The Football Brainiacs

Image of Blake Williams via @Blake_Hogan_

– Weekend Recruits: Last weekend Oklahoma had three official visitors in Norman for the game against Arkon; OU commit CB Maurice Chandler, FSU JUCO commit LB Tyree Horton & OL Johncarlo Valentin. We’ve yet to connect with Valentin or Horton, but we did speak to a source about the trip in general for the two. I was told that Valentin had a good time, and it’s clear he is serious about the Sooners. I was told Horton had a good time as well, but this particular source got the sense that nothing has changed for the FSU commit. The impression I was given was that Horton remains solid to FSU. – (Super K)

– Blake Williams: A couple nights ago Brandon tweeted out the following regarding 2016 TE/ATH Blake Williams (Mustang, OK).

2016 @1BroncoFootball TE Blake Williams(@Blake_Hogan_)will be in Norman on Sept 19 for #Sooners game vs #Tulsa. @TheFbBrainiacs

— Brandon Drumm (@Bdrumm_Rivals) September 8, 2015

With the Sooners using a much bigger set of wideouts, along with the use of TE/Flex position, OU has been on the lookout for a guy to possibly help Mark Andrews in the coming years. They may have found such a player in Williams. The 6’4″ 230-pound player may be a new name for some Sooner fans, but we’ve been following Williams for a while. He was set to start last season with Mustang, and did the first week until he came down with a neurological illness. Which wound up sidelining him for the rest of his 2014 season. When Williams got cleared to resume football activities, he and his family started to hit the camp circuit to try and get his name out there again.

Williams was so impressive at the North Carolina camp that they offered on the spot. He then went to Alabama and showcased his skills for Nick Saban. The Bama staff was so impressed with Williams’ measurables, they asked him to hold off working out until later that afternoon so Saban, who was busy that morning with SEC media day responsibilities, could see things in-person. Saban was apparently impressed and Alabama has told Williams they will evaluate him in the next 2-3 games to decide whether or not they will offer. As a side note, Bama has two TEs currently committed.

Tight ends/inside wide receiver coach Cale Gundy has recently been in contact with Williams and invited the rising star to attend a game. And as noted above, Williams will be in Norman when the Sooners face Tulsa in a little over a week. – (Brandon)

– More on Williams: Just wanted to offer up a couple thoughts on Blake Williams and post a few camp clips just so you can see how athletic this young man really is.

I first heard about Williams from former Cal All-American, Geoff McArthur (who also happens to be Neville Gallimore’s old high school coach). McArthur was working a private camp in Oklahoma a year or two ago and had a chance to work with Williams. He called me (K) a day or two after the camp and raved about the OK Preps prospect. He said that even though Williams had been somewhat limited by a medical issue, he was a phenomenal athlete; a guy who could play either side of the ball.

Williams is just a big, fast guy. What is really remarkable about Williams is how well he transitions. And what is even more remarkable is how mentally tough the young man seems to be. He’s already overcome a major life obstacle and it hasn’t deterred him from being one of the hardest working recruits I’ve come across. Below are a few clips of Williams in camp this past summer.

Blake1 – Catching the ball against tight coverage

Blake3 – Amazing how well the big guy sinks his hips and gets out of his break

Blake7 – Another one on one grab

Blake4 – The big guy can run!

– Team Note | Dru Samia & PJ Mbanasor: Samia has obviously been competing with Josiah St. John for the starting right tackle spot and eventually earned the start this past week. I have been told Samia also received all the first team reps yesterday, so it sounds like he could very well make a second consecutive start on Saturday. Although it’s worth noting Bob Stoops said on Monday regardless of who starts, he expects both will play against Tennessee.

Meanwhile, another true freshman in Mbanasor got the start last week as well. Stoops simply referred to the circumstances around the decision as a ‘team matter’ with regards to sophomore corner Jordan Thomas. And as I suspect many of you will recall, Thomas was in early on special teams and later entered the game during the 2nd quarter at corner. At this point we expect Thomas will start on Saturday, though that is certainly no indication of the strides Mbanasor has already made nor his play against Akron. In fact, Mbanasor held up pretty well against an admittedly pedestrian Akron passing attack. So don’t be surprised to see him on the field once again this weekend in Knoxville. – (Super K)