Open Post | Wednesday, August 31st
Posted on: August 31, 2022
Recruiting Refresher | Some Top Targets
– Charlie S – Posted on: August 29, 2022
With the addition of WR Anthony Evans and DB Makari Vickers this past weekend, the Sooners currently have 22 commits in the ‘CHO23N’ class.
With the season approaching, I wanted to post a refresher on where things stand with some of their top remaining targets.
Let me quantify this by saying that not every target is included in this post and just because you do not see their name, it does not mean OU is not pursuing them.
Just want to catch you up to speed with some of the priorities and what we have reported on them.
‘23 DL David Hicks – No new update since Super K was first to report that Hicks is considering moving up his commitment date from the previously scheduled All-Star game. We like where OU stands. Texas A&M will continue to recruit him and Bama is trying to get involved and when Nick Saban wants to get involved, usually they do get involved. It may not matter which other schools recruit him though as at this time we believe OU has a decent lead. Just have to wait on his timing at this point and see how things play out.
‘23 DL Jordan Renaud – Two team race that seems to go back and forth depending on which way the wind blows. He will officially visit OU for the Kent State game and that could go a long way in determining what his decision is when he announces it on September 19th. Have to like OU getting the last official visit in this one, but never count out Saban,
‘23 DB Peyton Bowen – There has been no need to update this situation as we have already stated that he wanted to see how the teams look before making any potential change in his recruitment. Some places, along with social media users, continually hype up ‘He’s flipping now’ or set an arbitrary date for some sort of decision…you’ve seen how that has worked out…it hasn’t. Some people seem to feel the need to create something here that just isn’t factual and in some respects, the kid pays for it by some in the fan base getting ‘tired’ of his recruitment. The kid wants to see games played and will visit OU early in the season unofficially. I am still in the camp that if he flips from Notre Dame it will be to OU.
‘23 DB Ryan Yaites – The only pertinent update to his recruitment was the one we brought you all a couple of weeks ago when we told you that he and his family reaffirmed his commitment to LSU. OU is still pursuing, as we also reported following the reaffirmation to LSU, and he is listening still. He also indicated he ‘may visit’ to me (his words) but doesn’t currently have a date set. I would not close the door on him being part of the class if that visit comes off.
‘23 EDGE Tausili Akana – Has set four official visits up…in order, they are: Texas (9/10), LSU (10/7), OU (10/14 for Kansas), and Texas A&M (11/4)…long way to go in this one and I do not expect him to miss any of his visits at this time. That could always change, but right now, he is pretty wide open.
2024 LB Payton Pierce Ready to see OU’s Change to “Physical Downhill” Defense
– CJ Vogel – Posted on: August 30, 2022
I caught up with four star 2024 linebacker Payton Pierce on Saturday following Lovejoy’s 52–27 victory over College Station in the season opener as part of the Tom Landry Classic at Allen High School.
Pierce was unable to suit up due to a lingering sickness, however he remains one of the most coveted recruits in the state at a position of need for just about every school that has tossed their hat in the ring for the talented linebacker.
The Brent Venables’ era begins this week and for Pierce, he is more than ready to see the new defensive-minded Sooners.
“From what I have been to and have watched of their players and talked to their players, they are all expecting to win the big 12,” Pierce said. “I am ready to watch that and see what kind of style they play.”
Of course, that change to a defensive-first identity leading the Sooners is a rather new concept for Pierce and recruits his age. But the transition is one that will certainly help in this recruitment.
“In my lifetime, when I was watching football growing up, it was more of Coach [Redacted] and offensive style of football,” Pierce said about watching OU as a kid. “So I am ready to see the turnaround and physical downhill football team that OU is supposed to be this year. I am super excited to see their defense and how Coach Venables does as head coach.”
Of course, a prospect like Pierce is one that the gets the entire defensive staff involved with. Pierce said he is growing very close with defensive coordinator Ted Roof in what has become a very important relationship.
“I talk to him a bunch,” Pierce said. “He is who I talk to at OU, sometimes with Coach Venables. But yeah, I have a really good relationship with him, just as good as some of the top (coaching relationships) I have. It’s been great.”
The next step in this recruitment, and the entire 2024 class, is the month of September bringing the ability for college coaches to reach out to 2024 prospects first. The checkpoint is something Pierce is much looking forward to.
“It makes it a lot easier,” said Pierce about September 1 coming soon. “I am excited. I know it is going to be crazy, because there are a bunch of schools that say they can’t wait until September 1st.”
For Pierce specifically, that midnight bell when the calendar flips to September is going to be replaced with nonstop buzzing of his cellphone. Pierce said he is expecting to hear from Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Baylor, Clemson, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Texas A&M pretty soon after the new month comes.
Oklahoma has positioned itself very nicely in this recruitment. As I mentioned in the past, there is not a coaching staff with the track record of developing at the position like Oklahoma’s. Not to mention the Sooners were always a school Pierce has kept a close eye on since he was a child.
Pierce will be keeping options open for the foreseeable future. He mentioned plans to attend the Texas-Oklahoma game in Dallas, as well as a follow-up trip to Oklahoma.
Aside from that, Pierce hopes to visit Baylor, Texas A&M, Tennessee and will be at Wisconsin the first weekend of October and in Austin week two for the Alabama game.
Let’s Talk Football! | ’22 Season MVPs, Potential Impact Stars, Breakout Players
– Charlie S – Posted on: August 30, 2022
It’s game week!
We will have our season predictions later this week, but I wanted to make note of some of the standout/potential standout performances that would go a long way towards allowing OU to flourish this season!
Keep in mind, that I am basing these guys on my belief that OU will have a successful regular season (10-2 to 12-0) and for that to be the case, these guys standing out would go a long way to that end!
Offensive MVP: Quarterback Dillon Gabriel – Captain obvious here, but even before he got to campus I was saying he is the right guy at the right time for OU. With Jeff Lebby installing his scheme he needed a trigger man and he got a guy who he is very familiar with and already had success with at UCF. It is imperative for Gabriel to stay healthy for the Sooners to reach their ceiling.
Most impact for OU if this guy steps up: Wide receiver Jayden Gibson. Gibson has received rave reviews since he stepped on campus in the winter. He has put his head down and put the work in. Throughout spring, summer, and fall camp, y’all have read our sourced notes on him and they indicate he has continued to impress. He may not be a starter right now, but if he is pushing guys for their snaps, that will be a huge bonus for OU. You know what you are likely going to get from Wease, Mims, Farooq and Stoops…add a weapon like Gibson to that mix and you’re cooking with bacon grease.
Offensive breakout player: Running back Eric Gray. Last year did not go as planned for the Tennessee transfer (any of the Tennessee transfers actually) but that did not keep Gray from stepping up and taking leadership of the running back room following the departure of Kennedy Brooks. Gray was never given the chance to find any rhythm under Riley and Riley would continually acknowledge that following each game by saying ‘Yeah, that’s on me, I didn’t get Eric involved enough and I have to find a way to get him the ball more’. It never happened. Against Oregon you saw a taste of what he can do when he had 8 carries for 82 yards and 5 receptions for another 25 yards. I expect him to thrive in Lebbys offense.
Defensive MVP: Defensive end Ethan Downs. Hard work, dedication, and a huge helping of passion will go a long way on the football field. When you couple that with tremendous physical skills, you are on to something. Ethan Downs is all that and he will be vital to the success of the OU defense as he will be counted on to bring pressure from the edge while also setting a hard edge in the run game. I feel like there are a few guys at DE that I could pick here to be the MVP but I feel that Downs’ intangibles will make him a force to be reckoned with this season.
Most impact for OU if this guy steps up: Nose tackle Isaiah Coe. Built like a granite boulder, Coe has the physical tools to make an impact. He is currently likely to come in behind Jeffery Johnson but Coe is a guy that could play defensive tackle as well. The hedge here is Jalen Redmonds health which could play a role in how much action Coe sees…it could actually force him into a lot of snaps if Redmond cannot stay healthy once again this year. Let’s say Redmond stays healthy for this exercise…having Coe find that next gear would alleviate a lot of pressure on Johnson and Redmond which will help keep them fresher throughout the game. I could have been talked into going with Jordan Kelley here, but I took the guy that I would have be the first off the bus.
Defensive breakout player: Safety Billy Bowman. Let me repeat that…SAFETY Billy Bowman. Not Nickel back/cornerback/safety Billy Bowman…just safety, Billy Bowman. What the last staff did to the freshman version of Bowman was nothing short of malpractice. Now, under Venables and staff, he has found a home and has spent the last 8 months learning his role. If the comfort level is there, his athletic gifts, which are quite bountiful, will be able to take over and shine. I expect him to play free and have a very good year and as a product of that, the narrative around the safety play at OU should be on the upswing.
Interested to read your thoughts on who you see as the MVPs, potential impact players, and breakout players!
