are from Ft. Smith. I cant imagine how bad central arkansas is.
You really must go to a Fayetteville tailgate, though. Both Tyson and Walmart ‘gently’ pressure vendors to sponsor tailgating and when it comes down to food and beverages, throwing money at the situation is not a bad place to start.
Yeah, I drove up once during college for a game against Auburn. Had a great time tailgating. They sure know how to do that right. However, the delusional fan-base came out when, as the teams were trotting back to their locker rooms at halftime, the whole stadium boo-ed Houston Nutt even though they were dominating Auburn at the half. The fans think they should have a Saban or Stoops on the sidelines. Saw a poll once and Arky was voted the worst place to coach due to the entitled fan base.
Side note: Another thing I noticed at the Arky game was that the school should seriously consider adding camouflage to their color scheme.
I’ve heard some of these exact same stories from a friend of mine that lives in Bentonville…what gives? What makes these people believe such incredible things?
My niece is an Arkansas student who has a closet full of OU gear because I provided well for her (her dad lives in Arky or she would be at OU), she tries to brag like a hog and I just say” how many conference wins did those pigs have last year?”. She just laughs and says I’ll be back in OK soon.
Nice! Hey, at least she tries!
Tyson’s name is all over that campus
Delusional is the perfect word. I also spent four years at UAFS, during the Bobby P. years, and it was hilarious listening to the chest pounding by my buddies. All I could do was shake my head and laugh every time they tried to compare the pigs to OU. Arkansas fans are also the first and worst fanbase to hoist the S-E-C banner. Program has been a dumpster fire so all they have is the delusion that they are only bad because they play in the “best” conference.
All that said, I really did enjoy my time at UAFS. Beautiful campus and, for the most part, very nice people. You must have graduated a couple years after me. What was your major?
Completely agree. Apart from the poor choice in teams, wonderful people and I loved my time there. I graduated in 2012 with a BA in Business Admin. How about yourself?
Business Admin degree in 2008. If the college of business is as small as it used to be then I’m sure we had several of the same professors. Small world.
Most likely. Very small world ha. I haven’t been back in a few years.
I’ve lived in Fort Smith for 15 years, so I’m well aware of how delusional fans and analysts are over here.
I don’t give much thought to them and my question wasn’t based on message board chatter or anything someone like Davenport or Kirk wrote (they’re basically the Arkansas’ version of James Hale).
I have a friend — the old fart type that doesn’t visit, much less post on a message board — who’s known or been friends with someone on staff since at least Holtz. Every staff has someone with a strong Arkansas connection and most commonly someone from Northwest Arkansas.
Like I say, he’s a reliable guy with legitimate relationships, not a message board maniac or otherwise delusional fan. I wouldn’t have asked about what’s being said on message boards.
I wasn’t trying to dismiss your question or the legitimacy of it, so much as I was trying to relay to those who might not be familiar just how crazy some Arky fans can be. Evidently that didn’t come thru clearly enough, my bad.
Not a problem. And I was just trying to relay — more for other folks than you — it wasn’t a looney or homer recruiting “analyst” who motivated my original question.
My two favorite Arkansas conspiracies:
The group of fans who insisted Jon Gruden wanted the Arkansas job, visited here but Gruden wanted it guaranteed his brother would be the HC-in-waiting and that was a deal breaker.
The folks questioning the hire of Bobby Petrino, primarily anyone with ESPN, was doing so at the behest of Arther Blank. Blank is of course the co-founder of Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons, and Home Depot was (maybe still is) sponsor of ESPN Gameday, which he used as leverage against the network to assure negative coverage of the Petrino hire.
Arkie is 8 for 9 of their instate recruit wants. And in good position for the last. So, they’re doing something right. However, the three BIG wins over Nicholls State, Indiana State and TTech has made them much more delusional than normal. Soon it will be back to apologetic reasoning because, ‘We have to play in the SEC’ !
Didn’t they also claim that they lead for Sunderland?
Probably
I just have to feel that, hopefully, something is happening behind the scenes with Barnett &/or Wariboko with OU reportedly backing off Tyler Moore. Maybe it was as simple as Moore knew he was getting his texass offer and told the staff he was going that way but not like OU coaches to not play it out all the way on a recruit.
hope you’re correct……..funny, there’s next to nothing on positive ou news posted regarding these guys except for ‘gut feel’ conjecture with barnett and who knows with ‘boko’…….unless something leaks, sounds like both may play it out for the aa game
https://twitter.com/ColinDeaver/status/514777733533290496
One of these things is not like the other …
LOL! Has to be the biggest #15 ever!
….thxs………that’s LT quality humor
Wariboko received his jersey, too, and named OU and Ostate in his final 5 along with UCLA.
http://www.florida.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1684808
Would be a real shame to have two top olinemen in the nation in Oklahoma in the same year and OU get neither of them. Am still hoping somehow OU gets both.
I think it’s possible we miss out on both. I know rankin is high on ou now and it looks like he and Danley may be close. Although right now I would rather have the 2 in state kids and pass on the jucos not saying I don’t like the juco guys but I root for the oklahoma kids and want to see kids who have 5 years to play 4. Not sure if Danley or rankin have 3 to play 2.
The fact that he said OU and Okie State are in the Top 5 is a good sign to me. It shows he wants to stay in-state. And that it’s OU vs. UCLA in this one. Either both Boko Brothers go to UCLA or you’ll see Josh at OU and Max at Tulsa.
Heck, recruit Max as an invited walk-on! It’s working for the Knight brothers!
https://twitter.com/tyrelljacobs98/status/514787861715894273
I’ve had two people tell me this morning that the OU/UT game is going to be at 2:30pm this year. Has anybody else heard anything about that? I assumed it would be at 11am again, but haven’t heard about anything official yet.
Very likely won’t be announced until this coming Monday (they typically release time/tv details the Monday the week prior). If Texas somehow finds a way to lose in Lawrence this week, I think you can all but guarantee an 11am start. May be 11am either way, they seem to have fallen in love w/ that start time in recent years.
Regardless, I think 11am & 2:30pm are really the only two legit options. I suppose it could be something a little different like that 3:00 game on FS1, but I’d be pretty surprised if ESPN passed that game up to let Fox have it. And certainly not b/c they (ESPN) are known to do OU any favors, more so their relationship w/ UT & LHN.
That is pretty much what I thought. That it hasn’t been determined yet. I kind of hope they keep it at 11am. I might be in the minority on that.
I could make an argument either way. Obviously we all know they’ll never make it a night game b/c of the fans and the area surrounding the Cotton Bowl.
I feel like as a place that serves alcohol all day long, they prefer to have the early start time. For one it gets some people out of the West End earlier on Friday night. Plus the last two years it was noticeable how much Orange there was last year and how little there was the year before. The losing teams fans seem to clear out after the game usually. So it helps with some crowd control.
This was posted on twitter this morning on Jalin Barnett, don’t really like the turn this one is taking:
Bryan Heater @BHeaterWP
Arkansas appears to be leader for 4-star OG Jalin Barnett, No. 2 prospect in OK. Family loved Fayetteville.
It would be great if you could catch up with Barnett or those close to him to get the scoop.
Wait, someone who covers Arkansas believes Arkansas leads on a recruit?
I’m stunned. Stunned, I say!
I think a lot of this is being driven off an interview his grandma gave 247. Which is not to ignore he and his family could have enjoyed the trip. And Bielema has a legit o-line history to sell kids, but also think everyone (not necessarily including you in that everyone as I can appreciate you’re just asking a question) just needs to settle down a little bit.
As for catching up w/ Barnett, kid rarely does interviews so that’s probably not going to happen. But I’m sure K can follow up w/ some people close to the situation, though I suspect the response will be pretty similar to what we and many others have been maintaining for a long time. Hard to see him not winding up in Norman.
You crack me up.
I do what I can.
I would put the history of OU o-linemen moving on to the NFL against Bielema’s history. I think the Bedenbaugh Effect is going to only enhance OU’s reputation for outstanding O-line play in the future!
Bielema with Wisconsin put a ton of OL in the league
i actually looked that up, theres currently more OU lineman in the NFL, than there is guys who were coached by bielema.
I agree that Bielema has put a lot of o-lineman in the league. He is a really good coach. I just think OU has a better o-lineman history, is putting guys in the league, and will be putting guys in the league for a while.
bielema has 6 in the league right now, we have 7. 9 after thompson and williams are drafted =)
Also, dude has 440 followers (not that your Twitter followers is the world’s best indicator of anything, but it can lend credence to how seriously one should take you) and bio includes the always red flag inducing ‘Bleacher Report featured columnist’
No one follows me but I make people laugh therefore I like myself and the world is good. I also enjoy shooting hogs so there’s that. 🙂
It’s all about the little things in life
“How will freshman Samaje Perine follow up his 242-yard night at West Virginia? In the past decade, 19 FBS running backs have surpassed 240 rushing yards multiple times in a season. If Perine does it again this year, he’ll join some elite company that includes Reggie Bush, Matt Forte, Le’Veon Bell, Ray Rice, Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, Andre Williams and, yes, Adrian Peterson.”
Thought this was interesting.
Those Carolina Panthers running backs.
I think that probably wont happen once Ford comes back and takes a good share of those 32 rushing attempts.
You are most likely right but Bob likes to stay with the “hot” guy, If Samaje goes in against a team and plows people play after play, wouldn’t be surprised if they just unhooked the chain and let him destroy the enemy.
could you imagine going up against perine for 20 carries, then getting ford, when you are starting to get tired, for 12 carries, and then having to face ross, when you can’t spell your name, for the last 6 or so carries. perine might average 7 per, for 9 per and ross 25 per. what a problem to have…me likey
It’s a beautiful thing!
Probably follow up at Kansas, Iowa state, TTech,& texsa.
I would say he has the ability to perform in that group, I just hope it’s for the yardage and not the public humiliation some of those have put themselves through.
Where do you think the Sooners are with Jalin Barnett? And what if he and Josh Wariboko both want to go to OU, do they find a way to take both?
I think they’re still in good standing and right now I’d say if both he and Wariboko want to come to OU, then the coaches will find a way to make room for both.
That’s why I was surprised that Rankin is still a possibility. Barnett, Wariboko, and Rankin = 8.
One thing to consider is watching how Arkansas does in conference play. If they lose most (or all again) then Barnett might be playing for coaches he’s not even talked to yet, as even though Arkansas has itself pedestal high as aTm year after year, they won’t go winless in conference two years in a row without demanding a new regime running the fantasy island ship. Also, a friend of mine and I went and saw McKinley Whitfield play Friday night. Yes, Yes (did I say yes twice?) he IS worth a scholarship as he DOMINATES the game on every snap. He could play LB if he gained about 15lbs but his natural position to me looks to be safety. Great instincts and closes on ball carriers better than anyone I’ve seen in YEARS! I don’t get why he’s not gotten more consideration. Also, he NEVER came off the field as his team is not real good.
Hey Jordon, Do you happen to know if Wariboko and Barnett are freinds at all? Would they want to play together being two highly touted OG from Oklahoma?
I do not, sorry.
Does KeShawn Sommerville not look like Michiah Quick? Maybe it’s just the hairdo.
I thought the same thing!
I’m sure this common knowledge to most of us here, but got to talk to someone close to the Wariboko brothers and was told that they highly doubt he ends up at Oklahoma, much better chance he ends up in California, fwiw. This is the first time I met the source so I can’t back up the credibility, but just passing along what I was told.
Also, I don’t know if they’ve been showing this at any other games, but at the OU/La Tech game, they announced more details of the stadium renovations would be announced in October.
Thanks Stephen it does seem more and more like wariboko will end up at ucla. I still think ou could get him but I wouldn’t like it if ou had to put a hard sell on him in order to land him.
I do think it will be ironic if his brother ends up really maturing his senior year and ends up with an ou offer.
I wouldn’t mind him ending up at OU, but I was told over and over, it’s more about him wanting to leave the state more so than him wanting to play with Max. Again, just what I was told.
Under the scenario of Josh commiting to UCLA and Max getting a lot better. I would love for OU to win the NC and UCLA to tank and his brother sign with OU leaving Josh to wonder “What If” I know that is a little mean but I’m in a bad mood tonight according to my wife!
I think that’s a scenario that could happen and I don’t wish anything bad on josh just if it played out that way it would be funny.
Do you get on the newsok power lunch chat? There’s a guy that submits questions but it’s under dooby not doobie
Nope not me! I keep my online commenting to TFB!
Any news/rumors regarding Damarkus Lodge?
Ole miss visit next week I believe with newsome. Looks like newsome is going to be a hard kid to read seems to really like a lot of schools. I don’t think lodge is thinking ou but I have seen teasers to pay sites but if ou lands an official visit from him then I think you have to give at least a 10% chance.
Also I think marcus green went to the same HS as lodge so maybe if they’re good friends that would help ou. I just don’t think he will come here if he was worried about the talent level and wr numbers at tamu.
OU is only looking at taking one more WR and its Ryan Newsome or bust.
Why didn’t LSU offer Reid? As an LSU legacy, and by all accounts an excellent player, I’m surprised by that. Should that worry me?
They kind of have a traffic jam at safety, I believe they already have a couple safeties previously committed so it’s not that they don’t want him, it’s that there is no room for him.
Anyone know where i could land one of the OU alternate jerseys, with the number of my choosing?
I have no idea if they’re for sale, but I would guess the #32 and#19 would fly off the shelves.
32 is indeed the number id be after, haha.
ive found the red alternate jerseys on soonersports, but i want the white one, and it is only number 10.
Funniest thing I’ve heard said this week, “The only thing Kingsbury can stop is a transfer”. LOL!
A little advice for the older crowd that are getting IPads and enjoy evening cocktails, don’t let your fingers accidentally hit the screen under your comment because you could up vote yourself, just saying it “could”happen.
even though this was ou’s espn page, still surprised to see it worded this way on espn’s site for the conference
Team of the week: Oklahoma. The Sooners took West Virginia’s best shot in the first half, then asserted their dominance in the second half on the way to an impressive 45-33 victory. After West Virginia took a 24-17 lead with 1:20 left in the second quarter, the Mountaineers were held to a single field goal until an empty touchdown late when the outcome had already been decided. The Oklahoma running game was unstoppable. The defense and special teams made big plays. And the fourth-ranked Sooners passed their first road test with flying crimson colors.
That’s some good journalism right there.
but seriously, one journalist says this about us in a pretty hostile environment against a decent to pretty good squad and the whole south is probly pissed. but, the rest of the country has to read this when vandy blows out south carolina tech of the blind
We will soon see this writer on FS1, but at least he speaks the truth.
facetiously or seriously?
I don’t know the writer, just assumed if he was an ESPN guy, his next evaluation might not go well if he was pumping a big XII team.
haha. that’s what i figured. it was trotter. i just wish people like him, and dinich, et al would leave the whole ranking deal at home when discussing games…such as when bama annihilates ole miss, they get to “claim” ole miss was a top 10 team…heehee…you can’t even get it outta your mouth without laughing
also from the conference page. pick a stat in here, that if repeated, will not lead to a really really good season, and then put em all together and its blowout after blowout. i mean, 9.5 per carry on 1st down….yikes
100 percent in the redzone: Oklahoma scored touchdowns on all five red-zone drives, largely because of the excellence of Perine. The bruising running back had 12 carries for 60 yards and four touchdowns inside WVU’s 20-yard line, an average of five yards per carry. The Sooners’ ability to convert drives into touchdowns was critical. Oklahoma entered the game ranked 16th in the FBS in red-zone efficiency at 78.9 percent.
Oklahoma converted 50 percent of its third-down attempts: The Sooners’ offense had struggled on third down heading into the game and started slow on third down against WVU with 2 of 6 conversions in the first quarter. But the Sooners’ offense found a rhythm in the second half, converting four of seven attempts in the final 30 minutes. Oklahoma entered the game No. 64 among FBS teams and No. 6 in the Big 12 at 41.8 percent.
WVU’s single quarterback hurry: If Oklahoma’s 301 rushing yards and 6.5 yards per carry average isn’t enough to convince you the offensive line dominated the game, consider this: Quarterback Trevor Knight attempted 30 passes, wasn’t sacked and was only hurried once. The offensive line paved the way on the ground and protected Knight throughout the game. The unit is the foundation of Oklahoma’s College Football Playoff hopes.
Oklahoma’s 9.5 yards per carry on first down: Perine and Alex Ross combined for 235 rushing yards on first down alone. Nothing underscores Oklahoma’s dominance and Perine’s rise to stardom like the freshman’s 19 carries for 181 yards (9.5 yards per carry) on first-down plays. The strong running production also helped Knight complete 7 of 11 first-down throws for 111 of his 205 total passing yards. Once the Sooners decided to lean on the running game, it was all over.
WVU’s 3.4 yards per carry: The Mountaineers weren’t any less committed to the run than the Sooners, with 40 rushes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. But they didn’t have the success on the ground like Oklahoma. Sophomore linebacker Jordan Evans, who has seamlessly slid into the starting lineup for Frank Shannon, had a team-high 11 tackles including nine solo stops to help the Sooners slow WVU’s rushing attack.