Open Post | Weekend, August 19th – 21st
Posted on: August 19, 2022
2023 Sooners Commit Colton Vasek Completely Bought In
– CJ Vogel – Posted on: August 17, 2022
I made the short trip through Austin last Friday morning to catch up with recent Sooners commit Colton Vasek for the first time since he made his decision public to join the Sooners class.
Again, let me say just how big of a fan I am of Vasek off the edge. The athleticism he brings to the table is not common for someone who is standing 6-feet-6-inches. He is the real deal.
Vasek’s trip to Norman was really the overriding factor for him to pull the trigger and join Brent Venables’ inaugural class he told me.
“It was a great weekend overall,†Vasek said. “I really enjoyed being up with the Oklahoma commits – Jackson Arnold and all of them. Really just being able to sit down and talk with the staff more, I feel best about my development there going forward.â€
The talks with Brent Venables hit a chord with Vasek. Prior to the trip north to Norman, Oregon was in a very advantageous position in this recruitment and the new Sooners’ head coach was able to preach development to Vasek and it got through.
“I think he is the best defensive mind in the game,†Vasek told me after Westlake’s practice. “He has proven himself by winning National Championships at Clemson. I felt best about them compared to all of the other programs.â€
Vasek mentioned being able to spend time with Jackson Arnold on the trip and said he got a good laugh at Arnold’s expense when they brought up the 2021 Texas State Championship game in which Vasek had several sacks on the five star QB commit.
“We chop it up. He’s a good dude, I like being around him.â€
Vasek is all locked into the Sooners’ class. We talked a bit about the potential defensive line haul for the Sooners in the 2023 class and going back to conversations with Charlie and K, there is potential for this group to be the single most impressive DL group I have covered in a single recruiting class (between Texas and OU).
Recruiting Move That Could Help the Sooners
– Super K – Posted on: August 18, 2022
For a few weeks now, we’ve heard from our Bama source that they were in the running to flip 2023 Notre Dame 5-star DE commit, Keon Keeley.
This was of note to us because it’s very possible that this could have an impact on the Sooners’ standing with Jordan Renaud.
It appears phase one of Saban’s plan has unfolded. Last night, Keeley announced his decommitment from Notre Dame.
Following the Sooners July event, we already had Renaud slightly trending to the Sooners but with Renaud not making a decision until September, there is still plenty of time for the tide to turn.
Should Keelyy end up at Bama (and that seems likely) that doesn’t mean Alabama will back off Renaud. They really like him. But it could help the Sooners even more.
Update | Ryan Yaites | OU Still Chopping Wood
– Charlie S – Posted on: August 18, 2022
Touched base with ’23 DB Ryan Yaites earlier this morning. Yaites is committed to LSU but the Sooners offered him in the summer and he made his way to Norman for the Party at the Palace with friend and high school teammate Jackson Arnold.
If you recall, earlier in the week, we noted that LSU sources told Super K that Yaites and his family reaffirmed their commitment HERE.
‘However, I’m told that last night Yaites and his family reaffirmed their commitment to LSU.
I don’t know if things could change once the season starts. I suppose that’s possible. But for now, based on what I’ve heard, I’ve got this one trending in LSU’s favor.’
After communicating with Yaites, it is important to take note of the second part of that note where K said ‘I don’t know if things could change once the season starts, I suppose that is possible’.
I asked Yaites if OU was still pushing of late and he said ‘Yes, OU is still pushing and I got off the phone with Coach B Hall after practice and had a good talk. They want me to come up to a game so I might. I just have to find and pick a date’
So this looks like a case where OU is still chopping wood and putting the work in.
If OU continues to push, and they get Yaites to come up to a game whether it be an OV or a UOV, it will be very important to get his family to take the trip along with him as they were not in attendance for the Party at the Palace event.
So while we have him trending in a direction that keeps him with LSU, it appears that the door is not fully closed at this point.
Big 12 Position Groups | Top 3 Rooms at Each Position | Offense
– Charlie S – Posted on: August 18, 2022
Taking a look at the Top 3 rooms at each position group, in my opinion, on the offensive side of the ball in the Big 12 Conference for the ’22 season.
Interested to read your opinions as I can easily be talked out of some of my picks, particularly at QB.
QB:
(Basing the ‘ROOM’ completely on the starter…all bets are off if there are injuries to any of these 3 guys)
1. OU – Dillon Gabriel – Right man, right place, right time. Gabriel eases the Sooners transition to Lebby’s offense as he knows the play book inside and out and has worked in it with tremendous success previously.
2. WVU – JT Daniels – Again, much like Gabriel, new guy, new place, now we have to see if the timing is right. Daniels is very talented and if he can stay healthy, he should have a big year.
3. TCU – Chandler Morris – Taking a guy from a room which hasn’t even named a starter could prove problematic for me…but when I look at the rest of the Big 12 QBs, I am very underwhelmed. Morris should beat out Max Duggan for the QB1 role in Ft Worth and if he does, my feeling is that you will see some explosive offense from the Frogs as Morris is smart, athletic, and gutsy.
RB:
1. UT – With Bijan, Johnson, Robinson, Brooks and Blue…this is clearly the top RB room not only in the conference, but one of the top rooms in the nation.
2. OU – What the Sooners lack in ‘name brand’ they make up for in depth and potential. Gray, Barnes, Major, Sawchuk and the walkons like Beano and Tawee Walker give Lebby and crew a ton of solid options.
3. KSU – Deuce Vaughn is all I care about at Kansas State. While they may not be as deep as the top 2 teams, they do have Vaughn who may be the most difficult RB in the conference to contain. Redshirt freshman D.J. Giddens is a guy KSU head coach Klieman has spoken highly about and they brought in JUCO Anthony Frias and Air Force transfer La’James White.
WR:
1. TCU – Quentin Johnson will carry the banner, IMO as the best receiver in the Big 12 and that could be enough to give the entire room the nod as the top group in the conference. A pair of trees in Quincy Brown and Savion Williams compliment Johnston then you add a stud like freshman Jordan Hudson…this a very talented group.
2. OU – Last week I would have put Texas here but the loss of Neyor and temporary loss of Hall really put them in a bind. OU has Marvin Mims, who I believe is the best ‘small’ receiver in the conference along wth Theo Wease, and Drake Stoops returning plus Jalil Farooq had a coming out party in the bowl game. Then you add transfer LV Bunkley Shelton and JJ Hester along with dynamic and potentially game changing freshmen like Jayden Gibson and Nic Anderson, you have a very solid group.
3. UT – The loss of Neyor cannot be understated. He was an important piece of the Texas plan to help free up All American Xavier Worthy. Worthy will get his, but it will be a bit more difficult as Texas searches for a true number 2 threat. They have some options but Bama transfer Agiye Hall is not among those options yet as he is indefinitely suspended. I expect him back sooner than later, but for the time being Texas will have to get creative with guys like Jordan Whittington and freshman Brenen Thompson and Casey Cain.
Tight End:
1. KSU – I like Kansas States room a lot. They have a guy who I believe is the best TE in the conference in Sammy Wheeler (returning from injury). He is a converted QB and is just a really bright guy with a lot of physical tools and he fits that program like a glove. Nick Lenners is basically a stone mason disguised as a football player and Daniel Imatorbhebhe feels like he is a middle aged man, but they together form a very impressive group.
2. OU – OU may not be deep on experience outside of the top 2, but those 2 have it in bucketloads. They also have talent. Brayden Willis is a guy who has a ton of athletic ability and has played in a ton of games for Oklahoma. He has good size, speed, and hands and developed into a willing blocker last year. Daniel Parker just wants to bury defensive players and will pick up a reception or two along the way. Jason Llewelyn will likely see his massive frame deployed in some fun blocking schemes but he also has tremendous hands and could miss a redshirt. Kaden Helms is a future weapon, just believe he will need some time to build his body before he is quite ready.
3. Baylor – Ben Sims leads the charge here for Baylor and his presence alone was enough to give them the nod over Texas for the third spot in this ranking. Sims is a TE who looks, and plays like a DE. He is violent and physical. He already has 9 TD receptions in his career so he is a weapon in that respect as well but I really love all the dirty work he does, much like OU’s Daniel Parker. Drake Dabney is his running mate and the way Baylor uses their personnel is always impressive.
OL:
1. Baylor: The Bears gets the nod as they return four starters on what was likely the best OL in the conference in 2021. I do think by the end of the season OU could ascend to the top spot, but Baylor will be nothing but rock solid over the course of the season.
2. OU – For as much bellyaching as Sooners fans do about the dip in play from the OL when compared to the Joe Moore award winning lines…they have been among the top 2-3 groups in the conference for the past 3 years. Basically every other program would have gladly swapped their OLs with OU over the past 3 years. Last year, the Sooners were much better than given credit for and that was with Billy Blanks as their S&C coach and an OC who demanded his OL provide 30 seconds of protection at times (I kid…somewhat). The Sooners get a big boost from the return of Jerry Schmidt and his S&C program along with Jebby Lebbys more attacking style offense. We have already seen the improvement in physical appearance and I expect to see the ‘nasty mentality’ return. I expect this group to be the top unit in the Big 12 by the end of the year as, on paper, this is Bedenbaughs most talented group.
3. Iowa State – It’s tough to pick ISU over WVU as WVU returns all 5 starters…I just don’t love their starters. I like the consistency that ISU has shown when it comes to their OLs over the last 4-5 years or so and they get a big piece back in OT Jack Remsburg who was out last year. Iowa State really gets this spot based on what I saw them do against a stout Clemson front in their bowl game last year. They have a good OL program over there and I expect them to be one of the better units again this year.
