Sooners Make The Cut For Top 2015 RB Damien Harris
Posted on: March 28, 2014
Image via MaxPreps
Damien Harris (Berea, KY) is generally regarded as the No. 1 running back in the Class of 2015 and on Friday he released a Top 10 via his Twitter account.
An impressive list as one would expect given Harris’ five-star status and immense talent. And while it’s still pretty early in the 2015 recruiting process, I’m not entirely sure how much stock I would put into Oklahoma being included here. From what I can gather, the focus from Harris — at least to this point — has been primarily on SEC schools with some Michigan, Ohio State, and USC. Harris was once committed to the Wolverines, but has since reopened his recruitment.
Obviously, it’s never a bad thing to make the Top 10 of what many consider to be the top running back in the country. However, I’m of the opinion that Oklahoma and Cale Gundy’s primary focus for a 2015 back centers on Soso Jamabo (Plano, TX – VIDEO) and Ronald Jones (McKinney, TX – VIDEO).
As many of you are aware, recruiting is about as fluid a process as there exists so anything can change between even today and tomorrow. We’ll see how things continue to play out between Harris, Coach Gundy, and the Sooners.
50 Comments
If he doesn’t want to come to “Running back U”, then we will find someone that does…..Boomer Sooner!!!!!
Well, to be fair, I’m not saying he doesn’t at this point. I’m just not convinced OU is truly in it at this point, but that’s my opinion. Obviously the kid isn’t putting out a Top 10 including a school he’s not even considering.
I know what you are sayin’….In the coaches we trust and I know they won’t waste there time but, There is so much talent out there. They will find someone who is excited about coming to Oklahoma (I am not saying that this kid isn’t excited about OU).
Are you thinking ou will only take one running back this year? I’ve seen some think Ronald jones is at the top and others like this today saying soso. Which I like both.
I bet one RB and another player like Dimitri Flowers since Rip is a senior.
I could see it being 1-and-1 like you say, if they get the right guy at RB (i.e. Jamabo or Jones). But also kind of have a feeling they’d take two RBs for the right two guys.
I think Harris looks good, But, Samaje Perine playing in Kentucky High School would have been a 5 star.
I can’t wait to see him in action. He;s built like a fullback but he’s shifty. got the NCAA ea sports video game move, and if that doesn’t work he just runs through em.. great work ethic, just works hard. really good asset imo.
Interesting. Do you think the coaches would switch focus from either Jamabo or Jones if they feel they have a real shot at Harris? Personally I hope they don’t.
I suppose it’s possible, but I think they’re relationship w/ the two TX backs is so strong right now they’ll remain the primary focus.
Any chance they land both texas backs? It sounds like that would be a log jam on the roster but look at Alabama they get a 4 or 5 star running back every year.
I can see why he is so highly rated.
I really like Jones, he reminds me of AD with his determination and power.
Concerning Soso, I have been on his recruiting band wagon for a while, but heard something a few weeks ago that was troubling. I know a fella who has a son that attends Plano West and plays hockey. They are both big sports fans and go to the West football games and they said Soso only played in about half of their games last year, that he was always getting injured. That was information I had not heard before and will be something I will watch for with interest this coming season.
Keep us posted on what you find out. I don’t think they could go wrong with either guy but injuries are concerning. I think soso is a little more complete but jones as speed for days and we may need a guy who can get the edge and be gone since we haven’t gotten a chance to see our current guys get any substantial time.
I certainly will. What video I’ve seen of Jamabo I really like. I have seen tall RBs over the years have ankle problems, but have no idea what kind of injuries he may have dealt with.
As for the potential our current group has, I like them all…a lot.
Yeah they definitely have potential and I really think they will all pan out but brooks in smith are likely not going to see a meaningful down. Hopefully they don’t have an issue with that like a few years ago when 3 running backs left.
I think jones and soso are a push really I wouldn’t be disappointed if we only landed one of them. 3rd on my wish list is the gray kid from texas. I would always favor texas guys over a guy from a state not well known for its football.
I wouldn’t be disappointed with those two choices, either.
Would kind of like to see Harris play for Coach Stoops at UK if not OU.
Most people think of basketball when they hear Kentucky, not football. I always think of Knob Creek when I hear Kentucky.
http://youtu.be/cSee_VJqTaE
I like the Soso kid. His frame and potential size is incredible. East Texas he was hurt some this past year but I dont think that’s indicative that Soso is injury prone. He stayed healthy to the tune of 225 carries his Soph year. Having said that the Jones kid is as good of an inside zone RB as Ive seen. He does a great job of reading/surfing the zone and cuts off the COA of center as good as any HS kid ive seen in a while. As much Inside zone as Heup runs Jones would be a good fit.
Not down on Soso at all, was just a little concerned when I got that
info from someone who follows Plano West sports. I know from his videos
what he is capable of and he is still very young.
I really liked
Jones video, his “want to” is obvious and he plays much bigger than his
size(6’0″-185). The way he slashes through the line I agree with you he
would be a good fit. Now that I think about he also reminds me of Tony
Dorsett.
It didnt sound like you were down on him but maybe concerned about being injury prone. He was a beast as a Soph ( 225 carries). He was hurt some last year only 120 carries.
I also have no idea what kind of O-line he had and I’m sure after his Soph year he was zeroed in on by their opponents.
That’s for sure. He would look good in crimson.
Yeah buddy!
No doubt Jones is a STUD. One thing to consider with these three backs when watching the cut ups. Soso and Jones competiton they played against is elite compared to Harris. Not a knock on Harris, he is obviously a good back. But Soso and Jones make it look easy against elite competiton.
Yessir, those two districts are loaded. Have no clue what kind of compo Harris plays against, but he sure put them in his mirror.
When u see the goal posts with two bases instead the one you knowthe kids competition isn’t the best.
No fault of the kid though.
But Jones is the one I want OU to land.
To back up your concerns about health, sounds like he has a persistent shoulder issue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1SF6toHzRA
This is the video that is already in the article.
Yeah Tex, Jones seems to have something that not every good running back has. Some things are just gifts.
Good Film, but I liked RJ2’s better. Jones, I hope, is at the Top of Gundy’s list.
Jamabo’s video had was a good watch. The beginning was pretty creative.
SECitis remains I guess.
If I had to pick one, I’m all over Jones. I love his inside game, great vision, power, and his breakaway speed is just a bonus you get with him.
Your pick would be a good’un.
Something about the combination you mentioned just jump off the screen at me. I mentioned to Sonny that he reminded me of a young Tony Dorsett, they were about the same size too. I love those fast, slashing inside runners that can cut on a blade of grass.
http://youtu.be/RWqeb9xY3RU
Dorsett was one of my all time favorites(even though I’ve never been a huge Dallas fan). He kept you on the edge of your seat because you never knew when he was going to explode through the line and go for a long one.
TD was an amazing RB. The NFL ran me off twenty years ago, but until then I was a big Cowboys fan.
With the little I can tell about Jones, he really does remind me of TD.
With all these kids and all their obvious football skills, I will trust in the coaches judgment about what kind of kid they are and eligibility. OU seems to have great locker room chemistry and would like to see that continue.
These coaches really do a good job of finding the type kid they need for the system, gotta giv’em props for that. They will land the best possible one they can get their hands on. I actually watched a lot of Dallas back when Tom was the coach, had a lot of respect for that man. Since that time, I just watch players and could care less about which team wins or loses.
I loved the NFL back in those days.
Unlike you, I could not care less now.
/see what i did
Here is another video of Jones made in early November 13.
http://youtu.be/xfNoRhie_UY
I swear the more film I see of that kid, the more I want to see him in the crimson. I know he has to be playing better competition than the Kentucky kid. He has a knack for slipping through tight spaces and you can’t teach that, it is a God given talent.
Me too, I love this guy. Making cuts in the hole like that at full speed isn’t done by every runner.
Sure hope Coach Gundy is on him and gets him in for a visit so he can see how good that Crimson and Cream looks on him.
The district Jones plays in is tough, with the Wylie schools, Dennison and Sherman.
yeah, Dorsett always looked great… except that one day he ran into the ’75 Sooner defense…
Pitbull-this might interest you. I think you are the one with a garage full of weights??? Anyway I just read an article in the Tulsa World that OU president Boren requested purchase orders for new weights.
$303,385.00 to Power Lift of Jefferson, Iowa
73,838.00 to Push Pedal Pull of OKC
67,922.00 to Legend Fitness of Knoxville, Tn.
____________
$445,145.00 total
It must have been a slow day only about a half million!
Guess they better start building that new weight room so there’s a place to put that new equipment.:-)
Wow does he ever make it look easy! Their offense is simple; It’s pitch to Damien left, pitch to Damien right, and let Damien field the kick lol! Runs well in the mud too! Amazing change of direction and always the fastest man on the field..
Soso! I like the way he covers the ball and waits for a hole to open and explodes through! The guy looks like he would be powerful with good speed. He is my choice by far!
Wow
What class of football does he play in?
I just looked up the football class that Harris plays in his state of Kentucky. The school has a student population of 388 kids 9th thru 12th. In football they play in class A ball, which in Kentucky is the SMALLEST. So, if we must compare, and we must……my vote would to be go after Jones 1st.
Thanks for the info. I asked because it looked like 1a or 2a to me based on the teams in the video. Harris reminds me of OU’s Clay as he’s very patient and he hits the right holes with a burst of speed. He’s faster than Clay but he’d have a huge learning curve in Div 1. Speed would be ‘night and ‘different than the kind of talent he plays now.