Open Post | Weekend, March 17th – 19th
Posted on: March 17, 2023
Under Armour Camp Series Takeaways + OU Targets
– CJ Vogel – Posted on: March 14, 2023
The annual Under Armour Camp Series took place in Arlington this morning with the top players in the state took the field in an attempt to earn an invitation to the Under Armour All American game.
This is probably the most loaded event of the spring and there was no shortage of Oklahoma prospects in attendance.
I’ll get through some notes and recruiting bits here and a great deal of player updates throughout the coming weeks.
MVPs
- QB – Frisco Emerson Michael Hawkins
- RB – Lancaster Kewan Lacy
- WR – Midlothian Bryant Wesco
- DL – Shadow Creek Zion Taylor
- DB – 2025 DeSoto Sael Reyes
- DB – Samuel Clemens Paul Menke
2025 Lewisville OL Michael Fasusi was quite impressive on the afternoon. Texas has offered already and it is shaping up to be a national recruitment for him.
Priority targets Corian Gipson and Kobe Black did not take part in the 1v1 part of the camp, but did go through drills. Both have All American game invitations already.
Midlothian WR Bryant Wesco was absolutely dominant in the 1v1 section. Wesco was probably the best wide receiver in attendance this weekend. He was also a little taller than I originally had expected. Baller.
One of the prospects that surprised me the most was Byron Nelson safety David Kabongo. He was super sticky in coverage and was consistently getting a hand on passes.
It was a really strong showing for Lake Belton CB Selman Bridges who continues to grow into his body and show improvement on the field. Fluidity is increasing and confidence is rising in his game.
Longview RB Taylor Tatum is really fun and impressive. Especially when running routes, he is a problem to deal with.
Little Rock (AR) defensive lineman Charleston Collins was probably the biggest winner of the day. He was impressive from start to finish and stood out above anyone else in what was a pretty weak defensive line group.
In what is going to be a loaded 2025 class at wide receiver, Dakorien Moore tops the list. He was dominant at the Under Armour Camp Series once more.
On the note of Michael Hawkins, it was a great throwing day for the new Frisco Emerson gunslinger. Hawkins had some question marks regarding his arm though was able to silence most of that with the QB Accuracy plaque set to travel back home with him following the camp. TCU and Penn State will have a set at the table when the decision ultimately comes.
*** Sounds like Texas has some work to do in regards to Jasper LB Ty’Anthony Smith. The talented linebacker is locked in for March 25th to Texas hosts its Junior Day but there has been a decrease in communication with the staff from the last time I saw Smith in February. Smith recently took trips to Alabama and USC. Oklahoma is firmly in the mix here.
*** The plan remains the same for 2024 Lake Belton CB Selman Bridges who hopes to make a decision in December. He took a trip to USC over the weekend, TCU, Texas A&M, Oregon and several others set to be visited. TCU is someone to keep an eye on here. I think Oklahoma may be prioritizing elsewhere.
*** 2025 South Oak Cliff linebacker Kelvion Riggins looks like he spent his entire middle school tenure in an NFL weight room. He has a long ways to go in his recruitment, though when speaking to him it is clear there is some extra pep in his voice when talking about Texas A&M.
*** Richland OL Daniel Cruz was in Norman over the past weekend and is set to take a deeper look at his top schools. He mentioned whichever coaching staff he has the best relationship with will end up taking control of his recruitment. Cruz said he and Coach Bedenbaugh have a great relationship and remain in contact consistently.
*** Longview RB Taylor Tatum is very busy with scheduling unofficial visits while juggling baseball and track season as well. Michigan is a big time school to watch, but he spoke very highly of his relationship with DeMarco Murray and the Sooners staff.
Speaking of running backs, Duncanville running back Caden Durham could enter commitment watch territory in the next couple weeks. He was stellar at the camp.
*** Aledo LB Davhon Keys was fresh off of his commitment to LSU. I was once again told he was all OU over the last couple of months prior to the change in heart leading to his decision to pick the Bayou Bengals. If the Sooners strike out on remaining targets and circle back around, they will have a decent shot a flipping the Aledo backer.
*** Top in-state cornerback Kobe Black is hoping to see Alabama, Ohio State, Nebraska and Oregon. He did not mention Oklahoma as I expect Black to really prioritize seeing some of the further contenders in his recruitment before narrowing down to his official visits in the summer months. Black was recently on campus and is very much a fan of what Jay Valai brings to the table.
*** 2025 Denton Guyer DL Xaiver Ukponu is very much a fan of Coach Bates and is hoping to make the trip back to Norman in the spring time.
*** 2024 Lancaster DB Corian Gipson is someone to watch, but the Sooners need to act quick in my opinion. He will be in Norman April 22 for the Sooners spring game. Texas feels very confident with their chances right now.
Recruiting Update | Hawkins and TCU
– Super K – Posted on: March 10, 2023
As you know, the Sooners recently offered 2025 DB, Maliek Hawkins who is the younger brother of Sooners 2024 QB target, Michael Hawkins.
Prior to that offer we noted that our sense is Michael Hawkins recruiting was trending slightly towards TCU due to Hawkins’ relationship with TCU OC, Kendal Briles.
Given the offer to Maliek, it would seem pretty solid evidence that the Sooners felt they were running a bit behind TCU, as well.
Earlier in the week, source at TCU indicated that they believe the offer to the younger brother did push the Sooners ahead – which you’d imagine was OU’s plan all along.
TCU has yet to offer the younger brother. However, yesterday I checked in with a source and was told that TCU will “probably” offer the younger brother.
Sourced Note | Position Change
– Charlie S – Posted on: March 13, 2023
A couple days ago, a member of our community reached out to me and told me they heard that offensive tackle Marcus Hicks was moving back to the defensive side of the ball.
Hicks came to OU as a defensive lineman and switched to the offensive side of the ball after having a few injuries.
I asked K and James to check around and a source told James this afternoon that Hicks is, in fact, wanting to re-switch sides of the ball and play defensive tackle.
This wasn’t on my radar at all so I appreciate this community providing us leads to chase during the slow time!
Recruiting Update | West Coast
– Super K – Posted on: March 14, 2023
For those of you with kids on spring break, hope you’re enjoying some time with the family!
Wanted to pass on a quick note about the elite junior day coming later this month.
I spoke with a source who tells me that the Sooners will have a number of high profile west coast visitors.
Working on getting a list of players but it does sound like this jr day in late March will be the best of the three.
The Latest | ’24 QB Maj Jones
– Charlie S – Posted on: March 14, 2023
Touched base with OU ’24 QB Offer Maj Jones earlier this morning to confirm he was still planning on visiting on the 25th. He confirmed my report from March 1st in which I noted he told me he would be visiting.
He tweeted out his visit following our conversation.
During our discussion, Maj told me that ‘communication with OU is going great’ and he added that he speaks to coach Lebby every day.
Good to see Lebby and staff continuing to put in the time on the recruiting trail with multiple targets and not counting their chickens before the eggs hatch.
Michael Hawkins is set to announce his decision on April 8th and if he should happen to choose TCU, OU will have had a chance to have already hosted Jones who currently does not have a date set for his commitment.
Notebook | New ’25 Addition
– James Hale – Posted on: March 15, 2023
It’s always exciting when OU gets a verbal commitment from a prized quarterback or running back, and the program was buzzed on Monday when 2025 quarterback Kevin Sperry committed to the Sooners.
The interest in the Sooners was born at the 2022 summer camp when Sperry was showered with attention from OU. Offensive Coordinator Jeff Lebby. I watched Sperry at that camp and loved his size and mechanics throwing the ball, and he definitely looked like a great future QB at that camp. There were over 30 quarterbacks, and he was easily one of the most talented quarterbacks there.
It was obvious that OU. Offensive Coordinator Jeff Lebby loved him too. Coach Lebby spent a great deal of time with Sperry and his family that day. Sperry didn’t leave with an offer, but the wheel started turning that hot June day in Norman.
It’s been no secret that Sperry liked OU. Still, everyone was spending so much time tracking four-star 2024 quarterback Michael Hawkins (6’2 1/2, 195) out of McKinney (Frisco Emerson), Texas, it was a bit of a twist that the 2025 quarterback would pull the trigger first.
The commitment is a recruiting win for the Sooner Program and Brent Venables. Not only did Kevin fall in love with the Sooners program, but so did his parents, Gabi and Kevin, who loved the biblical way that Coach Venables is running the program. She told her son that she felt OU was the place for him long before Kevin pulled the trigger for OU.
It’s another win for SOUL Mission at OU. During that camp, Sperry spent some time with a few of the guys running the program. It impressed him, that at that time, they didn’t know who he was or how good he was, and yet they asked how he was doing, what his goals were, and how his family was, and then gave him a quick synopsis of what the program was all about. Sperry was already thinking about OU after that meeting.
Sperry can play. He earned Texas District 5-6A Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors as a sophomore when he totaled 2,073 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns at Rockhill High. Sperry will be ranked when that time comes as one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
Even while chasing Hawkins, Coach Lebby has offered other quarterbacks, but when he offered Sperry late last week, the family started to think about committing to OU. Mom and dad were sold and told their son that, and the son soon followed, committing to OU.
Sperry was good as a sophomore completing 55% of his passes for 1,425 yards with nine touchdowns against eight interceptions and led Rockhill in rushing with 621 yards on 139 attempts. Sperry is definitely a dual-threat QB, and while I don’t think he is as quick as 2023 Sooner quarterback Jackson Arnold, they are similar players.
His father Kevin is a former linebacker at Washington State and knows football, and he is sold on everything about the Sooner program.
OU can get three great quarterbacks for three straight years out of the DFW Metoplex. Arnold started it in 2023, and Hawkins will announce on April 8th, and is choosing between OU and TCU. With Sperry committing for 2025, Coach Lebby has proven that he can recruit the Dallas/Fort Worth area and is bringing Norman the best arm talent from that area.
It’s not clear if this changes anything for Hawkins. Sperry really doesn’t have anything to do with Hawkins initially. Coach Lebby tells all his quarterback recruits that he will try to sign the best quarterback in the country every year and that a quarterback will always be part of a Sooner recruiting class. TCU still has not offered his brother Maliek, but they still have a few days to pull that trigger.
Big Board | 24K Wide Receiver
– Charlie S – Posted on: March 15, 2023
Continuing the roll out the class of ’24 Big Boards.
Today we will take a look at the Wide Receiver board.
You can find the Running Back Big Board HERE.
The Sooners have extended 22 offers at this point at wide receiver in the ’24 class.
Terrell Anderson – Grimsley (Greensboro, NC) – 6’3 184
Courtney Crutchfield – Pine Bluff (Pine Bluff, AR) – 6’2 175
Mario Craver – Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, AL) – 5’9 152
Kelly Daniels – Franklinton (Franklinton, LA) – 5’10 150
Debron Gatling – Milton (Alpharetta, GA) – 6’0 180 – Texas A&M Commit
Kwazi Gilmer – Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA) – 6’2 180
Aeryn Hampton – Carthage (Carthage, TX) – 5’10 175
Micah Hudson – Lake Belton (Temple, TX) – 6’0 190
Xavier Jordan – Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA) – 6’1 165
Zion Kearney – Hightower (Missouri City, TX) – 6’3 195
Jeremiah McClellan – Christian Brothers College (Saint Louis, MO) – 6’0 190
Isaiah McMorris – Bellevue West (Bellevue, NE) – 6’0 168
Drelon Miller – Silsbee (Silsbee, TX) – 6;2 198
Terrance Moore – Tampa Catholic (Tampa, FL) – 6’3 190
Ryan Pellum – Millikan (Long Beach, CA) – 5’11 170
Zion Ragins – Jones County (Gray, GA) – 5’9 150
Jeremiah Smith – Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Hollywood, FL) – 6’3 198 – Ohio State Commit
Joseph Stone – Langston Hughes (Fairburn, GA) – 5’11 180 – LSU Commit
Chase Tyler – Hiram (Hiram, GA) – 6’4 175
Bryant Wesco – Midlothian (Midlothian, TX) – 6’2 190
Ryan Wingo – St. Louis University (Saint Louis, MO) – 6’2 205
Koby Young – Holy Cross (New Orleans, LA) – 5’11 175
With Emmett Jones coming in to take over as the wide receiver coach for the Sooners, many of these offers were not extended by him, so some of them are not committable. You should expect to see additional offers go out during the spring evaluation period now that Jones and Lebby have had a chance to get together and talk about their priorities.
Now, with that said, the Sooners are in good spots with a few of these targets and they are within striking distance on several others.
Of the three guys committed elsewhere, I think the only one who could be in play is LSU commit Joseph Stone and I wouldn’t put much stock in that until/unless he visits this spring.
The guys that OU is in very good spots with at this time are Bryant Wesco, KJ Daniels, and Zion Kearney. OU is either at the top or very near it for those guys.
Then you look at guys OU is well within striking distance for and in a solid position in their recruitment. That would include guys like Zion Ragins, Xavier Jordan, Isaiah McMorris, Aeryn Hampton, and Jeremiah McClellan.
Spring visits will shift things around as will additional offers. Obviously, new targets will emerge and some of these guys will fall off, but if OU can get a combination of guys from the names mentioned above, they will already be in good shape.
I am working under the assumption that OU will look to take at least three wide receivers and possibly four.
Recruiting | A Couple of 2024 Visitors to Watch
– Super K – Posted on: March 16, 2023
Next week, Sooners will host a pair of 2024 4-star DBs from opposite sides of the country.
***Out of New Jersey Sooners will host 2024 safety, Vabou Toure (Irvington).
***Also, on the cornerback front, the Sooners will host 2024 DB Jeremiah Newcombe out of Arizona (Casteel).
Don’t yet know how soon Newcombe wants to make a decision but things have been progressing nicely for the Sooners on this front.
’24 OT Marques Easley | Visit and Film
– Charlie S – Posted on: March 16, 2023
Was going through the ’24 OL Big Board and checking with some guys about potentially visiting OU this spring.
I reached out to Marques Easley (6’7 300) out of Kankakee, IL who confirmed he would be unofficially visiting Norman later in March. Easley said he would be in town on March 21st or 22nd and was looking forward to the visit. He currently has two officials set, one to Georgia and one to Tennessee.
Easley recently dropped his top 10 schools list and OU made the cut. The list itself is pretty stout as OU joins Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida State, USC, Penn State, Texas A&M and Missouri in the top 10. So OU will have their work cut out for him.
I watched his film 3 or 4 times and I think I may have found my OL crush for this cycle based solely on potential.
After watching the film, I reached out to Alex King to get his thoughts to see if they matched up with what I saw.
Easley is a very, very athletic big man. He reminds me a lot of a young Orlando Brown based on his size and his high school film. You can see the athleticism, particularly in the run game where he reaches the second and third level easily, yet he struggles in pass pro with his technique (or lack thereof). He is very powerful and looks to have good hips and moves very well as a puller. He plays with an edge that I love (and Bedenbaugh covets) but he has a lot of work to do to get the good stuff out of him.
As Alex told me “Just saw him bear hug a kid and basically hip toss him. Has no idea what he is doing in pass pro. He is probably not getting developed in that regard in high school.”
This is a kid that is rated as a top 20 tackle in the country (19 composite), but not one of the ‘Elites’. He is the type of kid that Bedenbaugh has repeatedly shown the ability to develop. Anton Harrison was the 17th rated OT when he came in and Orlando Brown was the 36th rated OT when he arrived.
I look at Easley as a type of kid that Bedenbaugh thrives with. Whether OU lands him or not, he is definitely a canvas that I could see Coach B painting a masterpiece on.
Bennett Warren, Grant Brix, Michael Uini, Andrew Sprague, Blake Frazier, Douglas Utu and Weston Davis are some of the tackles in the ’24 class that we will all be on the Big Board when I roll that out. I just happen to really have latched onto this kid’s film, despite the obvious need for development. He is very raw, but all the tools are there.
