Open Post | Weekend, August 12th – 14th
Posted on: August 12, 2022
What we Learned This Week About BV Recruiting…
– Super K – Posted on: August 11, 2022
It’s bigger than a single individual. It’s resilient and firm. And Venables strategy of recruiting the entirety of a player and soliciting a true commitment not just to the men in the building but the institution itself pays dividends.
Despite the resignation of OU wide receiver coach Cale Gundy, both wide receiver commits appear to be locked in.
And, as we reported earlier in the week, it sounds like the Sooners may still be leading for Anthony Evans (LINK).
This feels very Saban-like. As in, it feels very much like in a short time coach Venables has built something bigger than a single position coach.
And, that is no small thing. You would expect a departure like this to have an immediate negative impact on recruiting that position group.
But, it almost feels like these players barely flinched.
If coach Venables can couple his recruiting principles with the kind of product on the field we think is very possible, Sooner fans could have a lot to cheer about.
Again, I don’t know if there are many programs that can lose a key position coach and not only not lose any recruits but perhaps maintain their lead for one. And, doing all that in the nascent stages of a coach’s tenure is that much more eye-opening.
Sourced Team Notes | Trench Talk
– Charlie S – Posted on: August 11, 2022
Spoke to a source following this weeks practices to get a clearer picture of what is going on in the trenches.
***As you all heard from Coach Venables yesterday, he has been very encouraged by the start Jalen Redmond had to fall camp…but alas the injury bug has emerged and put him on the shelf with what BV refers to as a ‘slight concussion’. Regardless, source once again corroborated Venables thoughts and said ‘He is just a difference maker and with the new weight he’s put on, it doesn’t appear to have affected his twitch at all. Just made him stronger’.
***Source said Kori Roberson and Jordan Kelley were swapping first reps during his absence. Source added that you can see a physical difference in Josh Ellison as well and Ellison gives the Sooners some flexibility as he can work at both interior spots.
**Was told Jeffery Johnson and Isaiah Coe are splitting reps at NT and each has their own strengths. Coe gets off the ball very well and Johnson is ‘incredibly steady’ in regard to his assignments and source says he is ‘really strong’ and ‘difficult to move’ which, in my opinion, will be useful in defending the run. Sounds like Bates and co are quite pleased with where things are at at this point in camp.
***As for the offensive line, it sounds like the first unit is still the group we have been talking about from basically day one. Harrison at LT, Mettauer working at LG, Raym and Congel splitting things at center (I will add that source feels it will be Raym when the live bullets start flying), Murray at RG, and Wanya at RT. Says those guys are all very engaged and leading the rest of the OL through the fall.
***Source once again brought up Tyler Guyton as a guy who is really pushing as we have mentioned before. I was told ‘every day he gets more comfortable and every day his ‘freakish’ athleticism is showing up more and more’.
***Heard a couple new names are starting to emerge in the offensive line group as well. Source said Jake Taylor has been working at guard a bit of late and feels like Bedenbaugh is looking for his best fit and wants him in the two deep. Taylor came in following spring ball, but he has made a pretty big impression since arriving both with his work ethic and his play on the field.
***Source also singled out Jacob Sexton. If you recall from previous notes, we heard how ‘country strong’ he was upon arrival. Well it sounds like that, coupled with his length and athleticism is starting to show up in the workouts and source said he is starting to ‘bully’ some of the older guys he lines up against.
***One of the more encouraging aspects of this camp to this point is just the volume of names that we hear about in the offensive line. We have heard positive talk about so many offensive linemen that it is almost difficult to keep track of. The young kids starting to emerge shows that whatever they did over the summer with Schmidty and on their own in the spring worked. Add in Lebby’s simpler scheme and you could see both of those youngsters in the 2-deep as things progress.
Sourced Team Notes | Fall Camp
– James Hale – Posted on: August 10, 2022
***OU will put on the pads for the first time Wednesday in practice five of training camp. The practices have been well run, and not a minute is wasted as every player participating gets a ton of reps.
***The players seem to be rallying around new wide receiver coach L’Damian Washington. He has jumped into his challenging role with no fear. I am told he is coaching his guys, and they are listening to him. He has put in a couple of his own drills, and he is not trying to coach like Coach Gundy but like himself. I am told he is engaged in every drill with every receiver.
***Junior wide receiver Marvin Mims (5’11, 184) is a really good player and word is he stands out in every practice. Sounds like sophomore Jalil Farooq (6’1, 206) can smell the playing time and is practicing with a purpose. I’m told senior Theo Wease (6’3, 200) is healthy and playing free and making plays.
***I’m told junior running back Marcus Major (6’0, 219) is having a great camp. After missing all but two practices in the spring, Major has shown up this fall with a purpose behind his workouts. Sounds like he realizes that nothing is guaranteed at the running back position when it comes to playing time and has exploded out of the gate this camp. Major runs hard, and his powerful legs are constantly churning in those inside drills. So far, I’m told he has not been tackled, and instinctively always seems to make the right cut.
***It helps Major that freshman Jovantae Barnes (6’0, 201) is off to a slow start this fall with what I am told is some kind of muscle pull, and he has been limited early in camp. Source said freshman Gavin Sawchuk (5’11, 185) started slowly but is beginning to get the feel of those inside drills and is running better as the camp has gone along.
***As was the case in the spring, senior starting running back Erick Gray (5’10, 211) has also looked good in camp and is the leader of the room. Sounds like sophomore walk-on Tawee Walker (5’9, 217) is always hard to stop in inside drills.
***Word is that senior walk-on safety Justin Harrington (6’3, 208) is playing with a purpose and has been one of the most aggressive defenders in camp. In team drills, I am told he is working at nickle back, and in individual drills, he is an aggressive hitter and shows that he knows how to engage a blocker, shuck him, and get to the ball carrier.
***I’m told that another guy making a move is sophomore Jordan Mukes (6’1, 205) who has worked both at nickel and safety and has shined at both positions. Early in camp, source indicates that it looks like Mukes is a much better player than he was last year.
***I’m told starting safety junior Key Lawrence (6’1, 204), is one of the big leaders of the defense and shines in all drills. The inside drills are not sophomore Billy Bowman’s (5’10, 190) cup of tea all the time, but in the open field I’m told he has been impressive.
***Word is that the new trimmed-down look of senior linebacker David Ugwoegbu (6’4, 237) has been noticeable throughout camp. Source said he is flying around, and in inside drills, he seems to get a jump on the offensive blocker every time. He looks like a man on a mission as he battles sophomore Danny Stutsman (6’4, 238) for the starting MIKE backer.
***Im told OU has a good-looking quarterback room as every signal-caller seems to do good things in every practice. The more you watch senior starter Dillon Gabriel (5’11, 204), the more you realize how talented he really is. He is a perfectionist, always working on his footwork and his skill-set as he gets ready for the season. He makes a ton of impressive throws in every ramp.
***It just seems like junior Davis Beville (6’6, 223) is winning the backup job early in camp, but sophomore General Booty (6’2, 186) is very talented and is beginning to get settled in. Freshman Nick Evers (6’3, 186) looks more mature and has become a better athlete this summer. His presence at quarterback is being felt this camp.
***For you specialist fans out there, it sounds like senior punter Michael Turk (6’0, 240) is spectacular. It’s rare that a punter is so good that you feel you have to make sure you never miss him kick, but that is the case with Turk. He is a professional in his approach and hits bombs throughout training camp that often travel 65 yards. Return men Mims, senior Drake Stoops (5’10, 191), and Gray all laugh at how far back they are to catch his punts, which hang in the air it seems, forever.
***Coach Venables will address the media for the first time since the Gundy situation Wednesday night.
Defensive Line Recruiting | Updates
– Super K – Posted on: August 10, 2022
***Sooners 2023 DL target, Edric Hill tweeted out that he will be announcing soon.
He listed a top six which included: Oregon, Alabama, LSU, USC, Missouri and OU.
I know some of you were bummed that Hill didn’t make it in to the Party at the Palace event. I really wouldn’t worry about it. The Sooners took their time offering Hill and as I said, I don’t disagree with them.
Hill isn’t a massive guy. He’s well put together and very smooth. He seems to have decent twitch. But I see him as more of a blue collar DL who you’d develop in a program.
So I’ll come back to Hill…
***I am told that Bama is about to whiff on yet another in-state DL target. Sounds like Kelby Collins is headed elsewhere.
If that comes to pass, Freddie Roach will have missed on to monster targets in Collins and Peter Woods.
I know Bama has been pursuing Hill but I can’t help but think they have been informed about Kelby Collins’ plans and may have turned up the heat a bit on Hill.
And that may have prompted this earlier decision. Hill’s coach had told me only a few weeks ago that Hill wanted to take his time with the process. So putting two and two together, I’d surmise Hill is headed to Bama. We shall see.
I just don’t feel like the Sooners are going to be the choice here and again, I don’t think that’s anything to get bent out of shape about.
***On note I did want to make regarding Jordan Renaud. Charlie mentioned yesterday that he’s feeling pretty good about the Sooners chances in this one.
I want to speak to Renaud before I say too much but I will add this little note that may corroborate what Charlie’s been hearing.
Bama source tells me that they are pushing very hard to flip Notre Dame commit, Keon Keeley. And there is a sense it could very well happen.
There’s two ways I look at it. They’re pushing because they are feel less confident about Renaud (and they are) and even if they aren’t (again, they are) if they land Keeley, it probably sends Renaud to OU by default.
***One last thing, I did check in with DJ Hicks, last night. He said he’s still unsure when he’s going to announce (September or the UA game). He said he and his family are still working through it.
