– Dax Hill recently dropped the following tweet…
Committing soon… wait on it⏰
— daxtonhill (@daxhill5) July 4, 2018
Last week, he let us know that he plans on committing in late August or early September.
Things have changed. He has let us know that he is now moving his decision date up to early August… – (Super K)
– Spoke to a source about Jadon Haselwood and was told, “He keeps saying he is solid to Georgia, but he somehow ends up in Norman or Auburn a lot. If UGA thinks they have him locked in, they are just tricking themselves.”
As you know Haselwood took an official to OU back in March for the spring game weekend, but with the Sooners having Wease, Henderson and Bridges lined up they seemed to be filled up at the WR position. That sentiment seems to be changing with some of the parents as one said, “If OU gets a transfer to happen come December, I’d be shocked if Haselwood wasn’t apart of, at the very least OU’s plans at WR.” That comment struck me as most thought four was too much, but the whole “there’s enough balls to go around at OU” talk is real deal with this NewWave19 group.
So, where does the source think Haselwood will end up? When asked he said, “If UGA doesn’t throw the ball this year I could see him in Norman. I really could. The family aspect alone is making this closer than most think.”
Obviously, Oklahoma will have to have room for Jadon, but to say that door is shut is crazy. Especially, with him looking to take a few visits to Norman in the near future.
– The Sooners have really put a lot of effort in creating a solid relationship with Mater Dei HS out in LA. That relationship is really starting to take form with Dorian Warren-Green, Bryce Young and Bru McCoy being really strong targets for OU in the 2019 and 2020 classes. You can add 2020 DB, Elias Ricks, to that list as well.
I spoke with Ricks, at the opening finals, shortly after he picked up an offer from Texas. Ricks said that Texas was a school he was wanting an offer from, but as far as visits go, Michigan and Ohio State are the only ones he really has set his eyes on so far. With Oklahoma having recruited him for several months, he spoke highly of Sooners DB coach, Kerry Cooks, saying, “Coach Cooks and I speak a ton. Dang near every day, actually. He is a cool guy and a coach that really has a good relationship with me.”
Will that relationship garner OU a visit? Ricks says it will, but it will likely be after his junior year. He will begin to take officials and OU is likely to get one, but right now he knows LSU, Ohio State, and USC will for sure. He added that list might change as he gets further in the process, but one way or the other OU will get a visit out of him.
Lastly, Ricks said that with how hard OU is recruiting Mater Dei, he feels it will pay off at some point.
– During the evening session of the opening finals, I spoke with Mehkail Sherman’s family. Sherman has performed well and has been one of the top LB’s at the camp, all the while just being one of the younger guys there.
When I spoke with his dad, he said Oklahoma was really pushing hard for Sherman saying, “Mehkail has noticed. That’s why OU made the top 10 for him.” With that, though, they don’t think he will be able to visit this summer, but they did say, “We will definitely visit, as we are making to sure to see every school in his top 10. It will likely be next spring. He may have to use an official, but he will make it out there one way or the other.”
That’s good news because OU is also really going after Sherman’s teammate, Luke Hill, who will be out to the BBQ at the end of the month. Sherman’s family said that Sooners coach, Shane Beamer, has strong ties out there and he has built a good relationship with the kids in the DMV area.
Sherman is slowing down his process as the season approaches, his dad said. That, along with the distance, has made it hard to get to Norman, but he made sure I knew they would get out to see OU as soon as they could. – (Brandon)
– I spoke with Sooners 2020 RB commit, Jase McClellan’s mother at The Opening. She noted that McClellan has family in Atlanta that really wants him to go to UGA.
McClellan visited UGA over the spring, but don’t read too much into that. I was told that “a team would have to create some magic for Jase to decommit”. To add the that, McClellan is going to be Norman for the ChampUBBQ and has since canceled a trip to Bama that was supposed to come after the OU visit.
All of that good news as McClellan has had himself a day during 7 on 7 tourney. – (Brandon)
– I know there has been a lot of speculation after what I posted earlier this week on 2020 Mater Dei (CA) QB Bryce Young. I told you all that I would clarify things further later this week and I plan on doing just that with this write up for you guys.
I spoke with Bryce’s father, Craig, to clear some things up and he was very clear about what information he wanted me to make sure I made public.
First, there is no decision made yet. Despite what some sources said to me at The Opening, they are still deciding on a school at this moment. Craig even went as far as to say, “We are down to two teams in Oklahoma and USC, but a decision won’t be made until after we visit OU for the BBQ at the end of the month.” That is good news, for OU fans, as there was a growing consensus that USC might have made a strong push for Young. Add the fact that Sooners 2019 QB commit, Spencer Rattler, won the Elite 11 MVP which seemed to exacerbate the narrative that OU might have lost some momentum with Young.
On the Rattler front? Well, this part of my conversation with Craig was very interesting. Especially since I didn’t bring it up and he did. He is well aware of almost everything said about his son’s recruitment and doesn’t allow too many people to get involved. As a matter of fact, Craig stated, “We keep our circle very, very small. There is no handler, no reporter involved or anything like that. It’s just us as a family.” He added, “There is a growing notion that Rattler being MVP this past weekend will scare us away from OU. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Just look at USC with JT Daniels. Same position as OU and Rattler. They are both good. Good programs have good QB’s. Part of the deal.”
With all of that said, does the commitment of 2020 Mater Dei teammate, Darion Green-Warren, to Oklahoma play a role? The elder Young said that” Darion has been recruiting Bryce for some time, but he lets up and just wants Bryce to go where he will be happy. I will say that OU is in a very, very, very good spot with Bryce and Riley has done a great job recruiting Bryce from day one.”
He says the decision will happen at the end of July. With Oklahoma being his last real visit, before the decision, and Bryce and his family going out to OU with Darion Green-Warren and his family, it could be just what OU staff hopes for the Sooners to clear that final hurdle and in turn land Young.
The time is fast approaching and we should know in a matter of weeks where the Sooners officially stand with the number one QB in 2020 class.
MY TAKE: After that talk with Bryce’s father, Craig, I came away much more confident in my previous stance that OU is really in a good position. I still like to use the phrase “cautiously optimistic” when it comes to Young because getting a kid from Mater Dei to go anywhere but USC is always tough. That said, Riley and Simmons have really been working hard on Young and it could be why they are visiting OU at the end of July to make it known in public.
If I am to do the token percentages I’d say I’m leaning 65% to OU at this point. It’s not overwhelming confidence you all are hoping for, but it’s as high as I can go until I get further confirmation. – (Brandon)
– Last we heard, with Marcus Hicks in the boat, OU is slowing things down a bit on the 2019 defensive line recruiting. The name I continue to hear as a priority is Marcus Stripling.
Before Hicks’ commitment, OU had made the top ten for 2019 DT, Ben Smiley (Chesapeake, VA). At the time, he was a guy we really hadn’t heard much about.
This week I checked in with him and he still sounds very interested in OU which would seem to indicate that they are continuing to recruit him. Smiley confirmed, again, that he will take an official visit to Oklahoma this fall.
In the next few days, I plan on speaking with him in greater detail to find out more about where his interest in the Sooners stems from.
I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it, Riley is putting an emphasis on defensive linemen like we haven’t seen at OU in a while. That Georgia game was an eye opener for Riley. – (Super K)
Fast Five | Team Notes
We have additional team notes posted on the Donor Site, here are five which we think you will particularly enjoy!
*Bookie. Hard to have team notes without mentioning him. His name is always brought up. It’s for good reason, too. I am being told that, at this point, Bookie is a “day one starter”. Where? Well, from the people I spoke with, it seems like Bookie will play/start at the nickel spot.
*A name that one source said was “taking his game to the next level” this summer? How about Justin Broiles.
I was told Broiles has really made a case to be the starter at FS come fall practice. He will be in competition with Robert Barnes and Khalil Haughton.
With Barnes it is a matter of him getting healthy and competing. As we’ve previously noted, Barnes is still taking things easy on his hamstring so source said coaches haven’t been able to get a gauge on him.
With Haughton it’s going be him finding which safety spot he feels most comfortable at.
*We previously reported that Neville Gallimore has moved to the nose. I’m told Gallimore has really impressed. Gallimore has yet to live up to his five-star billing, but the move to the nose, “has really got things going for him”. Galimore had a great spring and has really kept the momentum all through the offseason, according to a source.
*Everyone knows about Caleb Kelly and Kenneth Murray but, as a source explained to me, most will be “very surprised” with how good Ryan Jones and Levi Draper will be. The source added, “There won’t be many as athletic at the LB spot as Ryan Jones and Draper is more athletic than people think, to go with his very high football IQ.”
*Lastly, OU fans have been hoping for better play at DL and people I have talked to say, “talent is better than it’s been on DL in over a decade.” A name mentioned again was the freshman, Ronnie Perkins. Perkins impressed during the spring, as an early enrollee. He has continued to impress during summer workouts and position drills. According to one source…
“He is gonna play and play a lot. Too talented to keep off the field.” – (Brandon)
