Open Post | Weekend, March 15th – 17th
Posted on: March 15, 2019
Notebook | Noah Nelson, Alex Huntley & Michael Wyman
– Super K
***As I noted last week, the Sooners were set to host 2020 offensive lineman, Noah Nelson (Gilbert, AZ) for an unofficial visit this week…
When I was in Arizona, I actually didn’t even realize that Nelson was an OU target. It was Sean Harris, the father of star 2020 DE Jason Harris, who told me about Nelson. Sean was apparently very impressed with Nelson when his son, Jason, faced off against Nelson.
It turns out he holds an Oklahoma offer and at the time was talking about taking a visit to Oklahoma which has come to fruition.
He really does look like a basketball player. He’s all of 6’7 but when he told me he weighed 295 lbs, it was hard to believe.
We have been in touch with Noah following his visit and it sounds like things went very well…
We will have a full write up on the visit and his plans going forward soon!
***I stopped by Hammond School earlier this week to see
Boogie reiterated that he plans on heading back to Oklahoma for an official visit. I’ll have my quotes up from him later but I can say that OU did what they needed to do to put themselves in his top group.
He loves Oklahoma’s new defensive style and he really liked the town of Norman. If OU chooses to really push here, I think they have a real shot.
***Also, was in North Carolina to see 2020 4-star WR, Michael Wyman (Dudley HS).
Got to see Wyman run some routes. Big kid, can run and really good at using his long frame to catch everything including errant throws.
Route understanding is good considering he hasn’t been playing football very long. Turns out, not surprinsgly, he grew up a basketball player.
On the recruiting front, he’s very interested in Oklahoma. He was expected to take an official visit to OU for the spring game. That would be his first official. But he told me yesterday that coach Simmons is talking to him about possibly pushing that visit back to the season. It sounds like OU wants to be Wyman’s last OV, not his first.
Smart thinking if you ask me.
I’ll have my quotes from him later.
Post Spring Practice Notebook | Hale of a Lot Going On
– James Hale
On Tuesday, OU was back on the practice field for their third practice and first practice in full pads. The Sooners will work Wednesday. following Pro Day in Norman. and Thursday before Lincoln Riley will let the team off starting on Friday for Spring Break.
*** After three practices, we are told that the competition between the offense and defense has been very even. Breaking in a new offensive line, and even more importantly a new center has allowed a defense learning a new scheme to create some problems for the offense. The offense is losing more battles than they have since Coach Riley has been in Norman, but he’s good with that because he loves the new attitude of the defense.
*** Coach Riley is impressed with how Coach Alex Grinch can teach while at the same time preach to his defense to bring maximum energy on every single play. He says often coaches have to slow things down to bring in a new scheme but Coach Grinch did so many walk-throughs that they have hit the ground running and have done a good job matching up with the offense. Coach Riley feels the defense is ahead of where they should be at this point.
*** The all-important nickel position right now sees junior Tre Norwood (6’0, 187) out in front of sophomore Brookie Radley-Hiles (5’9, 187), junior Chanse Sylvie (6’0, 198) and freshman Jamal Morris (6’2, 198). It’s a very close race and if someone else can standout then they can move Norwood back to corner, and don’t sleep on Morris. He has the skill set they love at nickel and he has looked great in camp thus far. Junior Robert Barnes (6’2, 208) could be a factor here when he returns from the injury list.
*** Pro Day at OU on Wednesday is going to be like a six-hour infomercial with the eyes of the pro football world on Norman, Oklahoma. Coach Riley said OU could not buy the kind of publicity that OU will receive tomorrow. Coach Riley said it’s a day that OU can stick it’s chest out and showcase what kind of program they really have that’s turning out the best talent in college football for all to see on Wednesday.
*** Coach Riley said one thing that fans or media never talks about is the fact that now the players are actually on the field the coaches are relearning most of what they know about the players. He said they have watched them in high school, junior college and sometimes at other programs and they have a good idea what their talent is, but once they get in their program and the coaches get to see them in their scheme then they really learn what kind of talent they really have. So far they like what they see.
*** Bill Bedenbaugh says they are trying just about everybody at center. OU lost potential starting left tackle junior Erik Swenson (6’5, 320) due to injury in the first practice and that has been another blow to the rebuilding offensive line. That put redshirt freshman Brey Walker (6’6, 336) at left tackle, but for two straight practices he has been working at left guard and converted defensive tackle redshirt freshman Michael Thompson (6’5, 329) has been working at left tackle. Coach Bedenbaugh said that Thompson is a more natural offensive lineman and has looked good so far in camp, and because the rest of the offensive line is so young he’s not that far behind. Senior Clayton Woods (6’2, 296) and sophomore Ian McIver (6’3, 324) are working at center along with JUCO transfer Finley Felix (6’5, 311).
*** Sophomore Tyrese Robinson (6’3, 326) has also been working at center with sophomore Adrain Ealy (6’6, 326) at right tackle. Robinson says playing center is not easy, especially the deep snapping part of it, and he says it’s the first time in his life that he has had to make calls. It has really helped him learn more about defenses and how to play against them and when he moves back to guard he will be a better player because of it.
*** Junior CeeDee Lamb (6’2, 194) says the young freshmen Jadan Haselwood (6’2, 206), Theo Wease (6’3, 201), Trejan Bridges (6’1, 187) and tight end Auston Stogner (6’6, 237) are the real deal and all stand a good chance to play as a freshmen.
*** Coach Riley is high on the freshmen wide receivers too and says it is rare when you get four guys that come in and really look read to play. All four have had their moments in camp and all four stand a good chance to contribute in 2019.
*** Coach Bedenbaugh says he has never had four of his offensive lineman in the combine before and he has butterfly’s in his stomach about his four guys at Pro Day on Wednesday. He says without question the fact that OU has these four at the combine, at pro day, and expected to get drafted in the upcoming NFL Draft without question it’s a boost for him in recruiting. It’s nice to be able to tell future offensive lineman that if they’re as good as they think they are, and if they are willing to do what it takes to reach their full potential, they have a chance to play in the NFL. He said it doesn’t hurt that Trent Williams and Lane Johnson are two of the best offensive lineman in football.
Notebook | Noah Arinze, Kourt Williams & More
– Super K
***This past weekend, the Sooners hosted 2020 DE, Noah Arinze out of St. Louis, MO.
Arinze is a less well-known prospect but is starting to make some noise on the recruiting trail picking up offers from Illinois and Iowa State.
Not a ton to report on Arinze just yet. It sounds like the coaches want to continue to evaluate him through the spring as he noted, “They said they want to get to know me better and watch me playâ€.
***The Sooners might not be done with South Florida just yet. You’ll recall last fall I went down to see St. Thomas Aquinas play Deerfield Beach. At the time, 2020 4-star OT, Marcus Dumervil, told me he was in regular contact with OU and insisted he would be taking a visit there.
Well, that visit is set to happen. He says he plans to take his official visit to Norman for the Spring Game.
Dumervil plays OT but the kid moves like a DT (that’s a good thing) and he’s built like a tall 3-technique (that’s a good thing).
***I’ll keep the good news going. 2020 LB, Kourt Williams (St. John Bosco) is probably the most athletic linebacker in the country.
You’ll recall that I saw Kourt at the LA Opening. I was surprised he wasn’t really getting much attention, at the time.
I saw a young man who looked better than most of the linebackers but was working out with…
the DBs!
Went home, cut on his film and it only corroborated what I saw in that camp setting. That night, I saw his SPARQ numbers and myself and it seems everyone else was blown away. He posted the highest SPARQ rating at the camp and he may still hold the highest SPARQ rating currently in the country though I have not confirmed.
Well, the good news is, Kourt tells me that he is set to take an unofficial visit to Oklahoma on April 6th!
***Also, of note, earlier this week the Sooners hosted recent 2020 DB offer, Jalen Kimber (Mansfield Timberview).
Kimber made his way up to Norman with friend and Sooners commit, 2020 ATH DJ Graham.
Update | 2020 RB Chris Tyree
– Super K
*** Stopped by Thomas Dale HS (Chester, VA) yesterday to see 2020 5-star RB, Chris Tyree.
Again, once I get home I’ll get more quotes up from these visits.
But for now, I want to tell you two things…
*** Stopped by Thomas Dale HS (Chester, VA) yesterday to see 2020 5-star RB, Chris Tyree.
Again, once I get home I’ll get more quotes up from these visits.
But for now, I want to tell you two things…
1. Chris Tyree is a freak. Absolute freak. OU has had a lot of backs come through so if you can be a back of note at OU, you’re doing something very right. After spending some time with Tyree and his coach, I believe that if Tyree ends up at OU, you will hear his name for a long time to come. You’re talking about a running back who was running a 100m in the 10.6s as a sophomore. As a junior, he may crack 10.4! He’s Hollywood Brown senior year in college fast and he’s only a junior in high school. And he isn’t small. Tyree is right around 5’10 and very muscular. He’ll be a 210 lb back. Versatility is fantastic, well. Natural receiver. Speed and space runner but still plenty of power and grit between the tackles. Not just a straight line guy. He has the wiggle! And the guy can play defensive back.
2. OU is in a great spot right now. They’ll host Tyree for his official visit in April and while I think there are legitimate threats from schools like Notre Dame, Alabama, Penn State, and others, I really really like where OU has put themselves in this one.
Quick Hitter | 2020 WR Jalen McMillan Visiting Norman
– Charlie S
*** As Super K reported back in February 2020 WR Target, Jalen McMillan will be taking an unofficial visit to Norman this weekend:
“We still believe the Sooners and Oregon are the teams to beat. Last week when I checked in with McMillan he said they would be taking an unofficial visit at the end of February for the JR day.
I’ve since rechecked with Jalen’s mother and she tells me the actual date will be March 15 to the 17th. So, they’ll spend a good amount of time in Norman.â€
He let everyone else know he was heading out the other day…
This will be a big opportunity for the Sooners to roll out the red carpet for McMillan and his family as many of the students and athletes will be leaving on spring break this evening and tomorrow so the staff will have ample time to spend with him.
While McMillan is a coveted football prospect, as K mentioned previously Jalen is an elite baseball player and based on what he has heard from people around McMillan, he is already being seen as a possible top ten draft choice coming straight out of high school.
The prevailing thought is that McMillan will play college football however and the Sooners have made themselves into a serious contender for his services.
We will have updates following the visit!
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