Josh Wariboko Decommits
Posted on: April 17, 2014
Image via scout.com
Unfortunately, it appears the fear from Wednesday’s Open Post was justified with the news later that same night that Josh Wariboko has indeed decommitted from the University of Oklahoma.
After discussions with my family, We've decided to officially reopen my recruitment. Thank you!
— Joshua W. Alali (@warigetbuckets) April 17, 2014
Stemming largely from a desire to play with his younger brother, Max, Wariboko has decided to reopen his recruitment. However, his brother isn’t the sole reason for the change. Because his commitment came as early as it did, there has long been a desire on Wariboko’s part to continue taking trips to other schools. Which is something OU coaches have frowned upon in the past once a recruit has verbally committed.
So with an intention to avoid trying to do anything behind the coaches back, Wariboko and his family chose to open things up so that they can be free to take a visit should they wish to do so without worrying about how the OU coaches would react to it.
Wariboko expressed that the Sooners would still “have a spot” in his recruitment, so all hope is not lost for OU fans. That said, it remains to be seen just how serious of a spot that may be if they do not eventually offer the younger brother.
We’ll have to wait and see how things play out, but there is no denying this disappointment for the program in losing an in-state prospect as talented and polished as Wariboko.
66 Comments
Saw that last night. Nothing quite like a kick to the balls to start your day off.
This stuff is gonna happen now and then when these kids are committing so early. We’ll get what we need by next signing day.
seconded and then some
Agreed.
Awesome night… Wariboko decommits & Shannon gets a sexual assault complaint…
that sounds like a Jameis Winston kind of thing. There’s so much “he said/she said” that it’s hard to see through the crap. According to the news release, it looked like the woman was somewhat regretful of the incident. I imagine if she was really sexually assaulted, there would be multiple authorities involved– not an apology for calling the police.
but who knows.
After reading his interview, it sounds like he is not naive to the fact that his brother may not receive a true big-time offer and he may have to decide what is best for him. That plays in our favor, but I guess we’ll see how strong those family bonds are.
Not a good week at all. Almost a step backwards in alot of ways. Fingers crossed but he has to do what he has to… Hope we can still land his services
I’m just wondering how many kids have tried to do this with a sibling or teammate that’s a year younger than them. Sounds very possible to offer the younger kid till NSD and then to pull the scholarship once the player signs that the coaches originally wanted.
also think it hurts more because he’s from Oklahoma.
Wow! Crappy week! But we’ll be ok. NSD is still a ways off. Could still land this guy and Fehoko. If not, it ain’t the end of the world.
I’m just tired of all these whiny sissy-babies that have to play with their brother……next thing they’ll want they’re mommy to enroll at the same school too. I realize they’re just 17-18 years old, but at some point you have to grow up, make the best decision for yourself, and go with it. The “little brothers” that aren’t quite as good should have the balls to say, “you know what big bro, you go to your school and do your thing, and I can accept that I’m not as good as you, so I may go to a different school and do mine. We’ll still be brothers for the rest of our lives, but this is 4 years that could be a huge stepping stone for your career, and I want you to do it.” I’m sorry if I come across harsh or inconsiderate, but this crap is just getting old. I don’t hope anything bad on the kids, I don’t hope they fail in life, but you make your choices, then your choices make you.
To some people, the most important thing in life is family – more important than money and a “successful” career. There shouldn’t be any shame in choosing family over everything else… ever.
Absolutely. Obviously he’s good enough to excel at any D-1 program, it’s not like it’s “come to OU or you’ll make the worst decision of your life.” Hope he makes the best decision for himself and his family by choosing OU, but if not I wish him well.
That being said, it still stings big time.
I’m kind of where you are on this, Chris. If it was an academic scholarship he was after, would he turn down a full ride at a prestigious school just because his brother could not get accepted? Kids today mature physically much faster, but mentally and emotionally, not so much.
First I want Josh Wariboko to play with whomever and wherever he want to play! But he says his goal is to play professionally. So his college career is basically on the job training! He would never be able to walk into a company he was trying to get a job from and say “I want to work here and I’m glad you want to hire me but I will only do it if you hire my little bro too!” College isn’t a job just using it as a illustration! I’m not saying he has to attend OU by any means to get noticed but not many Elite schools are going to offer a 2 for 1 scholly for the Wariboko’s if his brother isn’t good enough. If he choose to go to a lesser school for the opportunity to play with his brother I’m cool with that but it could affect his career. If that lesser team has a below average line besides Josh or if the QB isn’t very mobile and gets sacked 5 times a game all this can affect Josh’s draft stock. At the end of the day it’s totally his choice and I’ll be happy with his decision. (still hoping he chooses OU lol!)
I see your viewpoint, but I don’t understand how this makes Josh a “whiny sissy-baby.” His offer sheet is a mile long and he’ll excel wherever he signs. If another D-1 school offers both him and his brother, why not take it? Family seems like priority #1 for him, can’t fault anyone for that.
Plus, I trust Stoops & the staff to bring in what OU needs by NSD. And who knows, maybe staying near home at OU for his brother’s senior year will be important later on.
Wouldn’t you rather have players that want to be there though?
Everyone is different, and what may be important to you may not be important to the next guy and vice versa.
My recommendation is that you not get too caught up with recruiting if you are “getting tired” of these kinds of things. They’ve been happening since the beginning of college football and they will continue until it ends.
Maaaan, considering he’s from my high school, this one hurts.
That idiot Hale defiantly disagreed with me yesterday when I suggested that there were rumors of Wariboko wavering. I’m still waiting on an apology.
I wouldn’t hold your breath, friend 😉
Aren’t you two best of buds, Jordan?
BFF’s, you know it
Yeah an apology probably won’t happen. I still don’t listen to the guy or subscribe to his site but it sounds like a lot of people don’t care for his opinions. If he didn’t think the rumors were even somewhat true then he should refund his subscribers. It’s been out there for months he wanted to visit schools with his brothers and based on the story with SS he seems very bright and didn’t want to make a poor impression on the coaching staff at OU. It sucks but I’m ok with the kid withdrawing his commitment.
It would be a big loss. I hope we can change his mind. Luckily, we have 10 months to do so.
yesterday, per hale the insider, “josh is solid to ou”
today, after damage control….”it’s the wacky world of recruiting”
Tomorrow it will somehow be Jordan or TFB fault that he got the info wrong and tell everybody they should boycott this place! LOL! He will just never get it he is to out of touch with reality and he believes his own hype! At least his Mom still loves him but even she probably get her OU info from TFB. There’s only ONE Football Brainiacs!
Hell, Hale will probably blame Jordan for his decommitment.
For sure! DANG YOU JORDAN!!!! LOL!
I am soooo tired of that line.
People still read Hale’s stuff? Who knew?!
Would love to have the kid, but if he goes elsewhere there are greater tragedies in life. At this point it almost feels like he is shopping around to see which big time programs will offer his brother and the OU staff wasn’t ok with that and he knew it. I’m sure at some point someone has had the discussion of how he needs to make his own professional aspirations his priority, so I don’t think just any school offering both will be considered. He still could come to OU as NSD is a long way away.
I would never let my older brother pass up an opportunity to go to an Elite School, just because I would like to play at the same school. Let Josh take some visits and see from there I guess. Also we will see the recruits lined up once OU makes the playoffs
I’m with most everyone else.. would love to have him… he’s an in state highly ranked kid.. but he’s not a tackle, guards are easier to replace.. hope he reconsiders but I won’t hold my breath…
Mark my words, this incident with Frank Shannon is BS. He’ll be back. At some point, hopefully Josh will come back to the fold. Does anyone know how talented his brother may be? Is he good enough to offer?
At this point, the tape does not indicate that. He is also a ’16 kid so its not like he cannot get better but for the moment, nothing warrants a scholly this early on
Thanks for the reply. I don’t get why Josh would stick his neck out like this. I understand blood, but his bro needs to earn his own way imo.
Its a double edged sword. It is noble of him to want to find his brother a free ride, but he should also realize that a school has no obligation to keep Max. I agree with you in that I would want to earn my way, but Max is just looking out for him, and I can respect that.
Meant *Josh, not Max
From what I have heard, he is not good enough to offer. I don’t break down film or anything by I have heard that he is beat over the top pretty consistantly and doesn’t turn well. My guess is that unless he improves dramatically over the next two years, he is a borderline D1 prospect, around a 2*.
If Louisville offers both kids, can they impose a requirement for both? Are they even allowed to make contingent offers, or is it one of those deals where they would pull Max’s offer if Josh decided to go elsewhere?
There is nothing official w/ respect to verbal commits. The only thing that’s official is when they sign their letter of intent. Up until then, pretty much everything is fair game. Now there are better ways in which to conduct your business, but every coach has their own way of going about those type of things.
Amen. What do they say everything is fair in love and war. I guess recruiting could be considered a combination of both(love and war). I’m still preaching a couple of new commits would help right now. It’s a long time till February!!!
They would probably pull the offer. I actually hope max is good enough to play safety or corner at the D1 level but he’s obviously not there yet. And hopefully josh knows his brother right now is not good enough to play for a top tier school. His brother though is probably as good as the guys tech brings in each year.
Fwiw there’s a teaser story headline saying “Humphrey still talking to ou” and says he still likes ou. I don’t subscribe to pay sites but even with the string of “bad luck” I think ou is still in on guys like Humphrey and fehoko and obviously wariboko. I think the coaches have to continue to put in the work. And I like that they aren’t overreacting to the trail being cool right now. They could easily offer Patterson from Lawton and possibly pick up 2 commits but I like that they are taking their time.
I can’t speak to that story specifically b/c I haven’t seen it, but I do know that kind of stuff is a pretty common tactic (no judgment on my part, fwiw) among pay sites to “spin things” in a manner most know their paying customers will, most times, buy into/want to hear.
..just curious, you really don’t subscribe?……..that headline is a 247 article posted on oui this am……..in any event, read the article and sounds pretty taken with baylor
Yeah I really don’t subscribe but I go to the site often because you can access a lot of videos for free.
I think this comes down to A.) Whether or not Max were to get an OU offer & B.) How many big schools offer Max just to have a chance to land Josh.
Of course, the OU fan side of me is disappointed, I understand though. But I am not a fan of early commits. I mean it’s cool if a kid stays with his commit. But if it was me I’d still want to visit other schools. I mean who wouldn’t want to meet the coaches, check the facilities and see a lot of things that a universities own fans don’t see or experience. Alabama, Notre Dame, Penn State, USC, Miami, if I was a student I’d check them all out even if I knew where I was going. Perhaps that is something that Barnett and Sutherland are doing. I am not a physic but they may know OU is their 1st choice, but want the opportunity to travel around and see the sights. Without committing they don’t feel guilty about taking trips.
A little disappointing? YES! Am I worried? NOT AT ALL! Everything still boils down to this upcoming season. IMO! AFTER the season last year we got commitments from: Bond, Brown, Curtis, Frison, Garnett, Horky, Mixon, Parker, Ijalana, Paul, Quick, & Thomas. That’s 2- 2* (Horky is one and considered one of the top at his position), 6- 3*, 3- 4*, & 1- 5*. After last year and the way we finished in the Sugar Bowl, if we back that up with another great run this year and get in to the playoff we will be in a great position to close even better this year.(* = stars)
If you had to make a bet, who would you bet on to be the next OU commit?
I would hope it’s settle. But since i think we’re going to see a guy from Cali commit next. And for me I think ross would be the best bet.
So expect it by Monday for him to be committed to USC
Btw settle is still in town.
I’m hoping Jalin Barnett!
No ill will toward this young man for decommiting, doing what he feels he needs to do to make the best decision for himself and his family. Hope OU keeps recruiting him, but if the Sooners can get commitment from guys that really want to be here, that is what we need. If OU still has a spot for him by signing day, great. Good luck to the young man.
It’s always disappointing to lose a commit, but I really do respect the kid for the way he’s handling this. This could have really hurt if he waited until after his senior year, at least now Bedenbaugh has a chance to fill the spot. Sounds like that was one of the reasons he went ahead and talked with the staff.
Sounds like he comes from a good family.
Agreed. Josh is a class act. That’s why he belongs here at OU!
OU was his first choice for a reason. I read “decommitted” as it was described in the article- to get a better look around. In all seriousness I don’t think Louisville can say they have even the same to offer as OU does. But as pointed out this seems to revolve around his younger brother. That used car salesman of a coach they have at Louisville is an exposed liar and unscrupulous person- that will give him and his family something to consider.
Oh come on 1 kid and that’s what he is a kid does not define Oklahoma football
Josh reads alot…This place like many others
he will be at Oklahoma because we will arguably be the best defense in the country he wants some of that love
Strikkkker AA. Tapper AA. Sanchez AA
who did i forget…
Josh you fit OU perfectly
he will always be your little brother but he’ll never be a man unless you give him room to grow and wings to fly….I’ll be at the Championships…are you coming to play or are you going to watch us on TV
So why was Peyton Manning at OU? Saw a pic with him and Mayfield…
Saw an article that said he had a speaking engagemnt in Oklahoma and stopped by to do a little film study session with the QB’s afterward!
What is the TFB grading for Max? I saw one blog that had him as a sure D1 talent while others don’t even have him on their radar screen. Can’t blame Josh for trying to get his lil bro a scholly, but what is to keep a school from making Max an offer to get Josh’s services and then after 2015 signing day pull Max’s offer.
I really hate it when top tier Oklahoma talent don’t sign with OU. That said, I wish Josh the best during his Sr season and hopefully we see him in Norman in the crimson and cream.
Well, shi….
And now Du’Vonta Lampkin decommits. *sigh*
http://oklahoma.scout.com/2/1396282.html