Open Post | Tuesday, November 20th By: TFB Posted on: November 20, 2018

Sourced Team Updates | Bledsoe, Ford, Moore & More
– Super K

***In case you were wondering why the Sooners made such a late JUCO offer to Keonte Schad, I’ve been told that it is looking more and more likely that the request to get Amani Bledsoe’s year of eligibility back will be denied.

Although Bledsoe is in his third year, it’s my understanding that a year was taken from him due to the incident surrounding his suspension from football. There was hope that the year would be reinstated. But I’m told that does not look likely. So, this could very well be Bledsoe’s last year as was evidenced by his participating in Senior night.

I’m told the JUCO offer stems from that.

***As you know by now, Tramonda Moore is no longer with the team. You may recall that about a month ago we mentioned there was a possibility of this happening saying:

We have gotten word that offensive lineman Tramonda Moore has expressed his desire to the staff to transfer. We haven’t been able to confirm if it will actually happen or if he has changed his mind, but we have been told he did express his desire to the staff.

Not much to say here other than that perhaps this was best for both parties. It doesn’t sound like the Sooners felt Moore was very close to competing for a spot.

***Spoke with a friend on staff in the NFL who told me that according to their scouts, Cody Ford is a guy who looks like he could end up being a first rounder. I know there has been some buzz about that so just corroborating that with some more direct information.

JY spoke to a source close to Ford about whether he will leave after this year. Source said, “It is a possibility. They’re looking at making sure he graduates and then looking at how evaluations would come out. Then decide from there”.

*** I spoke with David Ugwoegbu recently and he said that he had a private conversation with Riley about the plan moving forward. I didn’t press Ugwoegbu on it because I know it isn’t my place but there was something in his tone that made me think Riley assured him that they’re getting a good guy.

I don’t think Riley told him who but I sense he at least told him they’re bringing someone in. But I’ll admit, that was me reading into David’s tone and delivery. Or as Stanley Hudson would say, listening to the pauses.

Image result for stanley hudson gif

 

 

Quick-Hitters | David Ugwoegbu & Tyrion Davis
– Super K

***As I mentioned, I spoke with Sooners to DE/OLB target, David Ugwoegbu (Seven Lakes) recently. I’ll have a write up on my conversation later but wanted to give you a couple initial notes.

As I mentioned last week, Ugwoegbu was very candid about the fact that the Sooners lead and earlier in the week he told us the visit pushed the Sooners even further out ahead of Texas A&M. Two things that caught my attention in my most recent conversation were.

1) Ugwoegbu loves Lincoln Riley. I get the strong sense that he connects with Riley and trusts Riley more than any other head coach from any other lead school.

2) Ugwoegbu’s mom loves OU and she loves Riley. I don’t need to tell you all that when a team has mom in their corner, they become hard to beat.

***I went over the Baton Rouge last week to see 2019 LSU RB commit, Tyrion Davis (Southern University Lab).

I had a long conversation with him. I was obviously trying to get to know a little more about what OU’s chances are. Again, I’ll have my notes up from that conversation but wanted to give you a couple quick thoughts.

1) Tyrion strikes me as a march to the beat of his own drum type guy. Very confident and also very focused on what he wants which is to play in the NFL. He’s much more thoughtful regarding the things it takes to get there than most kids I come across.

2) Obviously, he has strong ties to LSU. But while I think it’s going to be tough to pull him away, I came away from there thinking OU should continue to pursue him. He clearly likes OU and believes that his path to the league may be easier from OU. I don’t know if it will be enough but it’s worth taking the shot. I probably wouldn’t have said that a week or so ago.

 

 

2020 WR Quentin Johnston | Up Close & In Person
– The Football Brainiacs

Guys, I would like to introduce you to CJ Vogel. He recently joined the staff here at TFB and while he will primarily be writing for the Texas TFB side, he will also at times cross the internet Red River and have some features for you all here on the OU TFB side.

– CJ Vogel

There is a lot to like about a 6-foot, 4-inch wide receiver that can fly, and that is exactly what Quentin Johnston can do. The 2020 prospect out of Temple, Texas is everything you want to see in a No. 1 receiver.

Johnston was quite impressive in Temple’s 41-34 loss to Mesquite Horn last Friday. The loss was certainly not from a lack of production from Johnston, who found the end-zone twice on 42-yard and 35-yard touchdowns in the 2nd quarter.

Johnston has a tremendous release, and once he’s past the corner, it’s basically game over. Unfortunately for Johnston, a third touchdown later in the game was called back due to an illegal procedure, but again, it was easy to see why he was Jared Wiley’s go-to guy on the outside.

Recruiting

As for recruiting, Johnston currently holds offers from Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Houston, TCU and Virginia Tech but that list is set to explode this offseason.

Johnston is fresh off of a visit to Oklahoma and he is very much interested in the Sooners.

“I just came from a visit this past weekend at OU and I was talking to Coach [Riley] and we had a real good talk about the game,” said Johnston following his two touchdown performance. “First off, [Coach Riley] said he liked my frame and my quickness off the ball.”

Johnston loves how the Sooners’ pitch to him as a part of their offense.

“[Riley] said he’s going to be switching me inside and outside, he likes to play his receivers like slot and outside to kind of mix the defense up.”

Pitching a scheme fit is easy when the guys currently at the position are balling and Johnston is certainly taking note of the years CeeDee Lamb and Marquise Brown are having now.

“That’s just like the perfect example of how they work the receivers like through the offense,” said Johnston. “Coming in they were already good receivers but they really made them better receivers.”

For the time being, Oklahoma has the inside track on Johnston, who has not heard from the Sooners’ long-time foe south of the Red River.

Adding Johnston into a Lincoln Riley offense would be very tough to defend for the rest of the Big 12.

 

 

Walking Wounded | Injury Updates Post Kansas
– Charlie S

Touched base with James and K and this is what we have come up with this morning in regards to the injury situation:

 

Trey Sermon (running back) – reaggravated previous ankle injury. Last seen in a boot on the sidelines – Should play against WVU

TJ Pledger (running back) – Dealing with a hip flexor. Last seen suited up but did not play – Could be available against WVU but depends on how the injury continues to heal.

Justin Broiles (defensive back) – Upper body injury. Last seen walking off the field with assistance. – Believed to be in concussion protocol. It’s early but doubtful he is available.

Neville Gallimore (defensive line) – Undisclosed injury (believed to be lower body). Last seen on the sideline in street clothes. Should be available.

Mark Jackson (defensive line/edge) – Undisclosed injury. Last seen on the sideline in street clothes. Should be available.

Jordan Parker (defensive back) – Undisclosed injury. Last seen on the sideline in street clothes. It’s early, but we would characterize him as doubtful.

 

 

Weekend Visitors | Myron Cunningham & Jontavis Robertson
– Charlie S

*** Sooners hosted 2019 JUCO Offensive Lineman Myron Cunningham (Iowa Central C.C.)

Touched base with Myron following his visit and let’s just say the visit went extremely well.

If you recall, back in late October we brought you his name as someone to keep an eye on and later that day, the Sooners offered the big offensive lineman and the wheels for a visit were set in motion.

The visit took place this weekend and the Sooner staff made one thing clear, Myron Cunningham is absolutely a focus along the offensive line this cycle for them.

I asked him for his overall thoughts on the visit and he said “It was great! The best part was probably bonding with the team and meeting all the staff in person”.

Cunningham continued by saying “The largest impact was just having everyone, the coaching staff, the players and community make it clear that I am wanted and needed.”

I asked Myron if he thought about committing while on the trip and he said “I did actually, but I want to get a feel for Arkansas too and I promised them I would visit. The coaches were cool about it and they didn’t pressure me into anything, They kept just reassuring me that they feel I am needed and mainly just wanted in Norman.”

As for when he plans on making his decision, “I plan on making my decision a few days after the Arkansas visit (December 7th – 9th)”.

The Sooners certainly hit all the right notes with Cunnigham and he will be one to keep an eye on. I admire his plan to honor his visit to Arkansas which was set prior to the OU visit, I’m just not sure that it will take place. Sooners are in a very good spot.

 

 

*** Sooners also hosted 2020 wide receiver Jontavis Robertson out of Gray, GA this weekend for an unofficial visit.

Jontavis does not hold an offer yet, but if you recall, we introduced him to you back in September. Don’t let the lack of an offer fool you right now, the Sooners are very interested in the speedster and they let him know about it this weekend with the way they made him feel while on his visit.

When asked about the trip, Jontavis told me “It was one of the best trips I have ever taken. I really liked how everything was so laid back and chill. The atmosphere was the best.”

He continued by telling me that Coach Simmons was a great host, “I spent most of my time there with Coach Simmons. He is really cool and he took good care of me and Coach Toomer (Trey Sermons former high school coach) while we were there.”

Jontavis also spoke about a few other staff members, saying “Annie Hanson, she’s the GOAT and Coach Gundy and Coach Simmons will be coming down to see me in December. I’m hoping that is when the offer comes!”

As for the players at OU, Jontavis said: “I got to meet CeeDee, Hollywood and of course Trey was there, first time I really got to meet him.”

Jontavis added “The facilities were amazing, I got to spend time in the weight room with Coach Riley, Coach Simmons, and Coach Gundy and then COach Simmons took us for a tour of the rest of the facilities. I would absolutely love to take an official visit to OU.”

When I asked him for a quote that best describes Oklahoma Football after having had the opportunity to visit, Jontavis simply said: “It felt like home.”

He will be one to keep an eye on as the 2020 cycle starts to heat up.