Open Post | Wednesday, September 19th By: TFB Posted on: September 19, 2018

Introducing 2020 OT Seth McGlaughlin
– Charlie S

The Sooners are down to a small number of open scholarships in the 2019 class. That does not mean the staff is kicking up their feet and solely concentrating on the season as they are still out there working hard at recruiting both the 2019 and 2020 classes.

One target who has come into focus for the Sooners is 2020 offensive tackle, Seth McGlaughlin out of Buford Georgia. McGlaughlin is a 6’4″ 270 lb lineman who holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and Clemson to name a few. The Sooners offered McGlaughlin back in May and continue to pursue him.

The OU staff has been hitting the Peach State very hard over the past few cycles and McGlaughlin is certainly a recruit that Coach Bedenbaugh will seek to establish a solid relationship with.

I recently caught up with Seth and asked him what his level of communication with OU has been like and he said, “I’ve been hearing from them every day”.

As the conversation progressed, I asked him if a visit to Norman could be in his plans and he replied: “I’m going to try to get out to the Kansas State game”.

Knowing how Coach Bedenbaugh likes to recruit versatile linemen who can play multiple positions, I asked Seth if Bedenbaugh focuses solely on talking about him being a tackle if he came to OU and he said, “They see me as a guy that can play anywhere on the line”

As for a commitment timeline, McGlaughlin is pretty open. He said, “Whenever it feels right, but I think it will most likely happen in the late spring to early summer”

When I asked him how he views the Sooner football program, he was pretty much straight to the point as he said: “High powered offense, always dominant in their region”.

I will keep in touch with Seth and keep you all updated on how plans go with that potential visit for the Kansas State game.

 

 

Quick-Hitters | Officials, Cooper & Powell
– The Football Brainiacs

***I checked in with Peyton Powell on his official visit schedule. He has yet to lock it in but said he may go to Texas this weekend for the TCU game since Texas is away the following week and take his OV to Oklahoma for the Baylor game. This is all very fluid and could certainly change in the next couple of days. We will keep you posted – (Super K)

***The mother of Shammond Cooper tells us that this week they will be working to lock in their future OU official visit date. Should know something later this week. – (Charlie)

***So far, Enokk Vimahi is the only official visitor expected this week. We are expecting a bigger list of 2019 visitors for the Baylor game but it’s looking like the Army game will be light.

In case you missed it, I had a write up about Vimahi last week. – (Super K)

 

 

Bru McCoy Visiting Sooners
– Super K

2019 5-Star CA ATH, Bru McCoy (Mater Dei) visited Texas this past weekend.

I caught up with McCoy’s father, last night. In talking about the upcoming visits, Oklahoma was mentioned.

“Next visit is University of Washington this weekend and Oklahoma the week of November 10th…His last open official will be either to Alabama, Oregon, Florida State or UCLA. We might do a couple unofficials if need be.”

So the Sooners will host McCoy for the Bedlam game.

 

 

More Weapons | Jalen McMillan and the Sooners + Insider Take
– Super K

Last night Sooners 2020 WR target, Jalen McMillan (Fresno, CA) tweeted out the following which features McMillan along with a number of Sooner greats, including TFB co-owner, Ryan Broyles.

A few weeks back I spoke with Jalen to bring you some information about this talented wide receiver.

McMillan comes from an athletic pedigree. His father was a football player and his mother played Tennis at Fresno State. We know Lincoln Riley loves speed. Who doesn’t? McMillan has it. As a sophomore he ran a 4.5 laser timed 40 and is a sub 11 100m sprinter. It translates to the field. On film he’s running past the entire opposing secondary. And, McMillan isn’t small. He’s 6’2 but has the feet and hips to move DBs off their spot, which you love to see in a bigger guy. I like the bend he shows coming off the line of scrimmage.

McMillan is a multi-sport athlete. In fact, he’s a potential future draft pick baseball player. But McMillan is so much more than just an exceptional athlete. When talking to him, it’s immediately obvious you’re not talking to a kid. You’re talking to a mature young man.

“When I was young, I wasn’t into sports. I was more into reading and I actually I liked math. I was more of an academic guy. I kind of had a late start when it comes to sports”.

This added element to McMillan has to be considered in his evaluation. The game is played between the lines and between the ears.

RECRUITING

In terms of recruiting, Jalen holds a number of offers – USC, LSU, Oklahoma – the list goes on and on. But interestingly, his first offer came from Nevada. As you all know, Chip Viney was previously at Nevada.

Once Viney arrived at OU Jalen tells me, “Viney called my wide receiver coach cause they’re really good friends. Then, I spoke with coach Riley and coach Simmons. They told me they love my passion on the field and my ability. Coach Riley said he had a surprise for me. And, they surprised me with an offer”.

So far, McMillan has visited USC, Oregon and Fresno State but said, “I want to make a visit out to Oklahoma. Their offense appeals to me. They throw the ball a lot!”

It sounds like the Sooners are hoping to get McMillan out for an unofficial visit this fall. If not, McMillan says he will likely take an official visit to Oklahoma in the spring. In fact McMillan said, “I’ll most likely take official visits and then make a decision in the spring”.

So, this recruitment could end up being a quicker one and I suspect the Sooners would like to establish Jalen as a leader for them in their 2020 Cali recruiting.

Sooners are very much in the mix here.

To read Super K’s “Insider Note” on Jalen McMillan, please click the Donor Board link!

 

 

Dax Hill Commits To Michigan
– Charlie S

Sooners top DB target and OKPreps safety Dax Hill has committed to Michigan.

https://twitter.com/daxhill5/status/1042200971261169664

Hill is a huge get for Coach Harbaugh and the Wolverines.

While the Sooners will not stop recruiting him, as Super K reported earlier today, they face another obstacle obviously with his commitment.

However…

I will say, that if I’m a Sooner fan, it is a good thing that he chose Michigan over a program where you know they will win (Alabama) or a program with close family ties (OkState).

Michigan may be more likely to face a few discouraging losses, coaching uncertainty if Harbaugh gets the itch, and there are fewer connections than a place like OkState.

Regardless, the Sooners missed out on a very talented in-state prospect at a position of need. It stings.

 

 

Post Practice Notebook | Tuesday, September 18th
– Michael Kinney

Army is unique

Led by Kelvin Hopkins Jr., Army is second in the nation with 62.3 rushing attempts per game. They pound out 306 rushing yards a game.

Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops knows his Sooners will have their hands full stopping the potent triple-option attack of the Black Knights Saturday.

“It’s very unique and it’s difficult to transition into more patient, react to box, try to keep people off your legs,” Stoops said. “So there’s a lot there, and then their ability to execute so many different variables in the triple option is challenging in a lot of ways. The difficult part is the amount of time they could hold the football. When you look at, they’re averaging I think close to 40 minutes a game holding the football, and that can be very difficult.”

One of the traits of the triple option is offensive linemen blocking low and into the legs of defenders.

“The hardest things to do is to keep people off your legs,” Stoops said. “We’re not used to everybody crawling. They’re gonna dig through and what they do is … It’s how they do it. They stay low and try to rip their gaps and get in people’s legs and tie people up. And we’re gonna have to be good with our hands and protect ourselves and try to keep ourselves free.”

Lethal passing game?

The Black Knights put up only 13 passing attempts a game, but lead the nation at 23.3 yards per completion.

“I think when you look at their ability to throw the football has been a little more prevalent this year than they did in the past,” Stoops said. “I thought the quarterback last year was really outstanding handling the football. This guy throws the ball maybe a little bit better, they feel a little bit better with their passing game under him. He throws the ball well, but that’s the effect of crowding the line of scrimmage, trying to crowd their run game, get an extra body in there to defend the run; then they’re gonna hurt you with a play action pass. So, those have been very effective for them this year and that’s something that we’ve worked a lot this work and will continue to work the rest of the week.”

Secondary can’t lose focus

Because the Black Knights will lull opposing defenses to sleep with a constant run game, Oklahoma’s defensive backs know they can be hit for a bomb downfield at any moment.

OU cornerback Tre Norwood says it all starts with discipline.

“It’s gonna be different. As a corner, especially in the Big 12, you’re used to pass heavy teams,” Norwood said. “It’s one of those games you have to be fundamentally sound, disciplined, just read your keys and just stay locked in. You can’t get laxed today because it’s just run, run, run and then that’s when a pass comes. It’s just one of those things you have to work on. Work on your eye discipline and just doing your job, that’s the main thing. Focus on doing your job and not trying to do too much.”

Old style new to Sooners

Since only the service academies and a select few FBS teams still run the triple option, very few members of the Sooners have ever seen it in person. With most high schools running some version of the spread or RPO offenses, Saturday will be the Sooners first indoctrination to the offense.

‘I believe it’s going to be the second time,” defensive tackle Neville Gallimore said. “Tulane last year had something similar like the triple option. But it’s new. It’s going to be another challenge to me. As long as we prepare the right way, we should be fine.”

Bounce back week for the defense

Despite beating Iowa Saturday, the Oklahoma defense knows it didn’t play to the level they had in the first two games. Missing tackles was their biggest issues. That is an element the team says its focusing on during the week.

“It starts there in practice. I’m pretty sure you’ve all seen it. Wasn’t pleased with tackling and all this, this past week so we got to coming in practices,” Norwood said. “Focus on tackling and no matter what always getting to the ball. Wrapping up, that’s going to play a big part in this game. Everybody knows they’re run heavy team. Strong guys, so you have to make sure you wrap up and tackling is going to be the main key to this game.”

Mental toughness

“Tackling at the end of the day is our effort,” Norwood said. “You can teach it. You can always teach it at practice, the fundamentals. Taking the right angles and such things like that. But when it comes down to it in the game, it’s just a will to want to get those guys down. Make the play. I feel like it’s all effort and just the want to.”

OU coach Bill Bedenbaugh announce Monday that Creed Humphrey was the team’s starting center going forward. This was news to guard Ben Powers, who said he hadn’t been told yet.

However, Powers said it doesn’t change the line’s mindset.

“Nothing changes,” Powers said. “Nothing ever changes with anything like that. I think I mentioned this before. My mindset doesn’t change for any of that stuff, injuries, stuff like that.”

Preparations for Army started early on

“We took a couple days during camp, at the end of camp before we started our FAU preparations,” Stoops said. “So we did a couple days there. We did a day in the spring, just to kind of learn the fundamentals, changing up techniques, understanding spacing, what they’re trying to do with their gaps and their alignments and getting our players to really understand all the different formations.”