Open Post | Tuesday, March 20th By: The Brainiacs Posted on: March 20, 2018

– Last week, the Sooners extended an offer to 2020 athlete, Michael Henderson Jr, out of Ranchview High School, Carrollton, Texas.

I had the opportunity to connect with Michael earlier to discuss the offer and his recruitment going forward.

At 6’2” and 220 lbs, Michael plays Quarterback and Outside Linbacker for his High School team. He also runs track and power lifts for the school. He has been playing football for 10 years, and his love for the game is evident. Football is a family affair for the young man as his brother, Diontai Buchanan, is heading to a Junior College in California to continue his own playing career this summer.

I asked Michael how the OU offer came about. He told me that a while back, Coach Cale Gundy had been in contact with his High School coach. His coach informed Michael that the Sooners were interested in speaking with him. As the relationship developed between Michael and Coach Gundy, it was made clear that the staff would like to have him come up to campus for a visit. While no offer had been extended to that point, Michael and his mother made their plans and headed up to the school.

Prior to touring the campus and facilities, and having the chance to take in the practice, Michael was able to spend some time with Head Coach Lincoln Riley. “As soon as I got to campus, Coach Hill took me up to Coach Riley’s office. Coach Riley talked to me for about three minutes, and then he offered me”. I asked him what position the staff offered him at and his reply was pretty simple and quite direct; “Running back, sir”.

After meeting with Coach Riley, and receiving his first scholarship offer to play division one football, Michael was able to take in a practice. Coach Drew Hill accompanied Michael and his mother, Dione Henderson, and introduced them to a number of current and former players. The Hendersons had the opportunity to interact with Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon, Cedarian Lamb, Hollywood Brown, Bookie and quite a few others. He even noted that former Head Coach Bob Stoops was on campus and he got to share a few words with him. The fortunate timing, of having all those guys on campus while Michael was visiting, certainly will have a lasting impact.

I asked Michael, aside from the facilities and history around OU, what stood out the most to him throughout the visit. He replied, “The people. Everybody was so nice and accommodating. It really felt like a family up there”. Michael also noted, “I really like the fact that the players want for nothing. Whether it be academics, training, even food, they really take care of them and make sure they have everything they need to be successful”.

As for his recruitment, Michael is looking to take some visits this spring and summer. He mentioned he would like to visit some regional schools, like Baylor, UT and a&m, as well as some schools such as Miami and Florida.

As far as the Sooners go, I think the fans should be pretty happy that they got involved first. It’s not everyday that a sophomore in High School receives his first offer from OU. The fact that he was offered at running back, from Oklahoma, which is quite an honor, only furthers my belief that the staff is ready to make him a priority for the 2020 class. Michael Henderson Jr will certainly be one to keep an eye on for Sooner Nation going forward. – (Charlie)

 

 

– When 2019 St. Louis HS (Honolulu, HI) defensive tackle, Faatui Tuitele, informed the staff that he had decided to visit, the Sooners had to put their best foot forward. From all accounts, that’s exactly what Lincoln Riley and OU staff did. Afterall, there hasn’t been many, from Hawaii, that have played for the Sooners, much less visit.

Tuitele and his family (mother, father and two uncles are taking the trips) have been traveling the mid-south the past week. They arrived from Louisiana, after visiting LSU, late Wednesday night in Norman. The family spent around 8 hours touring, watching practice and hanging with the coaches while on their unofficial to OU.

I spoke with Justin, Faatui’s father, Thursday evening about how the visit went. Justin seemed really excited and said the family “had a lot of great memories captured today”.  He went on to say that the Coach Riley and the staff “set the tone” at the Sooners practice and treated the players just like they were being treated on their unofficial visit. That treatment made the Tuitele family “comfortable” to the point Justin said, ” when we met with Coach Riley in his office he didn’t have to say much because we could already tell how honest he was. We just got a good vibe from him. Could tell everything he was pitching to us was the truth.”

During their office visit, Riley extended a Sooners offer to the star DT and that gesture made a “great impression” on the family. Justin said the whole family got excited about that moment.

Riley is a great recruiter, but connections to a program are crucial, as well. The elder Tuitele told me that Faatui’s aunt (Justin’s sister) knows, and is friends with, current junior defensive lineman Dillon Faamatau’s mother. Justin said, “My sister called me and told me about Dillon being there because she knows his mother.” He added, ” That really helped. Faatui would have, as Dillon put it, an older brother there if he came to OU.”

Samoans are a very tight-knit community and most are on the west coast. I asked Tuitele’s father if they were sold on the west coast. He told me that they were not. He elaborated more by saying, ” We made it clear to Faatui that we aren’t spending this money on these trips if he isn’t serious about these schools.” He went on, ” He assured us he was and said his relationship with Coach Riley, Coach Thibs and Coach McNeill had his interest peaked about OU. ”

Even with them visiting from a very long distance away, on their own dime, you have to wonder if OU has a chance on a return visit. Mainly because a return visit would most likely have to come by way of an official visit. When I asked them about a return visit Justin said “we’ll see”.  At first glance you would think it was unlikely, but he elaborated a little more on why they were undecided saying, ” Norman sure has made a very solid impression on Tui (Faatui nickname) and his decision. After the Texas visit, and we return home, we are gonna get together and narrow things down”.

My take: The Tuitele’s have a lot of family on the west coast so expect several Pac12 schools to make the cut.  You have to like OU’s chances with them making the trip, on their own dime, from Hawaii. Myself and someone from the Texas side will be contacting them after their visit to Austin this weekend. I assume that visit will go well, but like K and I always say, “when a kid gets to Norman something special happens, much like a kid visiting to Clemson”.

Those two places have something very unique and special about them. That specialness has caused the peak in OU recruiting and that specialness is what drew the attention of a star DT, all the way from Hawaii, in the first place.

OU got him on campus. That in itself makes me feel good about, at the very least, getting an official visit. We will keep you all posted. – (Brandon)

 

 

– 2019 Humble (TX) OL Kenyon Green visited Oklahoma a few weeks ago. After the visit K spoke with his father and was told that OU really made a massive impression with Kenyon.

Kenyon cut his list down to a top 10. Oklahoma made the cut, along with Texas, Alabama, Georgia LSU and few others.

Expect Green to visit Oklahoma again before narrowing things down. Possibly later this spring. We will catch up with Kenyon and his father soon to get a more in-depth update on where things stand on visits and further narrowing things down in his recruitment. – (Brandon)

 

 

– Recently, 2019 DB Bobby Wolfe tweeted out his New Top 10 list

If you recall, K mentioned that it wasn’t clear if Wolfe, a recent Texas A&M Decommit, had interest in OU. It was also not clear if the Sooners were even pursuing Wolfe at this point. Bobby Wolfe decommits.

“I do not point this out on here to indicate that the Sooners are a big player in this recruitment. In fact, I’m not even entirely sure the Sooners are really pursuing Wolfe. I point it out because I know there are quite a few people acting as though somehow TAMU was about to steal every recruit possible.

The reality is that the TAMU staff has a tremendous amount of pressure on them. I can tell you from conversations that I’ve had with recruits that their staff is putting pressure on players. I don’t think this is the only decommitment you will see from the currently committed players”.

It appears, at least on the surface, that Wolfe does have some interest in the Sooners after all. We will do some digging this week to see what we can find out in regards to the relationship between OU and Wolfe. – (Charlie)

 

 

– Fast Five: Sourced notes from practice the past week.

*I was told they were working a lot of 50 front with the nickel. Not sure on the alignment. That’s a little too much detail for text. But they were working a lot of 3-down linemen.

*Hearing Motley has taken a big step forward. The word “dominant” was used.

*Also told Norwood has been “solid”.

*Rambo is becoming a central part of the offense. This is his time to shine. This will be his year.

*Was told Gumbs is running with the 1s at Jack LB. I’ll check more on that when I get back. – (Super K)