The Football Brainiacs

Image of Matt Romar via Sooner Sports

– Player Note | Matt Romar: As many of you know by now, Matt Romar missed much of fall camp after suffering a concussion on the team’s second day of practice. After recently checking with a source regarding his latest status, TFB can tell you Romar is currently practicing. However that comes with a bit of a caveat in that he is not yet participating in the team periods, where the players go live.

With that said, as Calvin Thibodeaux alluded to earlier in the week, barring some kind of setback it’s safe to assume Romar will be available for the Houston game. In Romar’s absence, Jordan Wade has been taking first team reps with Marquise Overton behind him. – (Super K)

– Team Note | Offensive Line: TFB recently received an interesting note on the OU offensive line, with Ben Powers evidently now working at left guard behind Cody Ford. The latter of whom is still expected to be the starter, by the way.

Also been told Jonathan Alvarez continues to work as the second team center behind Erick Wren, so at this point it would be a bit of a surprise if Wren isn’t the starter come next Saturday.

As it stands today, it looks like the top eight in the rotation figures to be: Orlando Brown (LT), Ford (LG), Wren (C), Alex Dalton (RG), Dru Samia (RT), Alvarez (G/C), Powers (G) and Bobby Evans (T). – (Super K)

– Player Note | Parrish Cobb: A young player who I’m told is getting significant reps in practice right now is true freshman cornerback, Parrish Cobb. With Dakota Austin and PJ Mbanasor both missing some time during the final week of fall camp, Cobb filled in and clearly made the most of it. TFB has learned Cobb is now the second team corner behind Austin on the right side.

One source says that despite his youth, Cobb plays with great technique and maturity. Everyone knew coming in he was a fantastic athlete, but as we’ve seen time and time again at this level technique and being assignment sound tends to make the ultimate difference in the end.

With Cobb making such a quick jump in just his first year — and even after having arrived later than the rest of his class — and surging ahead of others, if he can continue to develop at that rate and get some lives in-game reps the Sooners could have a star cornerback in the making. – (Super K)

– K’Lavon Chaisson: TFB spoke with one of Chaisson’s coaches, who shared that the 2017 LB is planning to attend next weekend’s OU/Houston game. Chaisson is also expected to make it to Norman for an official visit as well. – (Super K)

– OU/tOSU Visitors: With the season opener just around the corner, not surprisingly recruiting has quieted down quite a bit. However with the big OU/Ohio State game looking, a number of recruits this week announced their intentions to be in Norman for that highly anticipated match up.

Jeffrey Okudah – This one really wasn’t news if you’ve been reading TFB for any length of time, but Okudah did make it “official” via his Twitter earlier in the week. Okudah also told ESPN’s Gerry Hamilton in a recent interview that Ohio State was still his leader, but it’s pretty clear the Sooners are well within in striking distance. It’s probably a safe bet to say Oklahoma is somewhere in his top three. But Okudah is a detail oriented player and recruit, so expect him to analyze and re-analyze his decision all the way up until his announcement.

It goes without saying OU really needs to win this Ohio State game, but Okudah’s potential commitment riding on the outcome only furthers that point.

Marvin Wilson – TFB spoke with someone close to the five-star DT who said the plan as of now is for Wilson to be in Norman for the Ohio State game. – (Super K)

Kobe Boyce – Texas 2017 CB commit Kobe Boyce also announced that he plans to be in Norman for the big game. Boyce tells TFB that outside of OU, his only other visits will be to Texas and Ole Miss. Expect this one to come down to the two Red River rivals, though. With possible (likely?) sanctions looming, I just don’t see Ole Miss being a real player here.

Jaylon Johnson – If you recall last month the Sooners made 2017 CB Jaylon Johnson’s (Fresno, CA) Top 7, which also included Georga, Arizona, USC, Utah, Cal & Arizona State. Johnson tells TFB he will “more than likely” take an official visit to OU for the Ohio State game.

Sooners Commits – 2017 OU commits, Jalen Reagor, Robert Barnes, Charleston Rambo & (Ed. note) Kenneth Murray will also use official visits for the Ohio State game. Think it’s safe to assume the list of commits in attendance in that game will only continue to grow, but for now this obviously a good foundation of commits who can help the staff recruit the other stars likely be on campus.