Open Post | Weekend, September 21st – 23rd By: TFB Posted on: September 21, 2018

Calling Catalon | DB Update
– Super K

So, by now many of you have probably put together why I timed my “Sooners aren’t going to quit on Dax Hill” post only hours before he committed.

And while they won’t quit on him, they have other targets they love and are pursuing.

A name you’re all familiar with is that of Jalen Catalon (Mansfield Legacy). Catalon is one of the top safeties in the 2019 class and has ties to the Sooners. His mother attended the University of Oklahoma.

The Sooners and Catalon are back in touch and Oklahoma is hoping to get him down on an official visit this season. However, in checking with Catalon he’s very non-committal about a visit saying he still isn’t sure.

The root of this seems to be that the Sooners have multiple times thought they’d have their final DB landed by now. Whether it was Hill, Carter or Steele…OU can’t quite seem to get that final DB piece. As a result, however, I get the sense, based on my conversations with Catalon over this past summer, that the communication fell of at times.

But make no mistake, Catalon is a priority for the Sooners and is absolutely one of the best safeties in the country. The clip below was one I shot at the Pylon National 7v7 event in Atlanta, this past summer.

On a play I didn’t get on film, the safety playing alongside Catalon busted and the receiver came into the vacated area. I saw it happening and looked to see if Catalon was breaking to help…no surprise…he already was and he ate up so much ground, he actually also made a play on the ball from the opposite safety position.

The Sooners are looking to close out the class with a safety and Catalon is definitely an elite one.

However, I’ve asked Catalon on multiple occasions about his commitment timeline and throughout the process, he continues to tell me that he wants to announce in January. I spoke to a source close to Catalon who said that one of the reasons for this is simply that Jalen has yet to make a decision. In other words, it is a player just aimlessly dragging out his recruitment.

Schools to watch in Catalon’s recruitment are Texas and TCU.

One source said regarding the Sooners recruiting Catalon, “It’s going to be a process. He’s not committing anytime soon so they just have to continue to recruit him and I think they can bring him around”.

 

 

Quick-Hitter | Injury Update | Delarrin Turner-Yell
– Super K

I know some of you have asked why we haven’t seen Delarrin Turner-Yell (DTY) yet. I’m told he is currently out with a sprained MCL.

No word yet on when he is expected back.

 

 

Commitment Spotlight….Jacoby Jones
– JY

I wanted to have a look and see what Oklahoma just got in Jacoby Jones.  I had heard some things from a friend of mine and wanted to see for myself.  Let me tell you I came away impressed…very impressed.

This guy is a bigger, longer Ronnie Perkins.  The guy is a flat out ball player.  6’4″  250, and with Coach Wylie and Coach Tiff’s nutrition program I’ll bet he gets up around 270.  The guy is a monster.

He’s a natural pass-rusher that the Sooners haven’t seen in a while.  While Obo was great, but he’s only 6’2″.  Jones has a natural wiggle and is one of those guys who looks like a ghost.

What I mean is that when he gets up out of his stance and starts going, he’s two steps into his rush before the o lineman has even moved.  He’s got very strong hands and very long arms, so when he gets his hands on people they don’t get away.

He’s a January enrollee, who will have three years to play two.  I’d expect him to be an impact guy in 2019.  With a rotation of him, Tatum, Perkins, Redmond etc, this defense is going to be extremely formidable.  I’m very excited about this guy and you should be too.

 

 

Javian Hester & Logan Parr Visiting Sooners
– Charlie S

– Checked in with Javian Hester who is a major Sooners 2020 wide receiver target out of Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa and he let me know that while he will not be in town for the Army game, it is currently his plan to be on campus for the Baylor game on September 29th.

Hester is a huge priority for the Sooners and while he has scheduled several other visits to Norman, which have not materialized due to one reason or another, it is a positive sign for OU to potentially have him on campus for what is shaping up to be a sneaky big recruiting weekend.

 

– Also spoke briefly to 2020 offensive lineman and Sooners offer, Logan Parr out of Helotes, TX.

Parr was offered by the Sooners back in June while on a visit to Norman. In speaking to him, he let me know that he also is planning on making the drive up to Norman for the Baylor game.

Parr is very high on OU and he and his family thoroughly enjoyed the visit. They have continued to build a relationship with the entire staff and the Sooners are in a very strong position in this recruitment.

Texas recently offered, and they will surely get a long look from Parr as well as he told me that “Getting a Texas offer had always been a dream”.

As I stated earlier, the Baylor game is looking like it will be a nice weekend for recruiting.

 

 

2020 OT Turner Corcoran Visiting For Army
– Charlie S

– Recently, I had a chance to catch up with Sooners 2020 offensive tackle target, Turner Corcoran (Lawrence, KS). He let me know that he will be in town for the Army game this weekend.

Corcoran and his family visited for the ChampU BBQ in July and shortly after the visit, Turner trimmed his list to seven. The Sooners made the cut and this is a positive sign that he is returning to Norman for another visit.

Shortly after the BBQ, I had a pretty thorough conversation with him and he provided me with one of my favorite quotes a recruit has spoken…

I asked him how he felt when he started reeling in those big-time offers. Turner replied by saying, “To be honest, it obviously feels nice, but I’m never really satisfied. I keep pushing myself”. He continued by saying “Like with my ranking. I’m not all caught up in rankings, but I feel like I’m better than my ranking and I set out to prove that to myself more than anything”. That’s a great mindset for any athlete in my opinion.

Turner is looking forward to the trip. When I asked him what he would be paying attention too, in particular, he said, “I’m looking forward to the game day atmosphere and game day feel”. He added said, “Also to see some OU football, to see how not only the players but the coaches perform also. How they make adjustments and stuff like that”.

I have already made plans to catch up with Turner following the visit to get his reaction.

On another note, we talked a bit about how his season is going…his team is 3-0 and they have outscored their opponents 144-0.

 

 

Staff Change
– Super K

I have just confirmed with a source that OU assistant S&C coach, Mahala Wiggins is no longer with the program. While some of you may not be familiar with Wiggins, he was also an assistant S&C coach at Oklahoma during the final few years of the Schmitty era.

The reason this departure is significant is that Mahala is one of the most well-liked and respected S&C staff members, especially amongst the players. This is a widely known fact throughout the program. As such, there is little doubt that this departure must sting for quite a few of the players and members of the staff.

 

 

Quick-Hitters | Enokk Vimahi, DJ Uiagelelei, David Ugwoegbu & More
– Super K

***Peyton Powell official visit date is still up in the air. Sounds like the Sooners are wanting to host him later in the season.

***Per his high school football coach, Enokk Vimahi (Kahuku, HI) has canceled his official visit to Norman. The visit was scheduled for this weekend. Coach Carvalho, head coach at Kahuku High School said, “he (Enokk) got ‘leg whipped’ in a game. So, he’s focusing on rehabbing so he can get back on the field.”

Coach added, “He’s (Enokk) probably planning on going (to Norman) after the season”.

So, no official visitors this weekend…

Image result for no soup for you gif

***I caught up with 5-star QB, DJ Uiagelelei who was offered by the Sooners, this past summer. Doesn’t sound like there’s been much movement for Oklahoma. He said that he has unofficial visits scheduled for this season to Oregon, Clemson, and Auburn. When I asked if an OU unofficial visit was expected to happen he said, “I don’t think so”.

That isn’t to say something can’t happen after the season.

***Greg Biggins of 247 recently reported that Oregon OT commit and Sooners target, Jonah Tauanu’u (Harbor City, CA) is still interested in visiting Oklahoma. And though this does seem to be what Jonah said, it sounds like he may not be communicating that to his family. When I asked his Jonah’s mother, Melissa, about it, it seemed to come as a surprise to her, albeit a welcomed one since she’s such a big fan of Oklahoma.

She said, “We haven’t talked to the coaches much since he committed. Not sure if it’s out of respect for his commitment or a reflection of their interest. You already know how I feel about OU”.

We all know coach Bedenbaugh isn’t just one of the best coaches in the country, he’s also one of the hardest workers. I’d surmise this is a situation where OU doesn’t want to step on any toes since the commitment is fairly new. Perhaps they’ll revisit it down the road as Jonah was originally scheduled to visit for the Bedlam game which isn’t till later in the season.

Now, one of the things you’ll want to keep in mind with the new rule allowing the staff to host official visitors in the spring/summer is that I suspect they are going to be more careful about official visits. You have a set number of visits allotted and that number begins each September. So, the fewer have during the season, the more you have for the next class in the spring and summer. Which means, if a staff isn’t feeling like a player has real interest then chances are they are going to be cautious about bringing them on a trip.

Image result for thinking gif

***As we previously reported, Sooners DE/OLB target, David Ugwoegbu is expected to visit OU for the Bedlam game later this season. With the numbers being tight and the Sooners being in the top two for Ugwoegbu, I don’t expect to see a ton movement at the defensive line/linebacker positions as it’s come to my attention that Ugwoegbu is a very very very high priority for the Sooners.

Stripling is obviously another guy the Sooners would like to bring in. But again, David is sort of this year’s DaShaun White. The staff wants to land him…bad.

Image result for give it to me gif

I’m going to try to get out to see Ugwoegbu again tonight. But I did communicate with him yesterday and not much has changed.