Open Post | Weekend, January 27th – 29th
Posted on: January 27, 2023
Junior Day Number One | January 28th | Visitor List
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 26, 2023
The Sooners will host their first Junior Day for the ’24 cycle this weekend.
Below, you will find out working list of recruits that OU expects on campus.
As always, the list is fluid and it will go through some changes, so if you don’t see a recruits name, it does not mean they will not be in attendance:
We already mentioned this group HERE.
‘24 LB Payton Pierce – Lucas, TX (Lovejoy)
‘24 DL Nigel Smith – Melissa, TX
‘24 OL Casey Poe – Lindale, TX
‘24 S Jaydan Hardy – Lewisville, TX
‘24 OL Max Anderson – Frisco, TX (Reedy)
‘24 S Aaron Flowers – Forney, TX
‘24 QB Michael Hawkins – McKinney, TX (Frisco Emerson)
The following recruits are new additions to our working list which we have picked up over the last few days:
‘24 LB Tyanthony Smith – Jasper, TX
‘24 K Liam Evans – Moore, OK
‘24 EDGE Jayshawn Ross – Kansas City, MO (Liberty North)
‘24 DL Xadavian Sims – Durant, OK
‘24 WR Zion Kearney – Missouri City, TX (Hightower)
‘24 RB Caden Durham – Duncanville, TX
‘24 EDGE Loghan Thomas – Katy, TX (Paetow)
‘24 RB James Peoples – San Antonio, TX (Veterans Memorial)
I will update the list over the coming days when other recruits get back to us or confirm their intentions on Social Media.
Added January 26th – 10:00 am
‘25 TE Davon Mitchell – Allen, TX
‘24 WR Zion Ragins – Gray, GA
‘24 DB Xavier Filsaime – McKinney, TX
‘24 DL Aydin Breland – Santa Ana, CA (Mater Dei)
‘24 WR Bryant Wesco – Midlothian, TX
‘25 WR Andrew Marsh – Fulshear, TX (Katy Jordan)
OU Passing Game Needs a Jolt
– Super K – Posted on: January 25, 2023
This past season, many of you were justifiably frustrated watching the OU run game click only to watch the pass game often fall short of paying it off.
We spoke about this during the season – that complimentary football eluded this team and perhaps most notably in the pass game.
I spoke with a long-time friend of mine who coaches over at TCU and asked him for his general thoughts on OU’s offense this year based on what he saw from OU throughout the season.
He said that watching OU’s pass game this season gave him the sense that in Lebby’s previous stops, he may have had more help in that area from Lane and Heup than previously thought. Said Lebby calls a great run game but is still finding his way in the passing game.
But he also noted that there simply wasn’t a “scary guy” on OU’s receiver corps outside of perhaps Marvin Mims. That has to change.
Emmett has a tall task. He’s got to help get the passing game to be more potent and that’s going to perhaps require some schematic tweaks but most importantly, he’s going to need to develop the guys in his room.
Speaking to a source on the OU side, they have high hopes for what Farooq can emerge into. But they’re going to need their big targets like Gibson, Anderson and the new transfer to take on significant roles as well. I very much think that can happen. Emmett was working with less talent at Texas Tech and they too had QB injuries and played a tougher schedule than OU but still managed a good passing attack.
So, you’d like to think that Jones can have a significant impact on OU‘s air attack.
I do think some additional speed at the running back spot with Barnes and Sawchuk could help open things up.
Additionally, source on the OU side feels like both freshmen wide receivers will be able to contribute right away. They certainly should improve the overall athleticism of the room.
The Great Redshirt Debate | Looking at the ’23 Class
– James Hale – Posted on: January 26, 2023
OU has been impressed with its 14 early enrollees thus far in training camp, and it has several players that could see the field in 2023.
I’m going to share my thoughts on their potential redshirt status for the coming season.
***Five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold (6’1, 205) has been impressive so far in camp with his overall athletic ability. He will likely redshirt this year but he will be the backup quarterback, and OC Jeff Lebby will get him into at least four games this year. If starter Dillon Gabriel gets hurt in any way and has to miss time, then Arnold will be ready to go, and the redshirt will be off. The Sooners will prepare the talented Arnold to play, and he will be ready to play when needed in 2023.
***Four-star offensive tackle Cayden Green (6’5, 315) is joining a talented group at offensive tackle, and most of the time, freshman offensive linemen redshirt their first season on campus. However, Jacob Sexton and Jake Taylor did not redshirt last year, which was a big surprise to most. OU has added Stanford offensive tackle Walter Rouse to the mix, and he is expected to earn one starting spot. OU has juniors, and some experienced depth at tackle that is expected to play next year, so there is a good chance that Green will redshirt next season.
***Four-star running back Daylan “Hollywood’ Smothers (5’11, 182) of Charlotte (West Charlotte), North Carolina, plays a position that the best players always play no matter their grade classification. If Smothers comes into camp and proves to be the best player, then he will play, but the odds are that he will redshirt next year.
***The same goes for three-star running back Kalib Hicks (5’11, 195) out of Denton (Ryan), Texas. Hicks ran for over 3,000 yards and scored 31 touchdowns over his high school career, and if he proves to be among the top two running backs on the roster in 2023, then he will play. The odds are he will redshirt next year.
***Four-star offensive center Joshua Bates (6’3, 305) of Durango, Colorado, plans to play center at OU. OU has players ready to play center next year that have been in the program for a couple of years, and Bates should be able to redshirt and get bigger and stronger next year.
***Five-star defensive end Adepoju (PJ) Adebawore (6’4, 240) of Kansas City North), Missouri is a great talent who has been impressive in camp with his agility and explosive first step. OU has brought in several rush-end types, but OU needs all hands on deck at this position, and if Adebawore is ready to play, it will not be surprising if he plays next season.
***Five-star safety Peyton Bowen (6’0, 185) of Denton (Guyer), Texas, ran a sub 4.5 forty in testing, and he has been one of the most impressive players in camp thus far. OU has returning starters at safety, but OU needs to get better at safety, and the depth at this position left through the portal or graduated after last season. Bowen comes out of high school ranked the number two player in Texas, finishing with over 300 tackles, with 12 interceptions, and 23 pass breakups during his career. Bowen didn’t come to OU to redshirt, and he is so talented that he will play next season.
***Four-star defensive back Makari Vickers (6’1, 180) of Quincy (Munroe), Florida, is rated as one of the top 100 players in the country. He is not as celebrated as Bowen coming into training camp, but he finished with 165 tackles, five interceptions, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and 23 pass breakups during his career at Munroe. OU needs safety depth but Vickers will get his first look at corner under Jay Valai, which could open the door for him to see ample playing time.
***Four-star Derrick LeBlanc (6’5, 265) of Kissimmee (Osceola), Florida, is a much-needed defensive tackle prospect that OU needs in the program. An Orange Belt Conference First Team selection as a senior, LeBlanc compiled 136 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 28 sacks, three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery over his high school career. It’s hard for inside defensive linemen to break through and play as a freshman, but LeBlanc may be good enough to do it. OU would like to redshirt him next year.
***Four-star corner Jasiah Wagoner (5’11, 170) of Spanaway (Lake), Washington, is a very talented player that will fight for playing time in training camp. Wagoner has tested well in camp and is an excellent athlete; the best players play at the corner. Wagoner will probably redshirt this year, but he could change that this spring and in training camp.
***Three-star inside backer Phil Picciotti (6’3, 225) of Perkasie (IMG Academy), Pennsylvania, brings a toughness and physicality to the inside linebacker position. Picciotti has carried himself well in camp so far and has a good presence about him. OU has a lot of young talent at linebacker in 2023, and it is going to be interesting to see how it all shakes out, but in the Venables defense, linebackers usually take a year or two to develop. Look for Picciotti to redshirt in 2023.
***Three-star defensive tackle Ashton Sanders (6’1, 270) of Pasadena (Cathedral), California, is a fast-twitch defensive tackle that brings a ton of athletic ability to the program in the defensive line. Sanders had a tremendous senior year finishing with 82 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and ten sacks. Sanders needed to get bigger and stronger and will redshirt in 2023, but he is athletic enough to play at least four games next year.
***Three-star Erik McCarty (6’2, 180) of McAlester, Oklahoma was one of the top five players in the state of Oklahoma this past year. Before suffering an ACL injury, McCarty led McAlester to a state-final berth for two straight years playing on both sides of the ball. McCarty totaled over 5,800 all-purpose yards and 101 touchdowns over his high school career, scoring touchdowns as a rusher, passer, and receiver. He compiled 348 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 12 pass breakups, eight interceptions, four fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles during his high school career. McCarty will spend next year getting his knee in tip-top shape and will redshirt.
***JUCO DB Kendel Dolby (5’11 180) is a guy who got to camp a little late, but the thought is that he will make an immediate push for playing time this year. Dolby is a guy who can add depth at a number of positions in the secondary and he is a very physical player and one of the better JUCO prospects in the country. Expect him to work his way into the rotation and I would predict he plays one of the safety positions.
***So far, in testing and in training camp, there is not one player that has been a disappointment or a bust. OU feels the 2023 class is very good and an upgrade on the roster. They have been very impressed with the early enrollees thus far.
Sourced | Defensive Staff Conversations
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 26, 2023
You may recall that back on December 1st I reported a source told me that OU had reached out to former BYU and UVA head coach Bronco Mendenhall in regard to filling a potential change at defensive coordinator.
On the surface not much developed from that note, but a couple of weeks ago, Super K had an additional source bring up Mendenhall’s name in connection with OU.
So the speculation and whispers were still out there in regard to a potential change at defensive coordinator which would see current OU DC Ted Roof take a position off the field.
I am here to report that the whispers and speculation have not gone away as earlier this week I spoke to the original source who brought up Mendenhall’s name and they let me know that last week, Mendenhall had multiple conversations with Oklahoma.
What does all of this mean? I don’t know. I am not saying there will be a change at DC definitively, but I cannot ignore the information that has been passed along to me as it comes from a source who is close to Bronco. Couple the information from my source with Super K hearing Mendenhalls name from one of his sources, it is obvious that there is something there between OU and Mendenhall.
It may also be worth noting that OU recruiting former UVA linebacker Nick Jackson, despite having a very talented linebacking corps, could be directly tied to Mendenhall as he coached Jackson for three years. OU currently has Danny Stutsman, Shane Whitter, Jaren Kanak, Kobie McKinzie and Kip Lewis as inside linebackers. They are adding Phil Picciotti, Sammy Omosigho and Lewis Carter to the room…recruiting Jackson could be tied to him being familiar with Mendenhalls style and tendencies.
Source also brought up another potential sticking point. Mendenhall is a safety coach at heart. He views the safety position much in the same way that Venables views his linebackers…as the heart of the defense. How does that play itself out should OU and Mendenhall reach the point where they come to an agreement? Would Mendenhall coach the LBs or would OU be inclined to give him the safety room and potentially move Hall down to linebackers?
How this all manifests itself, in the end, is unknown at this point, but I believe the information is worth passing along to you all.
We have not heard that a change at DC is imminent, I want to make that clear, but the continuing dialogue between OU and Mendenhall is definitely noteworthy.
