Open Post | Wednesday, August 1st By: The Brainiacs Posted on: August 1, 2018

Shammond Cooper Will be Back
-Super K

According to coach William Cooper, the father of 2019 4-star linebacker, Shammond Cooper, Shammond, “has always been high on Oklahoma”.

Although the family had hoped, multiple times, to visit Norman before this weekend, a visit down to Norman never materialized until this past weekend.

The Sooners ended up using all their spring/summer official visits for the spring game and picked up, even more, commits than expected. So, it was thought that, while the Sooners like Shammond as a player, there may end up being a number crunch.

It appears that has been remedied. Coach Cooper said they spoke with the coaches about OU’s recruiting numbers and class space to ensure they’d have a spot for Shammond, “They (the OU staff) told us there was a numbers crunch but they still want him (Shammond), regardless”. Cooper added that coach Kish was them at the BBQ almost the entire time.

Coach Cooper added, “Coach Kish, coach Stoops, and coach Riley really like his (Shammond’s) tape. They told us that they got more guys committed in the spring than they expected but they still want him (Shammond)”.

For this BBQ event, the Sooners kept the number of invitees down and the number of activities up. And it made for a great event that was action-packed, “I enjoyed it”, raved coach Cooper. “I don’t enjoy it when it’s too many kids because the coaches end up having to split their time up so much. They had a plan for the event. They had a scavenger hunt, water balloon fights, a pie eating contest that turned into a pie smacking contest. It kept us intrigued. We’ve been to some of these events where it drags and get’s kind of boring with the same stuff. But this one was entertaining the whole time”.

As many of you know, Cooper is from St. Louis and the family has long known current Sooner defensive lineman and St. Louis native, Ronnie Perkins. They had a chance to spend time with Perkins and get his perspective on OU, “Ronnie said it’s legit and they’re going to take care of you. You know, he said it’s hard and they’re going to make you work but he said he loves it”.

Coach Cooper added that from a physical standpoint, “it’s the best I’ve ever seen Ronnie look”.

Ronnie’s physical development caught the Cooper’s attention and that attention fell squarely on Sooners S&C coach, Bennie Wylie, “Bennie Wylie! Man, he looked legit! He looks like he can play running back right now! He’s all muscles. His head is a muscle!”

Moving Forward

You can expect to see the Cooper’s back at OU. According to coach Cooper, Shammond loved the visit, “He was so gung-ho about Oklahoma. He loved it. We’re definitely going to be back a couple times”.

There is a lot of thought that Illinois is the favorite for Cooper due to the school and family ties to Illinois coach and Shammond’s previous head coach, Cory Patterson but Oklahoma is…Oklahoma.

“Cory is my brother but you’re talking about OU. I mean, it’s OU. They’re never gonna be behind on nothing”.

Moving forward the plan is to take a few officials. Coach Cooper said that due to proximity, official visits to Illinois and Missouri aren’t really necessary.

He said the three officials they have their eyes on are Oklahoma, Clemson, and Texas but Oklahoma is the one most certain to get an official.

For Super K’s “Insider Note” on Shammond Cooper, please click the Donor link!

 

 

Here’s why you Should be Excited About OU Offering Peyton Powell
– Super K

The Sooners have extended an offer to 2019 ATH, Peyton Powell (Odessa, TX) and I love it.

If you watch Powell on film, you’ll see a lot of wide receiver film and a lot of quarterback film. What you won’t see is any defensive back film. The Sooners offered him as a defensive back.

So why do I like this offer? Powell is a big guy that can absolutely move. You’re talking a legit 6’2 185 lbs with a 4.45 laser 40. He can see the field from both sides. He’s the kind of athlete who despite not playing defense, his coaches will put him on defense to lock up the opposing teams best wide receiver…and he’ll do it. And, from what I gather, he’s an intelligent and high character young man. That’s something OU needs to continue to place an emphasis on because it’s going to pay dividends and you’ll see some of those dividends this season.

But I’ll tell you what really caught my attention about Powell.

Earlier this summer, I was talking to a guy I’ve known for a while who is connected in the Ohio State market and asked him about a high profile defensive back in their recruiting area. I was told they liked said recruit but had a DB at the top of their board that they were waiting on. I asked who. He said…

Peyton Powell.

I’m thinking, wait, Greg Schiano can basically hand pick DBs from around the country and the man obviously has a tremendous eye for talent and he’s passing up on 4-star guys to come down to West Texas to recruit a 3-star ATH who plays primarily WR and QB?

What gives?

So, I talk to Powell and ask him about it. And it was all pretty simple. Back in the spring Schiano came across Powell’s film, loved and called him and told him he’d be down to visit him. Coach Schiano made his way down to West Texas to watch Powell in the spring.

According to Peyton, Schiano then offered Powell and told him, you’re going to be a first-round defensive back.

I asked my guy with ties to Ohio State what they like about Powell and he said very simply, “Everything. Size, speed, hips, all of it”.

Powell took his official visit up to Ohio State in June. His father played some wide receiver at Baylor (btw Baylor offered Powell has a DB and their DB coach is very well respected in this industry) and he visited them this past weekend.

 

But Powell has a Sooners connection as well. Powell tells me he is actually Sterling Shepard’s cousin.

He was originally planning to announce a decision this summer. However, he says he is now likely to push that date back. However, even if he does make a decision an OU visit will happen, “I’m getting down there, no doubt”.

Powell said he’s going to try to take an unofficial visit to Oklahoma before the summer is over. But either way, he will take an official visit during the season.

So far he’s taken two official visits. He visited Ohio State (offered at DB) and Virginia (offered him as a QB). He says he will take his final three officials and in addition to Oklahoma, he’d like to OV to TCU and Texas.

 

 

Turner Corcoran | Scavenger Hunt Champion 
– Charlie S

Recently, I had the opportunity to catch up with 2020 offensive tackle and Sooner offer Turner Corcoran. Corcoran and his family made the trip from Lawrence Kansas to Norman this weekend for the ChampU BBQ.

Just prior to our conversation, Turner sent out a tweet that he will make an announcement on Friday…

…we will touch on that a bit later.

I initially touched base with Turner while he was on his way home from the BBQ and we made arrangements to connect this week in order to delve a bit deeper into his football history and his family.

Turner comes from a family of athletes. His father, Allen, played baseball in college at Washburn University in Kansas. His mother, Shannon, was a collegiate volleyball player at Kansas. His sister, Paige, plays volleyball at Pittsburgh State, in Kansas. So there is definitely some serious athletic genes flowing through the Corcoran family.

While we were talking about his family, I asked him if his parents pushed their kids to get involved with sports. Turner said “Our parents didn’t push us to play sports. They just supported us whether we chose to play sports or not. They were there to support us. I just have always loved football so that was never really an issue.”

I enjoy interviewing the linemen because I always get the opportunity to ask about their football history growing up. They always seem to want to be the skill guys. Turner told me that while he was coming up through the junior ranks, he played on the line. However, around 7th grade, he got the chance to shine at tight end and, as is every offensive lineman’s dream, he got to play a bit at quarterback. He wasn’t shy about it either, saying “Not to brag on myself, but I can kinda sling it, as they say”.

The dream of being a quarterback was quickly laid to rest during his freshman year in high school as he got pulled up to varsity and realized “my home was on the offensive line…mauling people.”

We talked a bit about the early stages of his recruitment. Things really started taking off last summer and into the fall when he camped at KU and spent a lot of time there throughout the season at a couple of games. He formed a really nice relationship with the staff, however, it was Kansas State who dropped the first offer on him, back in March.

Since then, Turner has picked up offers from some big-time programs such as Notre Dame, Clemson, Ohio State and Michigan among a dozen or so others. The Sooners officially offered him on June 7th.

My favorite part of our conversation was when I asked him how he felt when he started reeling in those big-time offers. Turner replied by saying, “To be honest, it obviously feels nice, but I’m never really satisfied. I keep pushing myself”. He continued by saying “Like with my ranking. I’m not all caught up in rankings, but I feel like I’m better than my ranking and I set out to prove that to myself more than anything”. That’s a great mindset for any athlete in my opinion.

We spoke a little more about the BBQ and Turner had really positive words about his experience in Norman.

When he and his family arrived, they were sitting in the reception area and Coach Bedenbaugh came over and made a little small talk. Turner said, “Then Coach Bedenbaugh asked if I wanted to go upstairs and meet Coach Riley and I was like, heck yeah I do!”

After touring the facilities and catching up with a bunch of the other recruits and their families, the group went down to the field to and broke up in squads to go on the scavenger hunt.

For those of you wondering…the scavenger hunt is a serious deal. It’s not contained to the stadium alone. Turner said “We were everywhere! We were in the library, out on campus corner, out by the mural, into Heisman park, just everywhere. They even had a deal where you had to scoop rubber ducks out of the cold tub using only your feet! It was a really special day to be honest, just a lot of fun”. It is my belief that Turner was so high on the scavenger hunt because of course…his team won.

Now, addressing the announcement he has planned…he mentioned that he would like to keep the substance of that to himself and his family, and I completely respect that decision. There are very few times in one’s life where you are the sole person who can control the narrative.

However, I will add that it is safe to say that the Sooners, Coach Lincoln Riley, and Coach Bill Bedenbaugh certainly gave Turner and his family a lot to think about as his recruitment continues as he expressed a genuine appreciation for the time he spent in Norman this weekend.

For Charlie’s “Insider Note” on Turner Corcoran, please click the Donor link!

 

 

Sooners Getting Another Shot at Stripling
– Super K

I know there was some talk (and with good reason) that Marcus Stripling was getting ready to shoot a commitment video and the likely destination would’ve been Texas A&M or Alabama.

I was told, earlier this week, that the video is on hold and Stripling still wants to stick with his plan to take his official visits and see how the teams perform during the season.

I checked in with Stripling to confirm and he said he does not plan on announcing a decision this summer and instead wants to do something during the season.

He still plans to take an official visit to Oklahoma. This is obviously good news for Oklahoma. Stripling silently committed to Oklahoma last time he took a visit back in the winter.

Stripling wants to take official visits to Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Syracuse, and Alabama. Between Oklahoma and Texas A&M I’ll give you one guess which team usually has better in-season results.

 

 

Quick Hitter | 2020 RB Kendall Milton
– Charlie S

– Earlier this month, Kendall Milton, one of the top running backs in the 2020 class, named OU in his “Top 10” list…

https://twitter.com/therealkmilt/status/1016441893192790017

While the Sooners currently hold two verbal commitments from running backs in the 2020 class, Jase McCellan (Aledo, TX) and Jaylan Knighton (Deerfield Beach, FL), they have continued to pursue the elite California back.

This morning I was kicking over some rocks and I stumbled across a very interesting piece of information that Sooner fans will surely enjoy…

I was checking in with Kendall, seeing how things are going with he and OU and he said “Yessir, I am still in contact with OU and I love everything about them. It’s also good to have a close friend on the team”.

– There’s that record scratching sound again –

I asked him to elaborate a bit on the close friend who is on the team and he said, “Caleb Kelly and I have a really good relationship.”

Now…let’s take that a step further…remember who played a big role in Caleb’s recruitment? That would be one recently rehired recruiting analyst…Chip Viney.

Milton also let me know that he currently plans on visiting Norman following his football season.

 

 

Sourced Team Quick-Hitter | Who is Putting in the Extra Work this Offseason?
– Super K

Every year we hear about certain guys who do extra work in the offseason. We hear about certain players who go beyond the normal summer routine and spend extra time honing their craft alone or in a small group.

Spoke to a source recently about which guys on the defensive side are doing that extra work.

“All of them. Seriously. I’ve never seen it like this”.

This is, in my opinion, the benefit of recruiting great athletes who are also high character guys. But it’s also the result of recruiting better overall defensive talent. You know, you can lose your spot if the other guys is outworking you in the offseason. Jordan Thomas learned that lesson the hard way last year.