Open Post | Tuesday,January 3rd
Posted on: January 3, 2023
Cheez-It Bowl | Quick Postgame Thoughts
– Charlie S – Posted on: December 29, 2022
The Sooners went toe to toe and blow for blow with the number 13 team in the country.
They wound up losing by a score of 35-32 in a game that they were 10.5 point underdogs.
There were lots of positives to take away from the game tonight.
The Sooners were missing a good portion of their starting 22, including all 5 of their starting offensive linemen yet they held their own on both sides of the ball in the trenches against a good FSU team.
The offensive line even lost one of the replacements early on as Jacob Sexton went out after three plays (hope its nothing too serious). Aaryn Parks, Savion Byrd, Robert Congel, McKade Mettauer, and Tyler Guyton did a nice job in pass pro and a really good job in run blocking against the best part of FSU’s team.
The running backs were very good as they were without Eric Gray. Gavin Sawchuk went over 100 yards in the first extensive playing time in his career and fellow freshman Jovantae Barnes also eclipsed the 100 yard mark.
Gabriel was Gabriel…inconsistent while flashing at times.
The wide receivers caught 12 passes among them and Mims had a couple of big catches but for the most part, they were just ‘ok’ and they had a couple bad drops as well.
Defensively the Sooners played well up front. The defensive line was active and played with good leverage. I noticed Jeffery Johnson and Jordan Kelley often.
The linebackers were making their run fits better than we had seen for most of the year and their tackling was solid for the most part. That was very encouraging.
The coverage was lacking for much of the night, but even when it was there, the FSU QB (who played a terrific game) was making incredible throws. Nobody in the secondary played particularly well tonight.
OU had their opportunities to win this game…they missed a field goal and they had points taken off the board by a penalty on what would have been a touchdown run by Gavin Sawchuk.
This was the Sooners 5th loss of the year by one score.
OU has nothing to hang their heads about with this one though. They were playing a very solid FSU team who had all ther regulars playing while being severally undermanned.
But at the end of the day…the Sooners looked like they did all season in this one…come out in the first quarter looking like a CFBP team and then…the long slow slide to the loss begins.
News From the Portal | DT Visit Note and DL Communication Note
– Charlie S – Posted on: December 30, 2022
Couple Portal Notes…
***The Sooners will host Texas State DT Transfer Davon Sears Jr next week for a visit.
Sears let me know last night that he has set up a trip to Norman and is looking forward to meeting with the coaches and seeing Norman.
OU offered Sears on Christmas day and he immediately expressed interest in the Sooners which I reported HERE.
Since picking up the OU offer, Sears has been offered by USC, Penn State, Tennesee, Arkansas and Houston.
***As you know, the other day I reported that Wake Forest DL transfer Rondell Bothroyd expressed ‘A lot of interest in OU’ when I touched base with him HERE.
I also noted that OU had already been in communication and last night I spoke to a source on the OU side who told me they see this one playing out in rapid fashion.
While Sears is going to take some visits as noted above, Bothroyd may be leaning towards just pulling the trigger on his choice without going through the visit process. We will see, but sounds like OU is squarely in the mix here.
Will update both recruitments when any new info arises.
Sourced | WR Coaching Position
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 1, 2023
The first sourced note of 2023 is upon us…
Just wanted to share the latest that we have heard in regard to the wide receiver coaching position.
***Over the last couple of days, we have picked up some additional notes from sources that corroborate our previous notes in which we indicated we believe there will be a change at the WR coaching spot.
***Over the weekend, we (K, James, and I) talked to multiple people who indicated it is not likely that interim wide receiver coach L’Damian Washington will be named the permanent coach. The people we spoke with came from different areas on the information chain and while OU has made no official decision at this time, each of them believes there will be a change.
This is always a tricky situation to report on as nothing has been finalized yet, but I thought it was important to pass along the latest we have been hearing from various sources.
***As you know, the Sooners had previously been in communication with TCU Wide Receiver coach Malcolm Kelly and new Arizona State Wide Receiver/Passing Game coordinator coach Ra’Shaad Samples in regard to the potential opening in Norman. Nothing came to fruition between those potential candidates and OU and at this time, we do not believe they will be revisited.
Super K did pick up a new name to monitor this weekend from a source. At this time we are not comfortable putting his name out there, but I will say he is a guy who is very connected within the Sooner’s regional recruiting footprint and has extensive ties to the state of Texas.
***So that’s where things are at in regard to the WR position and we have no new info on any other possible coaching changes at this time.
PJ Adebawore Comparisons
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 2, 2023
As many have noticed, Sooners EDGE signee PJ Adebawore is ripping it up down at the Under Armour game…drawing rave reviews on social media.
Darius and I have been getting some feedback from some folks down in Orlando who are not affiliated with OU in any way, shape, or form and I figured y’all would be interested in their reviews.
Darius mentioned that he got a K’Lavon Chaisson (former LSU standout) comparison from a source. Chaisson’s last season in Baton Rouge was 2019 when he had 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
I had someone tell me ‘Adebawore isn’t as polished as Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon) at this point, but he has all the tools and a tremendous frame’. Thibodeaux wrapped up his Oregon career in 2021 when he had 12 tackles for loss and 7 sacks.
Not saying Adebawore is, or will be either one of those guys, but I know you all are always looking for comparisons, so there are a couple of good ones for you from some unbiased sources.
Visit Note | DL Transfer Target
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 2, 2023
As you know, I reported last week that Wake Forest DL Transfer Rondell Bothroyd told me he had ‘A lot of interest in OU’…you can find that report HERE.
This morning, Rondell let me know that he will be ‘heading down there this week’.
So OU will be getting a visit from the highly coveted defensive line target who had 30 tackles and 6 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles this year for Wake.
In a different post HERE I noted that a source told me they could see this one playing out in rapid fashion…
‘I also noted that OU had already been in communication and last night I spoke to a source on the OU side who told me they see this one playing out in rapid fashion.
While Sears is going to take some visits as noted above, Bothroyd may be leaning towards just pulling the trigger on his choice without going through the visit process. We will see, but sounds like OU is squarely in the mix here.’
If that is still the case, you have to think OU is in very good shape here. Bothroyd has not confirmed with me if he will be taking any additional visits at this time, but I do have a question out to him in regard to that and I will update you if I hear anything.
Bothroyd joins Davon Sears as DL transfer targets who plan on visiting Norman this week.
Visit Update | Transfer Offensive Lineman
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 2, 2023
Stanford transfer offensive lineman Walter Rouse tells me there is a good chance he will be visiting Norman this weekend.
Rouse is a multi-year starter for the Cardinal and back in December I mentioned he was a name to know HERE.
“Rouse, who has 40 plus starts under his belt for The Cardinal, tells me he has been in contact with multiple OU coaches and he is “definitely” interested in the Sooners.
As far as how much interest he has? Walter tells me he plans on making his way to Norman “When the new period opens up in January”.”
This is welcomed news for the Sooners who are also working on bringing in Florida offensive tackle Ethan White for a visit.
