Open Post | Friday, February 2nd
Posted on: February 2, 2024
Visit Notes | January 27th Junior Day
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 27, 2024
By all accounts, the Sooners put on quite an event for recruits, commits and their families today.
Wanted to pass along a few additional notes I picked up after speaking to a bunch of visitors.
***Elite defensive back Jonah Williams (6’3 20) out of Galveston, TX (Ball) was one of the biggest names and targets on campus for Oklahoma and the Sooners did not disappoint. Williams was very pleased with the attention he received and noted that “Sitting down and just talking with coach Venables” really stood out.
Williams went on to talk about the team workout he was able to watch. Jonah said, “It was a very interesting practice from individual to the weight pushing and sled pushing. I thought it was a pretty unique practice”.
OU will remain very much in the picture here and this weekend only helped their case.
***’25 linebacker Christian Jones (6’3 210) out of Omaha, NE made his way to Norman, and Brent Venables was the pull here coming in and the experience was not last on Jones.
When asked about what stood out to him, Jones told me “I would say how Coach V is real big on culture and keeping the locker room as a good place for his players”.
Oklahoma will be getting an official visit from him based on our conversation.
***Lancaster wide receiver Emmanuel Choice (6’4 190) came away very impressed from his visit. VERY impressed. He said “It just felt like family, I was well taken care of the whole time I was there.”
He added “Coach Emmett kept it real with me and showed me where I can fit in at Oklahoma”/
Choice was another guy who was very interested in what he saw on the practice field. Choice said, “It was great seeing guys my similar build get some good work in. I just watched while picturing myself in their shoes”.
I believe OU is in as good of a spot as they want to be with Choice and we will monitor how aggressive the Sooners are here because if they push, things could come together quickly.
Post Visit | ’25 RB Tory Blaylock
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 27, 2024
The Sooners hosted ’25 running back Tory Black (5’10.5 175) out of Humble, TX (Atascocita) for the junior day event today and I was able to catch up with him.
Blaylock is the son of former NFL running back Derrick Blaylock and he holds offers from just about every big program in the country.
From the sound of it, the Sooners did some very nice work on him.
Tory mentioned that it was “Great to be around other top recruits and OU commits’. He added “Its always a good time in Norman and it feels like a big Family. Me and my family really enjoyed it.”
When I asked him what was his favorite part of the trip, he said “Seeing the team work!I like the way those guys work hard and compete. I’m a competitor and a hard worker and that’s something I would want to be part of.”
I thought it was pretty cool that the recruits were able to watch the morning workout and do far, several others I have spoken with were really happy they were able to take that in.
The Sooners definitely made an impression here on a big time running back prospect and he is one to keep an eye on.
Post Visit Update | ’25 CB Cobey Sellers
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 29, 2024
The Sooners hosted ’25 cornerback Cobey Sellers (5’11.5 165) out of Pearland, TX (Shadow Creek) for an unofficial visit over the weekend for their Junior Day event.
Sellers is no stranger to Norman or the Oklahoma staff, but it is always a good thing to get him back on campus.
Touched base with Sellers and he mentioned that he was very impressed with what he saw from the Sooners workout. Cobey told me “Watching a college workout is another level from high school”.
On top of that, Sellers mentioned that he enjoyed hanging out with some current players and other recruits and commits.
Most importantly, from his own mouth, Sellers told me “OU will easily be in my top schools…the vibe was awesome”.
Still a ways to go in this one, but OU continues to build their case and they are in a good spot right now.
More Junior Day Notes | Rink & Rogers
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 30, 2024
Just a few lingering notes from last weekend’s Junior Day that I wanted to pass along.
***’25 DL Landon Rink (6’2 270) out of Cypress, Texas (Cy-Fair) made his way to Norman for the event and he came away impressed. Rink told me he had an “amazing time” and it was a “great family environment”. The Sooners really like Rinks’ game and they are recruiting him hard, but you have to keep in mind that he is a Texas legacy so any perceived positioning in his recruitment has to be viewed with that in mind. The Sooners will continue to put the work in here for certain and they have made a nice impression on Rink, we will continue to monitor.
***A guy that OU absolutely is in a good position for right now is ’25 OL Lamont Rogers (6’6 305) out of Mesquite, Texas (Horn). Rogers and his family were really feeling the vibe in Norman and the Sooners further solidified their position in this recruitment as one of the top schools. Rogers told me he appreciated the time the staff took with him in showing him exactly how he would fit in and his path for development. He also noted that his parents really enjoyed the trip as well and it is never a bad thing to get the family on board. Rogers is a guy we will be keeping a close eye on going forward as Bedenbaugh and OU have made him a clear priority.
Max Granville | Update | Trending
– Super K – Posted on: January 30, 2024
As you know, the Sooners are in hot pursuit of talented pash rusher, 2025 4-star DE/OLB, Max Granville (Fort Bend Christian Academy).
Granville made a return trip the Norman this past weekend.
I’ve been by to see Granville at his school on multiple occasions and the latest is as follows…
***I’ve long got the sense that the Sooners had a good shot in this one; just wasn’t quite sure how good of a shot.
***Max is a devout young man and I think he connects with Venables and the staff on that level, in addition to the football side of things.
***The biggest threat I was seeing was Alabama. But with Nick Saban out, I think that changes things a lot (Saban cost OU a lot of recruits in the past).
***I’m told that there are folks around Granville that believe OU is the best fit for him and this past weekend’s visit appears to have helped that.
***I plan on updating you all shortly on what Max’s plans are in terms of more visits or a commitment plan but I’m comfortably putting an early trending pick in here for the Sooners. I’ll start it at 51/49 OU to the field, and I will update up or down as I get more.
Stacking Talent
– Super K – Posted on: January 31, 2024
As I was thinking about the talent in the defensive end room and the possibility of the Sooners adding Max Granville, I was reminded of just how good BV and co have been at stacking talent.
Almost without exception, this staff is better at bringing in elite talent than the previous regime.
We’re going to find out just how good these coaches are as coaches when the Sooners enter the SEC this fall.
But in terms of pure athleticism and upside talent almost without exception, this staff is superior to the last one.
It got me thinking that even in the worst-case scenario where things didn’t work out with OU and BV, as long as the Sooners have a good NIL program (and it’s gotten much better) whoever inherits what BV has brought in will be in a better position than BV was in.
