Open Post | Weekend, May 20th – 22nd

Changes in Recruiting Culture
– Super K – Posted on: May 17, 2022

As you know, the NCAA recently released new guidance for player NIL. In case you missed it, we discussed some these changed in a recent post (here).

***We’ve all observed some of the residual recruiting impacts of this sort of Wild Wild West unregulated NIL environment. As I’ve mentioned before, it recently became a world where a staff can do everything right and everything seems to point to them landing a commitment only to lose a player at the final hour due to a “NIL deal”.

***In a very short time, the culture of recruiting and recruits expectations has been turned upside down. I’ve heard story after story of parents and other folks around the player basically going into visits expecting to be told how much money the player will be receiving.

***There are a number of kids, committed or not, who are “keeping their options up” as they continue to listen to or expect to hear of new offers.

***I’ve heard stories of boosters actually being present on a player’s visits and basically outlining to the player and their family how much money they are going to receive. This has been out in the open.

***Again, all this (and more) has quickly altered the recruiting culture and the expectations of players.

***I mention all this because I want everyone to keep in mind that while the NCAA has now given guidance and re-empowered the compliance departments, it’s going to take another month or two to readjust the recruiting culture. There will likely be some residual effects until the 2024 class but I think you’ll see a lot of the most egregious stuff and some of the more prominent issues mostly gone by the time the summer officials start to wrap up.

***Players will obviously no longer be meeting with boosters. They will probably begin getting compliance lectures again. Coaches are going to play things much much tighter so discussions around NIL will be more curated and regulated. A lot fewer coaches are going to be involved in basically connecting recruits with boosters. And perhaps as important as anything is coaches will be far more discreet when they discuss these things – discretion or furtiveness sends the clear signal to recruits and their parents that what they are discussing isn’t above board.

***And I think that really that’s been the issue – the fact that these things that are clear violations have been so out in the open that they created sudden expectations that could readily be voiced and responded to. When it’s pushed back underground, that, in my opinion, will have a strong impact are recalibrating the recruiting culture back to the things that previously mattered – academics, location, coaching, NFL development, etc.

***As I’ve said before, cheating has always happened and will always happen but that can be overcome. It was the pervasiveness of this basically pay-for-play scheme that made recruiting and by extension covering and following recruiting a challenge.

***The NIL will remain a part of the official visit pitches. But, it will be about the NIL as it was intended – marketing and branding opportunities for players once they arrive on campus that will put them in better position to monetize their brand success. But that is a very different thing than having a booster sitting in one of the offices waiting to tell a kid and his parents how much money he’s going to hand them if they choose that school.

***So, as I’ve said, give it through the summer visits and I think you’ll begin to see things shift back to a recruiting culture you’re much more familiar with.


No. 1 2024 LB Payton Pierce Ready to See Norman & Meet Coaching Staff
– CJ Vogel – Posted on: May 17, 2022

2024 LB Payton Pierce is the No.1 LB in the country according to Rivals and in my opinion, the rest of the industry has some catching up to do. Pierce is recovering from a bum ankle injury, but was able to bring home a state championship in wrestling just last month.

The Sooners offered Pierce on April 28 and have made a tremendous jump in this recruitment early on. I think the marriage of Brent Venables and Oklahoma is something to really watch in this recruitment. Pierce, who canceled plans to visit Oklahoma this past weekend, plans on visiting Norman on June 11 when the coaching staff is back on campus.

This upcoming visit will be the first time he is on campus with the entire coaching staff and for Pierce, it is very important he establishes a strong relationship with HC Brent Venables. His track record of developing linebackers and putting guys in the league is something that will go a long way in his recruitment. Should the visit go well, I would have no reason to not peg OU as an early team to beat here.

Pierce also has family ties to Norman, as his grandfather was a Sooner back in the day as well. I won’t say it is a shut case, especially with as much time there is for this entire recruitment, but this is going to be something very difficult for Texas to combat.

With that said, there are still plenty of factors that link Pierce to Texas. For one, he has an established relationship with LB coach Jeff Choate and has visited Austin several times now. He is also trained by former Texas S&C coordinator Yancy McKnight who will be leading Lovejoy’s offseason workouts once again this summer. Pierce will likely down to Austin again this summer as well.

For now, I figure the three teams to beat in this recruitment will be Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. I have yet to hear much about Texas A&M, but I would be surprised if they did not eventually get involved in this recruitment.


The Latest | Ashton Cozart
– Charlie S – Posted on: May 17, 2022

Now that the report of Ashton Cozart visiting Oregon is out there, I figured it was a good time to share a conversation I had with him last Thursday.

I planned on running this tomorrow, but timing is important.

I spoke to Ashton a bit in regard to all the buzz about Michigan that several of you had brought to our attention and I think it is safe to say, at this point, he is going to go through some of the recruiting process.

I told Ashton the fans are starting to notice all the buzz being generated from a Michigan reporter about how aggressive they are pursuing him. I asked him what his thoughts were in regard to his commitment to Oklahoma and where things stand.

Cozart said, ‘In this age of recruiting and NIL we can all agree that anything can happen at any moment and until you sign the dotted lines, I have to treat this like a business. At the moment, I am committed to Oklahoma and don’t plan on signing anywhere else.”

He went on to add, ‘However, what if there was another place that gave me a better opportunity for my ultimate goal, obviously, it would be smart to look further into it.’

He continued by saying, ‘It’s not facing more towards Michigan at all. I’m saying that for any school that still tries to recruit me hard.’

He closed by telling me ‘This doesn’t change the fact that I love Oklahoma and everything the school has to bring, but I have to make a decision that’s gonna affect the rest of my life. With that being said I am not opening up my recruitment and there are only a few schools I will keep in contact with at the moment.’

With the revelation of the Oregon visit, obviously, they are one of the few schools he is communicating with. I will add, I have not confirmed this visit is taking place on my own, which is why I said it has been reported.

Now, we all know OU’s take on ‘commits’ taking visits…it is frowned upon and Brent Venables has basically said he does not view a recruit who takes visits as a commit.

Something we will be keeping tabs on, but I can tell you OU was aware that Cozart was talking to schools but he said at this point he ‘hasn’t really discussed it much’


Reid Mikeska | In-Person | Initial Thoughts
Super K – Posted on: May 19, 2022

***As you know, this past weekend, the Sooners hosted 2023 TE and former Clemson commit, Reid Mikeska (Bridgeland, TX).

***I stopped by Bridgeland yesterday to see Mikeska and here are my initial thoughts on his recruitment.

***Mikeska wasn’t working out but in terms of size, he’s a big dude. I’d say a legit 6’5. A bit of a newcomer to football despite the fact that his father played college ball.

***I was intrigued by Mikeska when I heard from a friend down in Alabama that the Tide are really pushing for him.

***Reid did confirm that he decommitted from Clemson because Dabo doesn’t permit visits and he had some key visits he wanted to take including the visit to OU.

***He’s got an upcoming visit to Miami.

***He isn’t trying to drag this out. The young man is sharp and very focused. He really is just trying to take visits in order to make a more informed decision. I get the sense that once he takes his June OVs, he will announce almost immediately thereafter.

***Sooners will get an official.

***My initial read on this one is that it is currently a battle between Florida and Oklahoma. I do think there is still time for schools like Miami and Alabama to make a move. Again, he is still evaluating. But, as things stand right now, my read is that Florida and the Sooners are probably 1a and 1b. Ty Darlington is making things interesting.


June 3rd Official Visitors | Working List
– Charlie S – Posted on: May 19, 2022

As you all know, the Sooners are set to host a massive recruiting event on the weekend of June 3rd.

We already have more than two dozen confirmed official visitors and you can expect to add more to that list.

Then you have ’23, ’24, and ’25 kids who will be in town unofficially…which we will get into later.

I will update the list periodically to bring it back to the top as days go by.

Just because you do not see a name on the list, it does not mean the recruit may not be in Norman. This is taking Official Visits into account only, and the list will change.


’23 Official Visitors

‘23 QB Jackson Arnold – Denton, TX – OU Commit
‘23 RB Richard Young – Lehigh Acres, FL
‘23 RB Daylan Smothers – Charlotte, NC
‘23 RB Tre Wisner – DeSoto, TX* – Have to reconfirm, he gave me this info prior to committing
‘23 WR Mikal Harrison Pilot – Temple, TX
‘23 WR Jaden Greathouse – Austin, TX
‘23 WR Anthony Evans – Converse, TX
‘23 WR Jaquaize Pettaway – Houston, TX
‘23 TE Reid Mikeska – Cypress, TX
‘23 OL Josh Bates – Durango, CO – OU Commit
‘23 OL Wilkin Formby – Tuscaloosa, AL
‘23 OL Logan Howland – Princeton, NJ
‘23 OL Cayden Green – Lee’s Summit. MO
‘23 OL Brycen Sanders – Chattanooga, TN
‘23 OL Payton Kirkland – Orlando, FL
‘23 DL A’mauri Washington – Chandler, AZ
‘23 DE Rueben Bain – Miami, FL
‘23 LB Anthony Hill – Denton, TX
‘23 LB Phil Picciotti – Perkasie, PA
‘23 DB Jalon Kilgore – Eatonton, GA
‘23 DB Tyler Turner – San Antonio, TX
‘23 DB Makari Vickers – Tallahassee, FL
‘23 ATH Jacobe Johnson – Mustang, OK
‘23 ATH Erik McCarty – Mcalester, OK – OU Commit
‘23 ATH Samuel Omosigho – Crandall, TX