The Football Brainiacs

– As you all know, pass rush extraordinaire, Abdul-Malik McClain (San Juan Capistrano, CA) visited Oklahoma back in November and by all accounts he and the family really enjoyed the visit. After the visit, our sources indicated that the staff felt good about where things stand/stood.

McClain remains committed to UCLA and we were able to get a sense of where things stand from McClain’s mother.

She tells us that they have potentially, “four additional trips left” which she says would include UCLA, Washington, Ohio State and Georgia Tech. You’ll recall we mentioned that McClain and his family are originally from Georgia.

Ms. McClain said that they are still up in the air about how they will proceed in terms of whether they’ll sign early or if they will take some or all of the visits, “Not sure what tomorrow brings. We may not take all visits but we have to the opportunity to do so”.

As we’ve previously mentioned, there are a couple of Jserra alum who start at Washington so I would surmise that’s a visit the McClains will indeed take. Also, Ohio State was a visit early on that we had been told McClain would like to take.

The Sooners are still in the running for Micah Parsons but we’ve been told that the staff sees McClain as a bigger version of Obo (high praise) so you can bet they’d love to win McClain’s commitment and signature for the first signing period. Right now, it’s clear that the McClain family is still working through just how they’d like to proceed which is probably made a little more difficult given the staff change at UCLA. – (Super K)

– I spoke with Texas LB commit, Ayodele Adeoye (IMG Academy) and it looks like this one might have taken another twist.

A few weeks back a flip to OU seemed inevitable. However, with the Sooners feeling good about where they stood/stand with other LB target, it seemed Ayodele to OU had slowed down and was nearly dead the past couple weeks. Ayodele himself had gone from “maybe” taking a official visit to Texas, to definitely visiting Texas.

It sounds like the talk between Ayodele and Oklahoma has reignited. Ronnie Perkins is, not surprisingly, recruiting Ayodele to Oklahoma.

Ayodele tells me he will visit Texas next weekend but says he’s really torn right now. On the one hand, with the departure of Malik Jefferson he sees a clear depth chart opening at Texas. He also believes in Todd Orlando’s defense and his ability to develop linebackers.

In terms of his draw to OU, “Lincoln Riley. I like that man. And then it’s Oklahoma. You know, Oklahoma is Oklahoma. They’re going to compete for championships”.

Regarding a possible immediate opening on the field, the Sooners are telling Ayodele that they plan to move current MLB Kenneth Murray to WILL and the MLB spot will be open for competition.

Ayodele is a early enrollee. – (Super K)

– Deontay Anderson: Oklahoma is always active on the transfer market and it has been very fruitful for the Sooners.

Earlier this week we told you about redshirt sophomore safety, Deontay Anderson, telling TFB that Oklahoma is the school he’d like to transfer to.

Anderson reached out to OU and things seems to have gone well.  I spoke with a source and was told that OU actually isn’t looking at Anderson at the safety position, but as a possible OLB/Nickel. It would be in the vein of how OU wanted to use Will Johnson in the 2016 season. Anderson is of course a much bigger athlete than Johnson and was used inside the box at Ole Miss so he’s using to playing against a physical run game.

Lastly, as K reported earlier in the week, my source said that OU will sit down as a staff and see how they collectively feel Anderson will fit in their defensive system. I believe that staff meeting was set to happen yesterday.

We are working to stay on top of this,  but I wouldn’t expect a solidified answer until sometime next week after the Big 12 title game. – (Brandon)

– NEO JUCO DT, Isaiah Johnson is a name to know. Johnson tells me, “I talked to coach Thibs this past weekend on the phone about coming down there for a visit before going home (for Christmas break)”.

Johnson is a May graduate. We are just now getting to know him and how he fits in Oklahoma’s recruitment plans. He does have the build of a guy like Bobby Tre Brown so you wonder if the interest in Johnson is connected.

Johnson is a May graduate. – (Super K)