The Football Brainiacs

Image of Brandon Burton via Scout.com

– Brandon Burton: This past weekend OU hosted 2016 star ATH Brandon Burton (Gardena, CA). I caught up with Burton to see how his trip went. The Sooners clearly exceeded even Burton’s own expectations. He said, “Man, I had so much fun there…it was even better than I expected.”

There have been some questions about what position Burton is being recruited at by the Sooners and he told me, “they want me to play DB”. He said he has a close relationship to both coach Cooks and coach Simmons though his relationship with Simmons is likely based on the fact that Simmons recruits his area. I asked Burton if distance would be an issue and he said it would not and further added, “me and my family are open to all options.”

Burton doesn’t have a decision date set but he does have a few more officials following last weekend’s trip to Norman including visits to Florida State, Alabama, Notre Dame and Ohio State. Tough to say what the Sooners chances are of landing Burton but it’s safe to say they thoroughly impressed him. That’s all you can ask for. – (Super K)

– Sci Martin and Stephon Taylor: 2016 defensive end Sci Martin (New Orleans, LA) and his teammate 2016 DT Stephon Taylor were also in Norman this past weekend. It sounds like the Sooners impressed the duo as well. Martin told me that the trip was “better…by far” than what he and Taylor expected.

They apparently spent plenty of time with coach Diron Reynolds who Martin described as “cool” and laid back which seems to be the consensus amongst recruits. Martin tells me does not have a decision date set yet either but said that he and Stephon will likely visit TCU and Arizona State for their final trips.

Here’s the deal. When looking at their offer sheets you can see Martin holds an LSU offer and Taylor holds an Alabama offer (he’s originally from Alabama) and an LSU offer which makes things seem rather impossible. But I spoke to a couple sources on this matter and here is what I was told.

Sci Martin’s offer to LSU does stand. They still have a spot for him. I was told that his family actually expected him to commit to LSU the day he was offered and it sounds like that’s where his father wants him to go. But I’m told that Martin is an independent person and refused to commit and that leaving the state for him is very possible. Before his trip to Norman, he was high on TCU but it seems Oklahoma has his attention now as well.

Stephon Taylor’s situation is really interesting. You have an elite high school defensive tackle with elite size, the kind of players OU needs to get if they want to start matching teams like Baylor with 2 high safeties and not have to worry about being outnumbered in the box. Stephon held an LSU and Alabama offer at one time but I’m told that those spots have since been filled. In other words the possibility of him ending up at Oklahoma seems far more realistic than I once would have thought. – (Super K)

– Kellen Diesch: Just a quick note on 2016 OT Kellen Diesch (Trophy Club, TX). As you all know by now he decommitted from Arkansas yesterday and has been a top priority recruit for the Sooners for quite some time. Yesterday Diesch confirmed via text to me that OU is one of the schools he is considering and that he is planning to visit soon. – (Alex)

– Jean Delance: Just though it might be of interest to Sooner fans to know that Delance told me this morning that he will be at the Red River Rivalry game this weekend. He will be hosted by Texas. I also should note that although he has not made it known, I have been told that things between him and the Sooners are not necessarily done. He has avoided talking about Oklahoma because he doesn’t want to cause a stir. – (Super K, Brandon)