The Football Brainiacs

– Town Hall: Tonight at 7:00 pm. Please bring your questions. Thanks!

– Offensive Line Targets: The decision date for a couple of Sooners offensive line targets is approaching so I wanted to go over where things stand on that front. Oklahoma already has most of their offensive line class (and an incredibly talented one) put together. But I gather Oklahoma would like to finish with, at least, one more OT.

Chuck Filiaga: Our friend, Damon Sayles, from Bleacher Report recently spoke with Sooners 2017 OT target, Chuck Filiaga (Aledo, TX) who told him that he is set to release a top three “very soon”.

Filiaga has let us know that he will announce his final decision on January 7th.

I’ll be very surprised if the Sooners don’t show up in that top 3 and in talking to folks here in Texas there’s starting to be a sense that the Sooners may lead the pack. Filiaga is a tough read. I’ve spoken to friends who cover him in other markets and everyone comes away thinking the same thing…”he doesn’t tip his hand”.

But a few things stand out to me.

1. He’s taken official visits to Oregon, Michigan, Oklahoma and Nebraska. After his Oklahoma visit he had mentioned to me that he wasn’t sure which final official visit he would take. He has made multiple unofficial visits to TCU, USC and Texas. So, I’d say those seven schools are likely the ones in play. And Oregon’s staff was let go so it’s probably safe to say they are behind the others. Following my logic that leaves Michigan, USC, Oklahoma, Nebraska, TCU and Texas.

2. In my conversations with him he’s emphasized the importance of reaching his goal of being an NFL draft pick. Of the five schools mentioned above, who has done that with OLine position best in recent years? I’ll help you out…Oklahoma.

3. Proximity. I have asked Filiaga how much distance matters and admittedly he said, “not much”. But having just moved to Texas this past summer and for his family to be able to make it to his games has to matter a little. After Filiaga’s visit to Michigan, I felt they would be the biggest threat to the Sooners so Oklahoma does at least have the advantage of proximity.

4. Environment. Filiaga mentioned that his trip to OU exceeded his expectations and added that the best part of the trip was the game day atmosphere. If the game day atmosphere matters then one would have to think TCU is fighting an uphill battle despite the proximity.

Point being, when you start to piece this thing together, you’ve got to like where OU is. I also get the sense OU likes there they are at…

Adrian Ealy: Adrian Ealy is expected to announce his decision on January 5th. He recently took a trip to Kansas. Ealy took an official visit to Oklahoma early in the season and it looked like he was all but a lock to Oklahoma but kept delaying his decision.

I spoke to someone familiar with Ealy’s recruitment about where he might be leaning and was told, “Arizona or Oklahoma but I don’t think Oklahoma is recruiting him hard at all”. Source also mentioned that Kansas may be in play. I’m starting to get the sense that perhaps Oklahoma is confident in their chances with either Filiaga or Zabie and may not be pushing for Ealy quite as much.

Stephan Zabie: I mentioned recently that the Sooners continue to recruit Austin area OT, Stephan Zabie, and he is expected to take an official visit this January. – (Super K)

– Auburn Staff Member on Mayfield: A friend of mine coaches on the offensive side at Auburn. He recently said something to me that I felt was worth passing along.

“Baker is the best we have seen since Manziel”.

This is coming from a staff that, just this past season, faced Chad Kelly and Deshaun Watson. – (McKinzie)