Open Post | Weekend, July 24th – 26th
Posted on: July 24, 2020
Quick Hitter | Farooq Timeline
– Charlie S
As you know, 2021 wide receiver Jalil Farooq (6’1″ 200, Upper Marlboro, MD) is a guy we feel very good about in regards to where things stand with Oklahoma.
Those good vibes have only strengthened since the Sooners landed 2021 QB Caleb Williams who is close with Farooq.
Right now, this one feels like a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ he joins the LincUp21 class and now, we have a clearer idea of when that could be.
Sources have indicated that Farooq is planning on announcing his commitment to the school of his choice in early September on a day that holds significance for him.
Farooq, along with 2021 DB Damond Harmon and 2021 DL Kelvin Gilliam are all guys who are pretty strongly connected to Caleb Williams…and yes, the ‘Williams Effect’ does seem to be playing a pretty big role for the Sooners on the trail, particularly on the east coast.
Staying on Theme | Recruits Recruiting Recruits
– Charlie S
As we have talked about routinely on the board, it is a great benefit to a program when there is a lot of peer-to-peer recruiting taking place.
Recruits recruiting recruits.
Sooners most recent commit, 2022 ATH Jordan Hudson, wasted little time in regards to getting into the action as he sent out this tweet…
For those of you who aren’t aware…Hudson is high school teammates with elite 2022 safety (and OU offer) Chace Biddle (6’0″ 190) at Garland.
Now, while he may or may not have been talking about Biddle in that tweet, as there are a lot of other targets Hudson could be focused on, his enthusiasm is a welcomed sign.
It is a huge plus for a program, particularly early on in any respective cycle, to have vocal recruits who are also well respected on the field and by their peers.
That is how elite classes get built.
Snippet from: Wednesday Notebook |Position Battles
– James Hale
With training camp officially getting underway with the addition of two more weeks on Friday, here are the five biggest competitions that will take place in camp as I see it:
1) Quarterback: What else would be more important than who wins the starting QB job at OU? Redshirt sophomore Tanner Mordecai (6’2, 210) will finally get a chance to try beat out one of the most celebrated quarterback recruits in OU history in redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler (6’0, 198). The betting favorite is Rattler, but Mordecai will give him a run for his money. What did Lincoln Riley really mean when he sent Rattler out in garbage time ahead of Mordecai against LSU? Inquiring minds want to know?
2) Left Tackle: This all-important position has to have a great player playing it as much as the Sooners throw the ball and all their quarterbacks being right-handed. The battle, at least initially, is between redshirt freshman Stacey Wilkins (6’6, 319) and senior Erik Swenson (6’5, 314) with Wilkins being the odds on favorite. Swenson started a few games last year before losing the job to R.J. Proctor. Swenson would be a capable backup this year, but the coaches hope that Wilkins is there next great offensive lineman.
3) Linebacker: I know OU has players here, but do they have a special player or two or a special group of players? Kenneth Murray was not a perfect backer by any means, but he was spectacular and, at times, a fantastic linebacker. He was athletic enough and gifted enough to get drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the first round of the NFL Draft. OU returns a starter at linebacker in junior DeShaun White (6’0, 223), and senior Caleb Kelly (6’3, 234) has started a lot of games at OU, but just not many at inside backer. Kelly and White are the projected starters, but that has not been set in stone. DC Alex Grinch and linebacker Coach Brian Odom have moved junior Robert Barnes (6’2, 228) to linebacker, and he is a converted safety. Still, he has played a lot in the box before. Redshirt freshman Brain Asamoah (6’1, 230) has tested well and is primed to make this a significant competition for playing time in camp. Senior Bryan Mead (6’2, 231) has been placed on scholarship and will be a coach on the field as a backup for the Sooners. Freshman Shane Whitter (6’0, 226) has been impressive in his short time at OU, and when you are one of the top five speedsters on a fast team, and you play linebacker you have something working for you. Freshman Brynden Walker (6’3 1/2, 230) hasn’t been on campus long, but during recruiting, he was thought to be exactly what OU was looking for in recruiting for a linebacker.
4) Wide Receiver: OU has players, and they have great talent at receiver, but do they have a number one now that CeeDee Lamb has taken his talent to the NFL. Plus sophomore Jadon Haselwood (6’2, 196) was injured in the summer and will miss some time this season. On top of that, talented sophomore Trejan Bridges looks like he’s going to be suspended for the first five games. With he and Haselwood out that’s two of the Sooners top four receivers out for at least five games. UCLA transfer senior Theo Howard (6’0, 182) is reportedly back and ready to go after blowing out his Achilles Tendon in early January, but is he totally ready to go? That still remains a question. OU does return sophomore Theo Wease (6’3, 200), who showed enough promise last year to give an indication that he is a future NFL player. Junior Charleston Rambo (6’1, 179) has been named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list and is the Sooners leading receiver returning. Marshall transfer Obi Obialo (6’3, 210) is an intriguing prospect and seems to be surging late in his career. He will get a chance to show what he can do, especially early in the season. Sophomore Drake Stoops (5’9, 181) played well when called upon last year and will get more playing time early until Bridges get back. Freshman Marvin Mims (6’0, 173) impressed early in camp, and fellow frosh Trevon West (6’0, 165) and Brian Darby (5’11 1/2, 192) will also get their opportunities to impress in camp. Rambo will be what he is, but one or two others need to emerge, and training camp will start to show us what they can do.
Big receiver Austin Stogner (6’6, 251) is already on the John Mackey Award List and is poised to have a big year after an outstanding freshman season. Junior Brayden Willis (6’3, 235) will complement Stogner, and Obialo can play here as well. Freshman Jalin Conyers (6’4, 220) is a great athlete and could play as a freshman.
5) Defensive Line: This unit has to be one of the most critical units coming into training camp for the Sooners. OU lost their best defensive lineman from a year ago in Neville Gallimore, who was drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Seniors Kenneth Mann, Marquis Overton, and Dillon Faamatau all played vital roles for the Sooners in good fashion a year ago. OU failed to recruit top preps in their interior defensive line positions a year ago, but they did well in the JUCO route, signing two of the top three JUCO defensive tackles in the country. In top-ranked junior Perrioin Winfrey (6’3, 283) and third-ranked Josh Ellison (6’2, 279). Losing spring ball hurt these two and hurt the coaches evaluating them because they only got one practice in. So, this extended training camp will be a big plus for those two coming into the program. Sophomore Jordan Kelley (6’2, 293) is a player that the coaches hope beaks out and becomes a major player for them. Injuries have robbed Kelley of his first two years at OU, but coming out of Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was a dominant player and bull strong, and he should be a good player for OU.
OU is good on the rest of the defensive line, but still, young players need to emerge to give OU a good base for the future. Sophomore Jalen Redmond (6’3, 278) is a great athlete who can be a great one for the Sooners. Senior LaRon Stokes (6’4, 276) is coming off a very solid junior year, but does he have it in him to take another step forward. Redshirt freshman Kori Roberson (6’4, 273) and Marcus Hicks (6’5, 272) project at defensive tackle or defensive end, and the coaches have mentioned Roberson even at nose tackle. At defensive end junior Ronnie Perkins (6’3, 247) has had a banner summer earning first-team preseason All-Big 12 and being named on the Badnarik Award Watch List and the Bronco Nagurski Trophy Watch List. All that is great, but he will likely miss the first five games of the season, really hurting the Sooners defensive line. Sophomore Marcus Stripling (6’3, 240) and junior Isaiah Thomas (6’3, 260) figure to get the reps while Perkins is out, but Redmond could be moved out here to see what he could do on the edge. I’m not sure where junior Zaccheaus McKinney (6’3, 258) fits in the OU defensive line now that he lost 60 pounds since he first arrived at OU. Still, the last time we talked to Coach Lincoln Riley he actually brought up his name without being prompted, which was the first time that has happened since McKinney has been at OU.
OU has two promising defensive end prospects in four-star Reggie Grimes (6’3 1/2, 242) and three-star Noah Arinze (6’5 1/2, 240) that in six weeks will be given every opportunity to earn playing time.
OU has some pieces in this group, but they need their youngest players to fire and become players and if they do then this unit will be good for not only this year but for many years ahead, but if the youngsters struggle and don’t fire early this unit could struggle early.
6) Holder: A little bonus, who will be the Sooners holder this year? OU must replace four-year starter Connor McGinnis who was very good winning the Mortell Holder of the Year Award. My best guess is that junior quarterback Tanner Schafer (6’3, 215) will be the guy because Coach Riley does want a quarterback to have the job in case something goes wrong or to run a fake. I don’t think Coach Riley has called for a fake field goal or an extra point thus far as a head coach. I also hear that Stoops will also get a crack at being the holder and even junior defensive back Justin Broiles.
Quick Hitter | Recent 2021 LB Offer
– Charlie S
Earlier this week, James mentioned he was told that the Sooners sent out a 2021 linebacker offer to Trevin Wallace (6’2″ 225) out of Jesup, GA.
Wallace is currently committed to Boston College.
*** I was able to briefly connect with Wallace through messages and he confirmed that the Sooners had extended the offer.
*** Wallace told me that Coach Brian Odom ‘Has my attention”
*** He mentioned that should visits be allowed in the future, he would likely make his way to Norman for a trip.
*** When I asked what the draw to Oklahoma was for him, Wallace said “The coaches for sure, plus, my uncle played out there”
*** His uncle is J.R. Bryant who was a linebacker for OU in the 2008 season.
From the looks of things, Wallace could be one of the guys OU pursues more aggressively should things not go their way with Prince Kollie. Of course, OU will likely also pursue some of the more familiar names (Sanders, Cooks) as well, but Odom is continuing to look for another backer.
I would not be surprised to see a couple of additional linebacker offers to be sent out in the same vein.
A Word on Kendal Daniels
– Super K
As we’ve noted for a bit now, we don’t believe Kendal Daniels to OU is likely to happen. James covered things pretty well last week.
I understand there may be some frustration regarding this perceived recruiting miss but I want to offer a few thoughts.
***Firstly, it’s important to note that while the Sooners offered Daniels quite a while back, the pursuit of Daniels had slowed significantly up until a couple of months ago.
***That may seem like the root of the problem but really it’s more so indicative of the fact that the Sooners seemed to be unsure about Daniels role from fairly early on and were hoping to remedy that by seeing him in camp this summer.
***Keep in mind that Daniels is a 6’4 safety who would be playing in a scheme at OU that leaves interior DBs on an island fairly frequently. Grinch intentionally recruits big corners at safety. He needs guys that can cover across the board and simply put, it’s hard to know whether Daniels would be able to do that.
***So the Sooners worked out a deal within the program to have both Grinch and Odom recruit Daniels. They decided that if he didn’t work out at safety, they could spin him down to linebacker.
***I get the sense that after a while Daniels didn’t see that as a fit and to be honest, that is a bit of a red flag. Because the other issue is that you don’t see Daniels play linebacker on film and you don’t see him laying kill shots on much smaller players. In other words, even if the size is there, there isn’t much beyond that to tell you he can play linebacker.
***I imagine the Sooners started to look at this and say to themselves, we don’t know if he can play safety and we don’t know if he can play linebacker. So, what are you relatively confident he can play?
***It’s great getting an athlete out of high school who plays multiple positions but at the end of the day he has to be good at one. It doesn’t help a team having a decent wide receiver who was also a pretty good quarterback and defensive back in high school. I need a stud wide receiver and I don’t care whether he can play any other position or ping pong for that matter.
***So, the question is, do you take a true linebacker who has demonstrated a clear ability and desire to play the position? Do you take a true cover safety who has demonstrated a clear ability to cover? Or do you take a big athlete who could very well end up being able to do both or neither?
Quick Hitter | 2021 OL Tristan Leigh Narrows His List
– Charlie S
Priority 2021 offensive tackle target Tristan Leigh (6’5″ 270) out of Fairfax, VA has released his Top 5.
No surprise, Oklahoma made the cut.
It will now be up to Lincoln Riley, Bill Bedenbaugh and Caleb Williams to push the Sooners into the top spot.
Bedenbaugh and Riley will do all they can to get Leigh to Norman whether it be via an official visit (if they are ever allowed) or via a Sooner Summit of sort…which is where Caleb Williams will come in.
As you all know, Williams has been aggressively recruiting Leigh to join him in Norman and I would imagine he will do all he can to get him to check out Norman unofficially (even without Sooner staff present) if possible.
The Sooners are joined by Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama and LSU in the top five.
LincUpXXI Class Breakdown | July 2020
– Charlie S
Breaking down the ‘LincUp21’ class at this point.
Commits: 12
Takes: 23-25
Additional recruits we have hinted to be silently committed at this time: 3
Number of spots currently available: 8-10* (Depending on the recruits in question and if/when the silents go public)
Below you will find a list of current ‘Commits’ as well as the number of ‘Takes‘ we are working with at each group.
You will also see a list of ‘targets’. Those listed are not the only targets, however, we believe them to be the priority targets at this point.
QB: Commits (1): Caleb Williams: Takes (1)
RB: Commits (0) Targets: Camar Wheaton, LJ Johnson, Donovan Edwards: Takes (1)
WR: Commits (2): Mario Williams, Cody Jackson: Takes (4-5)
Targets: Emeka Egbuka, Jalil Farooq, Destyn Pazon, Malcolm Johnson, Billy Bowman
OL: Commits (1): Cullen Montgomery: Takes (3-4)
Targets: Bryce Foster, Savion Byrd, Tristan Leigh, Amarius Mims, Noah Pulealii
TE: N/A
DL: Commits (3): Isaiah Coe, Ethan Downs, Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge: Takes (4-5* if Tuimolau)
Targets: Kelvin Gilliam, Marcus Burris, J.T. Tuimoloau, David Abiara
RUSH: Commits (1): Clayton Smith: Takes (2 if Scooby)
Targets: Jeremiah ‘Scooby’ Williams
ILB: Commits (1): Danny Stutsman: Takes (2)
Targets: Prince Kollie, Trevin Wallace, Terrence Cooks, Jabril McNeil, Jaheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders, Perhaps eventually a guy like Ca’lub Holloway or Collin Oliver come into focus.
DB: Commits (3): Latrell McCutchin, Jordan Mukes, Caleb Johnson: Takes (4-*Eventually 5 IMO)
Targets: Damond Harmon, Daymon David, De’Jahn Warren (JUCO), Khyree Jackson (JUCO), Jardin Gilbert, Isaiah Johnson
