Must See LB
Posted on: October 16, 2014
Image of Dwaine Thomas via 247 Sports
Earlier this week, two OU 2015 linebacker offers/targets came off the board. Marshall ‘Bo’ Wallace committed to Notre Dame, while Cassius Peat committed to UCLA. OU was actually Wallace’s first offer, so it was a little surprising that the Sooners didn’t even receive an official visit (which we’d been led to believe would happen for some time). Meanwhile, Peat visited Norman for Tennessee game and in talking to him after that visit, he clearly had a great time. But in the end he obviously decided to take his talents to Westwood instead.
As dire as some might believe things to be, there are still a few linebackers on Oklahoma’s board. Among them are: Khaylan Thomas, Anthony McKee & Ricky DeBerry. Obviously, running a 3-4 defensive scheme now, Oklahoma needs to bring in multiple talented linebackers year in and year out.
Here are a couple guys you’re going to want to keep your eye on:
Michael Scott: As we mentioned a couple weeks, Tim Kish has been in regular contact with (UPDATE: now former SMU LB commit) Michael Scott out of Irving, TX. Scott attended the OU/Texas game and told our buddy Alex King that he has been hearing from OU, Texas, and Texas A&M. He’s been a bit under the radar, but as we were putting this post together he decommitted from SMU so expect him to start drawing more and more attention.
Dwaine Thomas: This is a MUST SEE LB in my opinion. A friend of mine passed Dwaine’s film along to me yesterday and I was just blown away. Dwaine is currently committed to Louisiana-Lafayette. He hasn’t received any interest from Oklahoma yet, but as far as I’m concerned he is an absolute monster. This has to be one of the most sudden linebackers I’ve seen on film all year. Thomas looks every bit, if not better, than just about every linebacker prospect OU has offered (Malik Jefferson remains my favorite) thus far.
In fact, you know who comes to mind when I see a player like Dwaine? Charles Walker. They obviously play different positions, but Walker was one of those players who was under the radar of just about every recruiting service out there, but of what little film was available just about every OU fan knew he was going to be a stud. It was just too obvious. And while Walker hasn’t become a superstar…yet…we all saw some early flashes this year before his injury.
Do yourself a favor and take a look at some of Dwaine’s film:
57 Comments
That swim move at 32 seconds was nasty. For a linebacker to make that move so well, I am blown away.
Nice write up K! Hopefully OU will notice Thomas
Yep. There is a play where he gets skinny (don’t recall the time) that made me say…wow! Look how quick the kid comes off the line. I mean this dude looks like the real deal.
Holy Hell, this guy is a tackling machine. I couldn’t help but laugh when he caused fumbles in 4 of the first 5 highlights. Sick! Makes me think of the Waterboy!
LOL so true!
Power Bomb! Compliments of Captain Insano.
How many additional LB’s are we thinking OU wants to take this year?
We certainly need a few to build some depth.
I think they need a minimum of three, and I mean bare minimum.
And if they have to scramble at the end to get three then they failed. Really they should be looking for 4 or 5. But if the 3 were any combo of these guys then they did good. Wheeler, jefferson, KLS, deberry, and McKee.
Obviously there are some under the radar guys that would still be good pickups but they have been high on those recruits lists for so long that it would be disappointing not to land 3 of them.
no question
Saw in a thread on another site OU leading for DeBerry. No confirmation. Wheeler says OU leading. KLS and Jefferson longshots. Any word on McKee? Between OU and MichSt?
I have thought ou lead for deberry for awhile but time will tell, that’s the tough part about getting an official from a kid in September.
Also I’ve heard a lot about wheeler leaning toward ou and McKee would have committed while here but decided to wait.
I still think we have a real shot at KLS.
I’m always in favor of getting talent out of Louisiana it’s rich with talent and lsu can’t get them all.
He has good instincts and is explosive, but it looks like he plays really high and doesn’t use his arms well. I’m a noob at this stuff, though, so I may be seeing the wrong things.
It would be nice, at least once this decade, to get a LB commit.
Well, to be fair, that stuff is coaching. It’s the physical skill set you (or at least I) look for. Not that you ignore the valid points you’ve made, but if you’re a good coach that stuff is typically correctable.
Yeah but who cares and he’s not one of our top targets and kish stinks and all the other negative things and blah blah blah
By the way, the above is sarcasm and beating the negative nellies to the punch. I like the kid and I don’t care if they get a one armed one legged guy if they can coach him up
I love dwaine thomas’ s film hope OU will get in on this guy.
Now every minute in which Dwaine doesn’t have an offer from OU is going to bug me.
Lol now that’s enthusiasm!
K, what do you know about ou recruiting whitfield at this point? Have they backed off? Also did they notice his tweet from their loss to tcu?
Whitfield, please.
What did his tweet say?
Basically that he was glad
Zack, I believe it was Darreyl Patterson that made a comment that might have been construed as such. Don’t think it was McKinley. Doesn’t sound like something he’d do
“Kind of glad they got beat haha. Since I got played!”
Tweet from McKinley on October 4th (The day we lost to TCU)
Guessing we haven’t stayed in much contact with him, after we’d said we’d be watching his first few games.
I’ll talk to him about that. That’s really not like him though.
I didn’t want to put the direct quote out there because I think it was possible he could have meant Arkansas who lost that day as well.
🙁
“Sudden” is barely adequate to describe how quick he is.
What are his measurables?
Hudl says 6’3″ and 215lbs runs a 4.6 40 yd dash
Is he really 6’3″? Does he have good grades?
No more like 6’2. And yes his grades are fine.
This is as close to a complete LB you’ll see in HS. That’s a flat out stud. I may have to call Mike this afternoon and try to throw my weight around for an offer to this kid.
How did the conversation go?
He’s on his jet come Monday to visit him. … At least that’s how it would have went if I actually had the clout to talk to him.
WTH, the video won’t show up. Just a white box. 🙁
Don’t know anything about his competition but that is some of the most impressive film I have seen in a while.
I don’t even think his competition is that important Ray, he has a very quick first step. He’s incredibly explosive and pretty fluid. Sure he’s dominating HS kids, but he has next level ability.
Very explosive and I love the fact that he is a turnover machine.
No doubt. that in itself is a skill as well. Some kids just have the ability to knock the ball lose.
Michael Scott decommitted from smu
Seeing TCU likely new leader according to DMN. Also offers from KState, Cal, NWU.
Dwaine Thomas isn’t fair. He’s the type of player that when he plays on opponent’s field their grass dies.
Sign Dwaine Thomas and McKinley Whitfield (yes, Malik, too). Drop the mic. Call it a wrap.
Now that’s a linebacker that I would call another bullet in the chamber with OU’s current front seven. Lord have mercy on high school football players in the state of Louisiana.
I know a lot of people probably won’t agree with me, but I think Dwaine Thomas’ pursuit ability makes him seem quicker than he is. His first step is definitely above average; however, I wouldn’t call it elite based on what I saw. He seems to be a solid prospect, though. Thomas’ vision and ability to track plays looks outstanding!
Oh yeah, I should mention that I don’t watch a ton of high school film…so I’m comparing him to Striker–which probably isn’t fair haha
That is some pretty tackling, definitely isn’t shying away from contact, good nose for the ball, and that first step! Good catch, K!
Too distracted by the team that was wearing Spiderman uniforms.
I thought the same thing!
Saw pic and 1st thought was he’s a JC. Watched vid and thought, some of those plays, put a #19 on his back and you’re watching Striker Jr. Crazy quick. Bigger version of Anthony McKee. Would take both, either.
That ball pursuit is just relentless
That dude looks like he’s 26 years old.
Hey guys, sorry if I’ve missed an update on LB’s recently. I know we’ve all been concerned about recruiting at the position. With that in mind, where do we stand with the guys we have offers on that haven’t committed yet: Jefferson, DeBerry, McGinnis, K Thomas, Wheeler, Townsend, McKee, Houston Jr, Masina? Are all of these still on the board? Some off?
Man — get this kid an offer, wheaties box…whatever it takes. Great first step and looks like he’s got a great motor. Possibly Striker 2.0.
UPDATE: Dwaine is now following Coach Montgomery and Monty is following back. Means they can direct message each other. Go get him coach!
If we cant get someone away from SMU and Louisiana Lafayette someone needs to be fired.