3.9
/ 5.0
As noted in the Courtney Garnett note from earlier, Joseph Paul, Courtney’s teammate will be visiting Oklahoma with Courtney on January 17th.
Grade: 3.8
Joseph Paul is a mammoth of a kid with an NFL type frame. He played RT as a junior but looks like he could be most comfortable sliding inside to capitalize on his strengths. He has very good feet when it comes to getting to the second level. His violent hands and long reach will get any line scout excited. My primary issue with Paul is that he appears to lack the natural knee bend which raises concerns about how he he’d handle a good pass rusher that can turn the corner. However, as a guard he would be able to slide in and with his violent, almost boxer-like hands, he could easily hold his ground against any three tech. Still at RT he shows an amazing ability to block down on the defensive ends. If he were to slide in, that quality tells me what I need to know about his ability to block down on a slower, albeit stronger nose tackle. Overall, I see an all-conference type OLineman.
Grade: 3.9
21 Comments
Problem is, we need tackles not anymore guards, especially with more looking like they are coming in for 2015. If he can’t play RT, I don’t see anyway we can take him.
I somewhat agree but again how can you not take a kid with his size, frame, upside, and create that “IN” with his HS ?
Did you see who offered this kid? Texas, The Noles, Florida just too name a few. With quality Olineman far a few between knocking on OU’s doors you snap this kid up. You just don’t find kids that have frames like Paul does growing on trees.
I know in a “perfect” world there are prototypical athletic characteristics that define who you would want inside versus at tackle but in reality you can move Olineman around too fit your needs. Bronson played inside and outside. You see a kid like Paul who is 6’5″, has a h3ll of a punch, and is nasty you take him.
Exactly!
Plus, with the historical attrition rate for our linemen how can we assume that we will have all of these guys in two, three, four years? Unfortunately, we usually don’t know which ones will wash out or have career ending injuries(usually in the season they were named to pre-season AA or all-conference teams).
I would over recruit the offensive line every year. If we have a period of abnormally healthy, nasty linemen, then good for us. Just so long as we have options to throw in the game.
Absolutely.
I don’t think Ace is saying he can’t play tackle…I think he just has concerns and says he might be better suited inside. JY feels confident he can play tackle. But we posted both opinions because people differ and that’s ok. My personal feeling is he can definitely play tackle. I agree he is a RT and not an LT but he’s a tackle nonetheless.
Guys I definitely see all your points, but I’m not looking at guard attrition, or his skill alone, I’m looking at us closing this class with enough scholarship numbers. We have very few left and some of those ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO go to tackles. I agree it would be nice to take kids with great talent, but when we are crunching numbers towards the end of the class, I don’t think we can risk leaving out a HS tackle somewhere. Obviously I can’t see behind the curtain and am sure the coaches have a handle on this, but will feel a lot better to see it finish out balanced.
I say take the kid. With that size and and an attitude, with a year with Schmitty and Bedenbaugh, I think playing RT wouldn’t be a problem. One thing Bedenbaugh has done is bring back a little attitude to the O- line and it sounds like this kid would fit right in.
So I’m guessing Sims is out of the picture if we take Paul? And I agree with “Okla Sooner,” this would be great to get an “in” to his high school. And to NOLA, lots of great talent there.
That’s a good question. I thought Simms to be an interior lineman, but I believe we are full at guard. Still, if Simms were to take a visit and decide to commit, I’ve got to believe the coaches would make room for him. He’s too good a prospect to not accept.
Great write up! Now send in the Mixon to close the deal.
That kid’s something, isn’t he? I’ve enjoyed sitting back and watching his recruitment of prospects.
Tell me. Looks like they did. Mr Paul is a sooner
Being reported Mr. Paul committed to the good guys via twitter… Any truth to this. I trust this site way before I do the other one I tend to visit.
Bob P confirmed it on scout! HUGE pick up for the good guys!!
Just read that Paul committed.
I think it’s fair to say this commit was a direct result of the Sugar Bowl win. OU only offered this kid a few weeks ago, and now he’s a Sooner. The Sugar Bowl win was almost as good as a national title win, in terms of PR/recruiting. I guess we should thank Alabama for being so good for so many years.
The kid’s offer list is impressive. Apparently he was underwhelming at other camps, though. Many of his offers from schools such as FSU, UF, and A&M don’t exist anymore. He should be fine with Bedenbaugh, Schmitty and the rest of the OU staff. If anything, OU knows how to coach dudes up!
Don’t think you can have too many linemen even if they need a lot of work.