Ainuu Taua Commits to UCLA
Posted on: December 9, 2013
Image from Lompocrecord.com (Photographer: Leah Thompson)
California DT, Ainuu Taua has committed to UCLA. For those of you who have been following this site we’ve been saying for a while that Oklahoma was not in a good position to land him.
Many of you are probably wondering what Oklahoma is going to do now since we don’t technically have an NG signed (unless Brandon Glenn grows into one). I can tell you that Oklahoma isn’t worried about it. Again, as we told y’all a few weeks back they feel really good about where Jordan Phillips is in his recovery. Wade continues to get better. Quincy Russell will get better. And Ace has said that after seeing Romar a number of times he feels like he may grow into an NG as well.
Last we heard they were going to hold a spot for Taua and if not they weren’t going to go after anyone else unless something really stood out. They are really focused on getting some OL, LBs and they still want a 2 corners and Parker and Quick.
I will say that there is a young man in SEC territory that my be of interest to Oklahoma but I’m not at liberty to mention his name. I think they’ll be fine either way but as a man who LOVES defense and loves SEC lineman I’d like to see them go after him.
34 Comments
I say wrap it up and focus on next year’s guys. Lampkin is already committed, Overton is likely and Darrion Daniels seems very interested as well. Have Monty focus everything he has on getting/keeping those three and we got what we need. Wasn’t word out there that Charles Walker has been pretty impressive and developing quite well this year as well? With the change in scheme, the position isn’t as dire as it once seemed. Phillips is All-American caliber if he comes back healthy, Wade is All-conference and the young guys are getting good talk too.
Yeah ace said walker was killin it for a young dude in fall camp and coach mont loves him. He’ll be a 4i
4i?
4 technique playing on the inside eye (i) of the tackle. Essentially a b gap player. So with a nose, you have both a gaps covered as well as both b gaps and it give your backers freedom to run around.
Also, having a quick penetrating guy there like Walker is big. 6’4″ 300 pounder as well.
So like Phillips-type, Wade-type?
So think Phillips Nose @ 320, Walker 4i @ 300 and you can see the beef they’re building up front defensively.
So you think Walker will be a major contributor next year?Opposite Tapper I would guess
I do. As talented as he is, it’ll be hard to keep him off the field.
Sweet…so Tapper Phillips Walker then Bond Shannon Striker Alexander/Wilson for the front 7…I’m curious if Alexander doesn’t pass up Shannon…he just has the ability to be a lot more physical with his size advantage and another year in weight training and learning the scheme
They’ve got both of those guys playing the nose which is a two gap when the 4i is a one gap. Honestly we don’t have anyone right now who’s playing a lot like Walker in my opinion.
What about tashon Smallwood? Is OU out of the running for him?
No. Doesn’t seem OU remained interested
Like K said, there’s a guy out of the sec region, we both absolutely were shocked at watching his film. Hopefully this pushes the coaches hand to get in there and offer him. I like his film A LOT.
Name or he doesn’t exist lol
Think the m&m’s and santa commercial. That’s how I felt when I watched the kid’s film. Totally off the radar. Complete whiff by all major recruiting services.
Still no name lol…you giving his film to Monty and keeping it all hush hush? I’m cool w that!!
lol no we can’t give film to coaches.
Do the coaches at OU know about this kid?
Yeah
Any chance he gets an offer?
Tashon’s twitter feed says he’s pretty much ASU bound.
Looks like we offered another cb out of florida..Juwan Dowels..he’s smaller but his film looks good. He had a bunch of pass break ups and over 10 ints
Yeah we offered last week. Got a post about him coming 🙂 he’s nice!
Not sour grapes, but I never thought Taua was coming to OU. You guys made me feel better by saying it would not be a good fit, scheme-wise.
We were told a while back that he wasn’t going to come and that’s why we’ve been saying that. There was only one thing Oklahoma could have done to get him and it wasn’t something they were going to do.
Now that he has committed, then you should share it with us!
Totally understand. Thanks.
Did Russell happened to redshirt? How many yrs does he have a/f this yr?
He was in the same class as Phillips out of hs so I assume he could get a medical if he didn’t play later in the year and still have two years
C/Phillips get a medical?
He’s already redhshirted..but maybe they can go the hardship route if they say he was hurt his fresh year…If Phillips stays healthy here on out he won’t need it because he will be gone
Great site guys. Hands down the best site I’ve been to for OU football. Any info on DT Greg Gaines from Cali, Boise st commit? Read on another site that we could potentially be his new favorite…
Thanks Brian! We’ll have an update on where OU goes with DL tomorrow which should answer your question.