Open Post | Weekend, June 16th – 18th
Posted on: June 16, 2023
2023 ChampU BBQ | Working Official Visitors List | Update: June 14 & 15
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 15, 2023
The Sooners will host a significant group of official visitors this coming weekend for the 2023 ChampU BBQ!
Below you will find our working list of those who are scheduled to be on campus for official visits.
This weekend has a heavy defensive line feel to it but there are some other high-priority targets heading to Norman as well as OU is expected to host their top runningback targets this weekend along with an additional QB target.
Remember, the list will change as some will be added and some may not make it in.
Originally posted June 12th at 10:30 am. All additions will be noted in the body of the post as well as in the comment section.
DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye – Conroe, TX
OL Isaiah Autry – Fulton, MS – OU Commit
S Michael Boganowski – Junction City, KS
WR Terry Bussey – Timpson, TX
WR KJ Daniels – Franklinton, LA – OU commit
RB Caden Durham – Duncanville, TX
QB Samaj Jones – Philadelphia, AP
DB Devon Jordan – Tulsa, OK
DL Wyatt Gilmore – Rogers, MN
WR Zion Kearney – Missouri City, TX – OU Commit
OL Kaedin Massey – Lyndon, KS
DB Mykel Patterson-McDonald – Oklahoma City, OK
DL Dominick McKinley – Lafayette, LA
LB James Nesta – Cornelius, NC
DB Jeremiah Newcombe – Queen Creek, AZ – OU commit
DL Nigel Smith – Melissa, TX
DL David Stone – Bradenton, FL
RB Taylor Tatum – Longview, TX
EDGE Zina Umeozulu – Allen, TX
OL Bennett Warren – Sugar Land, TX
Additions:
OL Max Anderson – Frisco, TX
WR Ivan Carreon – Odessa, TX – Texas Tech Commit – Posted in a stand-alone thread on 6/14
DB Justin Denson – Providence, RI
EDGE Jaysahwn Ross – Posted in a stand-alone note on 6/13
Recruiting Updates | Warren, Mitchell and Baker
– Super K – Posted on: June 12, 2023
Title of this post sounds like a law firm.
***In case you missed it, Sooners LB target, Easton Baker (Tooele, UT) took an OV to Illinois this past weekend and then last night announced his commitment to Illinois.
Baker is scheduled to be in Norman this weekend. We are waiting for confirmation from Baker on whether that remains the case.
***As I mentioned last week (HERE) sources have indicated that Sooners TE target, Davon Mitchell is set to reclassify into the 2024 class. Additionally, I noted that sources have indicated the sources are hold a lead in this recruitment.
This past weekend, however, Mitchell took a visit to Alabama and while Mitchell transferred out to California from Texas, he is apparently originally from Alabama.
I am working on finding out just how big of a threat Alabama is but having covered many Sooners vs Saban battles, you all know that hasn’t exactly gone swimmingly.
The good news, for now, is that an individual close to Mitchell did confirm that they are set to visit Norman this weekend. They should be arriving on Friday.
***Also, as you may have seen Sooners 2024 OL target, Bennett Warren made his way to Michigan, this past weekend.
Last week (HERE), I mentioned that I was not yet able to put a trending pick in for Bennett but said if I absolutely had to, I’d give a slight edge to OU.
I also mentioned in the post comments that CJ (booooo) “likes Michigan for Bennett.”
Fast forward to today and following Warren’s Michigan OV, Bennett has come out and said that Michigan is his top school and some analysts are beginning to trend him in that direction.
I’m still not ready to trend him in either direction and I do want to offer the following.
First, Bennett is still set to make a couple of official visits including one to Oklahoma this upcoming weekend. Keep in mind that this past weekend’s trip to Michigan was his second visit up there. He has yet to make a return trip to Oklahoma since his first trip back in early March.
Secondly, I’ve been around Bennett’s program, and I still get the sense that folks around Bennett believe OU is the best fit from a development and skill set perspective. They like the fact that coach B has shown he develops guys like Bennett as high end tackles.
That isn’t a small thing as at one time Bennett really liked Oregon and after discussion, Bennett and the folks around him seem to have concluded that it wasn’t the right developmental fit.
I think the culture at OU will also suit Bennett and he’s mentioned me on previous occasions how much he loves things like the SOUL mission.
I will note though that, Michigan does have academics which is important to Bennett and his family. They do seem to have a good relationship with Michigan OL coach, OC and former Sooner, Sherrone Moore.
And lastly, I do remember Bennett once telling me that he really loves a place with beautiful topography. I think he actually used the word “topography.” He’s originally from the east coast (VA/Carolinas area I believe) and so Michigan has that (although east Oklahoma is gorgeous). So, Sooners may need to get him out to Lake Thunder Bird!
In general, I think this one is still one that OU can win and again, I think there are some folks down here who are around Bennett that are in OU’s corner and they are people that he and his family respect.
So, in my opinion, OU still very much has a shot in this one.
’24 WR Dozie Ezukanma Visiting
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 12, 2023
The Sooners will officially host Dozie Ezukanma (6’2 180) who was offered on June 8th.
He tells us he will be there from the 19th to the 21st.
He also mentioned that he is looking to make a summer commitment.
Recruiting Notes | Zion Ragins and Jayshawn Ross
– Super K – Posted on: June 13, 2023
***As we’ve noted for a while, it seems the Sooners would have an inside track on landing 2024 4-star GA WR, Zion Ragins. Ragins, as you know, is a smaller faster guy and so I was told schools in his region have not been pressing for him.
Emmett Jones obviously likes him and the Sooners have had a lot of success in the past with guys like Ragins.
The question has been whether in-state Georgia would press for Ragins as I am told they were recruiting him.
I spoke to a source inside the building at Georgia and was told that they are currently looking to add some bigger WRs so I took that to mean that for now, they wouldn’t be pressing for Ragins.
So, again, the runway seems clear for the Sooners here.
***2024 DE Jayshawn Ross (Kansas City, MO) tells me that he plans on camping at OU today. Ross added that he will also OV to Oklahoma this weekend.
I asked him about a decision timeline and he said, “decision should be August 15th.”
***Also, wanted to make a small note on Oregon Commit 2024 OL commit, Fox Crader (Vancouver, WA).
Apparently the reason he has been taking visits (OU and USC) is he originally committed to Oregon when Adrian Klemm was the Oregon offensive line coach but Klemm has since then moved on.
So, it sounds like that may have created a small opening for schools like OU and Texas. Hence the visits. I don’t yet know what kind of chance the Sooners have in this one.
Expectations and Reality | Recruiting the Defensive Line
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 13, 2023
It feels like it’s been a rough stretch here for OU of late on the recruiting front and the Jordy Bahl and Derrick LeBlanc transfer moves certainly didn’t help the atmosphere.
With that in mind, I applaud this community and the way you all have reacted to the current situation and nothing has been burned down aside from perhaps a few printed-out pictures of CJ which was done just for kicks.
I wanted to note that things really are not as bad as they may feel and more importantly, in my opinion, the reason why things may feel bad.
The expectations that were set for this class elsewhere and on social media were just not realistic. In particular when you look at the discussion around the defensive line recruiting efforts.
The bar was set at an 11 out of 10 when there were actual expectations fostered that OU would land David Stone, Nigel Smith, Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, and Williams Nwaneri without breaking much of a sweat. Then you add Dominick McKinley’s, Kellen Lindstrom’s, Danny Okoye’s names being thrown around as backup plans and you have a ‘what are we really doing here’ moment.
As we have maintained, a good and realistic class along the defensive line consists of two of those guys and anything you get on top of that is a bonus. If you can lock up David Stone and say, Nigel Smith, that’s a dang good class that you fill out with other guys that you believe you can coach up and develop.
An example of what a good class can look like is what Emmett Jones is doing at the wide receiver position. Yes, the wide receiver position is much easier to recruit as there just are more guys, but you can see how Emmett has evolved.
The grand plan was for OU to grab Kearney, Wesco, and Daniels. Emmett went out and locked up two of them while Wesco got away. So what does Jones do? He goes out and starts pushing for more guys and has himself in a good position for another couple. If your wide receiver class looks like Kearney, Daniels, Ragins and say Ezukanma… that’s a dang good class that addresses your needs and has a high upside.
Bottom line is, there is a fine line between manufactured expectations and reality.
Could OU land that dream defensive line class? Sure, they could. Is it something that should be an expectation? No, it never was for us and I believe we have conveyed as much. Does OU need to land some of those guys on the list? Absolutely. Is it a failure or a bad class if they don’t get all of them? No, not in the slightest. Is it a failure or a bad class if they get none of them? Yes, that would be and OU would have to do some soul-searching as to how they got there.
OU will have a big opportunity this weekend to make a good defensive line class a reality as they host a bunch of their priority targets.
Marcelles Williams | Sourced
– Super K – Posted on: June 13, 2023
This past weekend, the Sooners hosted 2024 4-star CB, Marcelles Williams (Bellflower, CA).
Williams is the younger brother of senior Trojan DB, Max Williams.
Marcelles made an initial unofficial visit to Norman earlier this year and while the family also visited schools like Ohio State, we were told the only school that put itself in the running with SC was Oklahoma.
Going into this visit, it was down to OU and USC and the sense most have had is USC leads.
I spoke to a source after and was told that the Oklahoma visit went as well as possible. Basically that USC remains the leader but Oklahoma made such an impression on the visit to Marcelles and the family that USC could “screw it up” if the SC visit doesn’t go well.
Casey Poe | Change of Plans
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 14, 2023
Longtime Sooners priority offensive line target Casey Poe tells me he will be visiting Norman on Monday June 19th.
Poe let me know that this will be an unofficial visit rather than an official visit. He originally planned to officially visit Norman in late July but decided to change things up. He wanted to officially visit OU, but he mentioned there were some issues with compliance getting it set up. Go figure.
Poe has already officially visited Georgia, Clemson and Texas Tech this summer and he has Auburn and Alabama officials set as well.
Poe has been to Norman numerous times and OU is right in this mix. I expect a decision to come before his senior season. Following his summer of visits, we will be able to get a better picture of where things stand, but Bedenbaugh has been doing good work here.
Joseph Jonah-Ajonye | Moves his Commitment Timeline up
– Super K – Posted on: June 14, 2023
As you know, the Sooners are set to host 2024 4-star (very well could end up a 5-star) DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, this weekend.
As I mentioned weeks back (HERE), the Sooners had gone from being the clear leader to feeling some major heat from UGA.
That has not changed. A couple of things have changed though. First, he did cancel last weekend’s official visit to Texas Tech and tells me that he only has two visits remaining – a return visit for his OV to Oklahoma and a return visit for his OV to UGA.
So, no distractions, it seems.
Also, he tells me that he’s moved his timeline up. He was originally set to announce in August. That has changed and he’s now planning to announce July 12th.
So, this weekend is of paramount importance for OU. They are within striking distance here. UGA is going to be a tough out but the Sooners have their chance to reassert themselves this week.
Sooners Getting Another Visit From TTU Wide Receiver Commit
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 14, 2023
Sources tell us Texas Tech wide receiver commit Ivan Carreon is planning on taking his official visit to OU this coming weekend for the ChampU BBQ (June 16th-18th).
This will be his second visit in the month of June to Oklahoma. He camped at OU earlier this month and picked up the Sooners offer.
Follow up on Jumbo JUCO DT Commit
– Super K – Posted on: June 15, 2023
Good morning!
As you saw, last night, the Sooners picked up a commitment from JUCO DT Danny Saili (Hutchinson JUCO by way of Topeka, KS).
A few notes we picked up…
***First, James was told that Danny is not immediately available. Rather, he’s expected in in January 2024 at the earliest.
***I spoke to someone this morning and was told “he’s for next year.” We are told he won’t be playing for OU this fall.
***Interesting that the Sooners add a massive DT on the very day the SEC schedule is announced.
***I don’t know a ton (pun intended) about him but I agree with some of y’all who noted last night that for his size, he comes off the ball really well. Actually, also changes directions surprisingly well. Question with these jumbo guys is whether they are gummy bears or if their weight means real game strength (a la Perrion). We shall see.
***Pretty clear based on the fact that they took Danny this early that they see something in him. Typically you’d wait and let him play the first few games in the fall before you offer since there is still plenty of time. So, obviously Bates and company think he can be a player for them going into the SEC.
***I did ask someone over at another JUCO who actually recruited the kid out of HS and the coach had this to say about the young man, “Legit. Kansas kid. Family moved to Kansas when he was young. Diamond in the rough…6’2 probably. Strong as hell. Excellent ability to move too.”
***Don’t have a strong opinion yet on this move but as Charlie said, OU is going to lose quite a few numbers next year and as long as Bates shows he can grab some high school kids, perhaps this is a wise play going into 2024.
Post OU Offer Update on In-state ATH Andy Bass
– Super K – Posted on: June 15, 2023
Earlier this week, 2024 in-state ATH, Andy Bass (Heritage Hall) camped at OU and it would seem he sufficiently impressed Brent Venables and co as Bass picked up an offer from the Sooners.
Like a lot of Oklahoma kids, Bass has been a bit under the radar but his physical gifts are obvious and undeniable. Running a sub 22 200 and a 10.5 100 is fast anywhere in the country.
He’d be a premium athlete in Texas, Georgia, Florida or California.
I did connect with Bass to get a sense of where things currently are.
***First, Bass did tell me that the OU offer was as an ATH. He plays quarterback for Heritage Hall but is being recruited for various positions including QB, RB and WR.
***After the camp, Bass toured the OU facilities and campus. He was also able to spend a good chunk of time in a sit down with coach Venables.
***Bass will be back on the road next week. He’s headed up to Kansas and Kansas State for camp and for visits.
***I did ask him what kind of timeline he’s looking at. He tells me that he’s, “not really thinking about a decision at all right now. Just hearing everybody out…” Says he’s going to see how things go this summer and then later in the summer, sit down with his parents and assess where things are.
***It sounds like he’s picking up a lot of interest and wants to get everything on the table before he crosses anyone off the list.
***Personally, I like the offer. Sharp young man. Verifiable athlete with a diverse skill set. Sooners are in dire need of offensive weapons and very much need to upgrade the pure athleticism on the offensive side of the ball.
’24 Offensive Line Targets Timelines
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 15, 2023
***The Sooners are set to host offensive line target Kaedin Massey (6’8 270) for his official visit this weekend at the BBQ.
Massey has already visited Ole Miss, Kansas and Nebraska and following this week’s OU visit, he heads to Kansas State on the 23rd.
Kaedin let me know that he will make his announcement ‘before July 1st’.
OU is in a good position here and they could make a strong case this weekend, but you can bet the hometown team, Kansas State, is going to pull out all the stops next week when they get to shoot their shot.
***Last week OU hosted Jason Zandamela (6’3 285) out of Clearwater, FL for his official visit.
The Sooners put their best foot forward and following the visit, sources tell us that OU remains in his Top 3 which includes USC and FSU.
Zandamela is nearing a decision and is scheduled to announce on July 6th, but we are told he is considering moving it forward to June 26th.
Obviously, these last two officials will play a big role and FSU getting the last trip is significant as well.
***Either way, Coach Bedenbaugh will know his fate with this pair in the near future and he will be able to adjust/react accordingly.
