Open Post | Wednesday, December 12th
Posted on: December 12, 2018
Jordan Battle Down to Two?
– Super K
This past weekend, 5-star in-state DB, Dax Hill flipped his commitment to Alabama, a happening we indicated could occur and a happening we believed could help Oklahoma with Jordan Battle.
So, did it?
Yes. Speaking to a source, we are told that Battle is now down to OU and Ohio State. I continue to hear that for Alabama to take Battle, they’d need to lose a current prospect and it doesn’t seem there is anyone they are particularly keen on pushing out.
The Sooners did an in-home visit with Battle last week and I’m told Kerry Cooks will be back in Florida this Wednesday to do another in-home visit.
Both OU and Ohio State have serious question marks surrounding their programs. With OU, the unanswered question of who will be the defensive coordinator and which staff members will remain on staff, loom. For Ohio State there is a question about whether Grinch or Schiano will be DC. Beyond that, there is the big question of just how good Ohio State will fair now that Urban Meyer has stepped down.
Per my source, if the choice is solely Battle’s, he will select the Sooners. In fact the source said, “if Battle sticks with Ohio State it will say more about what his parents want because he loves OU”.
This narrative goes back a couple months. I had heard that Battle’s father preferred OU due to the prospect of early playing time but his mother preferred Ohio State. When I saw Battle in-person, earlier this year, he essentially confirmed that narrative.
However, a lot of new questions have been raised since that time and I don’t know (nor did the source) where Battle’s parents stand in this, currently.
Trust me when I tell you that the perception of the defense amongst the recruits and their families is abysmal. But again, Battle knows he can play early at OU and he probably isn’t wrong.
It sounds like Ohio State will also be in-home this week, as well.
In terms of the possibility of pushing back his signing date, my source tells me that this is unlikely for Battle.
I’d like to give you all a stronger sense of which direction this one is going to go but again, with the DC question marks around OU, it’s very difficult to do. Though I do believe that Battle really likes OU and would have the added benefit of playing with his best friend.
Offensive Line Recruiting Updates
– Super K
*** JUCO OL Myron Cunningam visited Arkansas this past weekend. He visited the Sooners back in November.
Following the visit, Cunningham let me know that he was going to be committing to the school of his choice yesterday.
He chose Arkansas. Sooners will have to look elsewhere for some OL depth.
***Sooners will host Butler grad transfer left tackle, Tommy Kennedy, this week and of course they have Finley Felix already in the fold.
***Another thing to keep an eye on is Sooners OL commit, EJ Ndoma-Ogar. EJ has spoken at length to Charlie and while EJ is 100% committed to the Sooners, it seems there are a lot of folks negatively recruiting the Sooners in this one. Specifically, they are telling EJ that Lincoln Riley and/or Bill Bedenbaugh may not be at OU much longer.
It seems EJ has dismissed the claims regarding Riley but some concerns remain regarding Bedenbaugh and it’s causing EJ to consider delaying his signing.
Again, EJ is absolutely locked in with OU…the day he signs? That may or may not still be up in the air.
However, a final decision on whether he will or won’t sign right away has yet to be made.
Odds and Ends | Sooners On AP Team & A Coaching Candidate
– Charlie S
The Sooners placed four members of the 2018 team on the Associated Press All-American Squad
1st Team: Quarterback Kyler Murray, Wide Receiver Hollywood Brown
2nd Team: Offensive Guard Dru Samia
3rd Team: Offensive Tackle: Cody Ford
Congratulations to those guys!
Some potential moves which could lead one to make some conclusions about the OU defensive coordinator position:
Ruffin McNeil’s name being floated for a possible head coaching job…
REPORT: App State director of athletics Doug Gillen is now considering former East Carolina head coach Ruffin McNeillhttps://t.co/MRY21jmKZy pic.twitter.com/0ZFnhvaDR9— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@pirateradio1250) December 10, 2018
While I do not see that move coming to fruition, as we have been led to believe that Norman is the planned final stop for Ruffin, it is interesting to see his name floated out there.
Typically when a name is floated in rumors, there is a reason for it whether it is serving as a reminder to certain people that the OU defensive coordinator job is still on the board, or it is for leverage (not in this case) in an existing job.
Just something of interest for sure.
Quick Hitter | 2019 JUCO Offer LaRon Stokes
– Charlie S
*** Some of you may have seen on Twitter that Head Coach Lincoln Riley made his way over to NEO to visit with 2019 JUCO DL offer LaRon Stokes…
*** I caught up with LaRon a couple minutes after the visit and he let me know that Riley and Coach Thibodeaux came through before Riley headed out to the west coast for his visits out there over the next few days.
*** About the visit, Stokes said “The visit was great, it meant a lot to me. I’m ready to take this visit to OU this weekend”.
*** As for a timeline when he plans on announcing a commitment “I’m planning on announcing my commitment on either Sunday or Monday”
*** I don’t think I will be crossing any boundaries when I say I think there is a pretty good chance you all may see a return of the eyes by then.
Final Recruiting Weekend | Visitors + Insider Note
– Super K
***2019 OT and long time Sooner offer, Danielson Ike (Kansas City, MO) tells me that he may be taking an official visit to Oklahoma this weekend.
Ike has been adamant throughout the process that he would visit Oklahoma.
He said he is trying to take an official visit to OU this weekend but, “it has not been finalized yet”.
***2019 JUCO RB, Rhamondre Stevenson also tells me that he is hoping to take an official visit to OU this weekend.
He said, “I should get the word on if I’m going to OU tonight or tomorrow morning”.
So we’ll work to confirm, then.
Rhamondre tells us that he doesn’t plan on signing till February. So, if he doesn’t make it in this weekend then I expect him to make it in after the dead period.
***Again, Tyrion Davis will be in this weekend.
***Interestingly, it sounds like OU was trying to get Bru McCoy in on a last minute visit but his father tells me they are scheduled to visit USC. So I don’t see that happening.
If you would like to read Super K’s Insider Note, please click the Donor Link!
Quick-Hitters | Vimahi & Battle
– Super K
***Spoke with a source over at Bama and am told that the Crimson Tide believe there is a chance they may lose one of their DB commits to LSU.
As such, Jordan Battle could have a place at the table in Tuscaloosa once again…should he want it.
Sooners will be in-home with Battle, tomorrow.
***Was told that Jordan Battle will make his final commitment announcement this Friday.
Do not know which way he is leaning but if Bama is opening a spot for him then, again, they will be a possibility.
***I spoke with the father of 4-star OT, Enokk Vimahi (Kahuku, HI). You may recall, Vimahi was supposed to visit OU for an official back in September but had an injury he was nursing.
Vimahi’s father says that they will be visiting USC this weekend but plan on taking an official visit to Oklahoma after the dead period.
Vimahi plans on signing in February. So, the Sooners still have a chance in this one.
Defensive Coordinator Search | Quick Update
– Super K
A couple things here…
***Continue to hear that Lincoln Riley has not informed anyone on staff what their fate will be following the bowl games. So, seeing coaches out on the road isn’t about keeping up appearances. The coaches are doing their job because, as far as they know, they still have one.
***That doesn’t mean there isn’t concern. They know something may be coming.
***I have been told that the name being talked about around OU more and more is Alex Grinch and not Pete Golding. But even that is becoming more cloudy.
***While this information is coming from sources close to the program, I take it with a grain of salt because I’m not convinced anyone outside of Lincoln and a very select few really know what’s going on.
***However, I will say that if Lincoln wants to limit the changes he makes on defense, a guy like Grinch would be more likely to allow that to happen. I’ve been told from day one that Golding would want to bring in his guys.
***I did speak to an industry expert in coaching searches about this whole OU DC search and he/she said that it’s been so quiet on their end that they are beginning to think Lincoln really hasn’t made any decisions.
***My guess is that the agents are talking and there is someone identified but again, Lincoln is keeping this thing completely quiet. Which brings me back to the coaches being in the dark. Unless you’re going to keep everyone (that’s not happening) then Lincoln is so committed to not letting anything get out and focusing on this playoff game that he isn’t willing to give anyone an early heads up to start searching for a job.
***If you ask me, that’s the way you do it. I know there is an argument to be made for letting people know early so that they can keep up appearances while searching for a job but Lincoln isn’t running a charity. His duty is to the fans, the University and to the players, as well as the coaches.
Sooners Make Top Five For Elite Pair Of 2019 Recruits
– Charlie S
*** Sooners made the top five for elite wide receiver Jadon Haselwood
*** Sooners also made the top five for elite defensive back Chris Steele
*** The Sooners are in both of these races, however, we are hoping to catch up with Steele in the very near future following his in-home visit from Lincoln Riley and we are expecting OU to go in-home with Jadon Haselwood once again prior to signing day.
*** Hopefully, we will have a much clearer picture as to where exactly OU stands with both of them as signing day approaches.
