Open Post | Weekend, August 21st – 23rd
Posted on: August 21, 2020
Heading to the Summit | A List
– Charlie S
Ok went through and compiled a list of the names we have confirmed of recruits and commits who plan on being in Norman for the Summit this weekend as of 2:50 pm Thursday:
2021 OL Savion Byrd – OU Offer
2021 WR Jalil Farooq – OU Offer
2021 WR Cody Jackson – OU Commit
2021 JUCO DB Khyree Jackson – Bama Commit
2021 OL Tristan Leigh – OU Offer
2021 OL Cullen Montgomery – OU Commit
2021 DB Jordan Mukes – OU Commit – Maybe
2021 EDGE Clayton Smith – OU Commit
2021 LB Danny Stutsman – OU Commit
2021 QB Caleb Williams – OU Commit
2022 LB Kobie McKinzie – OU Commit
There will be others heading to Norman I am sure and we will update the list when confirmed.
Quick-Hitters | Tunmise Adeleye & Wheaton
– Super K
***First, I did recheck today with Camar Wheaton’s coach on whether Camar will be in town with the other players this weekend.
Was told they are still unsure and should know tomorrow morning if he will be able to make it up.
Charlie will have the list of visitors up in just a bit.
***The bigger news I heard today is that 4-star DE and former Buckeye commit, Tunmise Adeleye has renewed interest in the Sooners.
I know Florida and Alabama have been mentioned a lot but word is that he’s quietly very interested in the Sooners, as well. It’s my understanding that Tunmise decommitted from Ohio State because of the season cancellation.
I have someone working on getting additional information on this matter as Adeleye himself has been awfully quiet. When I know more I’ll bring it to you. But as of today, it sounds like we are back on Adeleye watch.
TFB Randoms | Team & Visitor Notes
– Super K
***With the string of injuries the Sooners had early in camp, I’ve been trying to check on injury news, periodically.
***I’m told there hasn’t been anything of note this week (thank God)…
***Kendall Dennis has been out, though. Sounds like he was dinged up last week and hasn’t been going this week either. He didn’t play in the scrimmage.
***Also, there have been some DBs in quarantine. So, I’m told Josh Eaton has actually been taking some first team reps, this week.
***We are expecting a second scrimmage to take place before too long. If possible, I imagine Riley is going to try to time it so that players who are in quarantine will be out of quarantine.
***On the recruiting front, I did ask Tristan Leigh’s mother if they’ve had any initial impressions. She said that they hadn’t made it by the school yet as of Thursday evening, but said so far, they love the area and find it to be quite beautiful!
***Tristan’s younger brother, Aidan Leigh, is on the visit as well. Aidan is a 2023 OT who seems to be on the same path as his big brother. He already holds offers from the likes of Florida, LSU, Ohio State and Maryland.
Three Thoughts on the Summit
– Charlie S
I know you are all excited about the Sooner Summit this weekend.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have dropped you a bunch of names of guys who have confirmed with us that they plan on being in town for the event which was driven by quarterback Caleb Williams.
While the recruits and commits are beginning to roll into town, in my opinion, there are three things I would focus on:
1) There will be a handful of 2021 commits in town and most of them have not met in person to this point. From Caleb Williams to Danny Stutsman to Clayton Smith and Cullen Montgomery etc…these guys will have an opportunity to bond this weekend. With the summer camp circuit being washed out (where guys get the opportunity to meet and bond), and no ChampUBBQ, this gathering could go a long way to galvanizing the group and bringing them closer together.
2) You have to hope that the campus, Oklahoma City, and Norman itself, make a huge impression on Tristan Leigh and his family. While the staff will not be able to partake in the visit, the atmosphere and setting will play a huge role in what Leigh and his family take away from their trip. We will be able to get a gauge on this for you all, but Leigh and his family are perhaps the most important visitors heading to Norman in general.
3) Since the time we broke the news of Savion Byrd confirming his attendance on August 12th, I have come to the conclusion that this weekend has the possibility to cement things for the Sooners in the chase for his signature. Byrd is very private when it comes to his recruitment and the fact that he let me know he was ‘100% going’ and ‘hyped’ to get to town can only be viewed as a positive for Oklahoma. Having Byrd around Caleb, Cullen, and Tristan Leigh could be enough to get Byrd to publicly jump in the LincUpXXl boat.
If next week you hear that the recruits really enjoyed bonding, Tristan Leigh and his family came away very impressed, and Savion Byrd is close to an announcement, you should consider the Summit an unmitigated success no matter who else shows up or doesn’t show up.
Running Back Recruiting
– Super K
Last week I noted that we were getting the sense the Sooners had lost some footing in the Camar Wheaton recruitment.
I know there has been some talk that he may be in town this weekend. So far, his coaches have told us that is undecided.
I can say that there was some contact between Wheaton and OU in the latter part of the weekend which was a positive for them, given communication had been very limited lately.
The sense we have is that the Sooners are under the impression that LJ Johnson and Camar Wheaton are both deciding between OU and Texas. As such, they believe that one way or another, they’ll end up with one of those two.
I’m told Johnson may be announcing in the early part of September and I still believe that Texas holds the lead there. From what we understand, the Sooners then expect to land Wheaton, if for no other reason than the fact that both Wheaton and LJ wouldn’t go to the same school.
To be honest, I do not know if that is a good assumption or not.
Also, I know there have been some questions about whether the Sooners may be back in the mix for Ohio State RB commit, TreVeyon Henderson. That’s a been a difficult one to track given his commitment status. I did ask Henderson’s coach and he seemed unsure about how much, if any, contact OU has had with Henderson.
I have continued to check and have continued to receive little information in return. Sometimes that means there is nothing to tell. But when a player is committed, few comments can mean there is something going on behind the scenes and no one wants to say much.
Quick Hitter | Commits Still Putting In Work
– Charlie S
Back in late July, the Sooners extended an offer to 2021 ATH Billy Bowman.
***Bowman is currently committed to Texas
***Many of you have seen Caleb Williams publicly state that he is ‘Picking at Bowman’ in his weekly Sports Illustrated blog
***In checking with some of the commits who are heading to Norman this weekend, I was told they are working on Bowman.
***Source told me that they are ‘not sure’ if Bowman will be in Norman this weekend.
***Regardless if he shows up in town this weekend or not…bottom line is that it is clear that multiple Sooner recruits are working on Bowman which means their directive is coming from the staff.
***Bonus note for those of you who do not already know…Bowman’s girlfriend is planning on playing softball for OU.
***Definitely something to keep an eye on as the season gets underway coupled with the fact that Texas just lost the QB in their class when Jalen Milroe flipped to Bama.
Fast Five: Scrimmage | Sourced | Quick-Hitters
– Super K
***Was told both sides, offense and defense, had their moments. Don’t know that there was a clear winner. Tackling was a bit sloppy but told not too bad for a first scrimmage. Got the sense it was to be expected and nothing that can’t be cleaned up. Remember that so far during camp, they hadn’t been taking guys to the ground.
***Offensive line versus defensive line was hard to gauge. The DL has some guys in quarantine so the defense was extremely thin there. Sounds like they had to use some young OL to play DL.
***I do believe Ealy was out on the OL, as well. Quarantine.
***As James has noted, Odom is looking for a three-man rotation at LB. It sounds like it is currently, Asamoah, White and Ugwoegbu with Ugwoegbu coming off the bench. Linebackers have to be interchangeable. So all those guys will presumably be learning both WILL and MIKE.
***In the secondary – heard Pat Fields had a heck of a day.
If you would like to read the rest of the sourced team notes from the scrimmage this week, please check the Donor Board.
