Sooners Jr. Day #2 Updates (UPDATE Sun., 5:04 pm) By: The Brainiacs Posted on: March 7, 2015

This is going to be pretty informal. We’re just going to keep posting updates as we get them. Pictures, quotes, whatever we can get our hands on to pass along to you.

Here we go.

– UPDATE (Sat. 2:23 pm):

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– UPDATE (Sat. 3:19 pm):

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– UPDATE (Sat. 4:08 pm):

– UPDATE (Sat. 4:27 pm):

– UPDATE (Sat., 5:27 pm): There was a small group on hand today for the Sooners first of two Jr Days this weekend. One of the attendees was 2016 Fort Worth (TX) All Saints DT Mike Williams, who is one of the most sought after defensive lineman in the country. This visit was Williams’ first opportunity to meet new Sooners defensive line coach, Diron Reynolds. It was Jerry Montgomery who was handling Williams recruitment up until he left but after his visit today, it sounds like OU hired the right man to replace Montgomery according to the 6’4” & 300 pound prospect.

“That’s the man of the year right there,” Williams said about Reynolds. “He knows what he is talking about technical wise. He’s a guy that is going to be straight forward with you and isn’t going to lead you the wrong way.”

Williams, who came up with his mom and girlfriend, also got the chance to have some one-on-one time with head coach, Bob Stoops. The Sooners are recruiting him to play the 4i position, which Williams says he has played before and has the versatility to do so. According to Williams, the selling point from Stoops was early playing time with the lack of significant depth at the DE spot.

The main thing that stood out to him, however, was the extended time he spent with Reynolds, which was made possible by Williams being the only defensive line prospect in attendance today. After that visit, Williams says the Sooners are still high on his list. Sounds as though the visit couldn’t have gone any better, especially after the great first impression Reynolds appears to have made. – (Alex)

– UPDATE (Sat. 5:31 pm):

– UPDATE (Sat. 6:46 pm): 2016 WR Tren’Davian Dickson

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– UPDATE (Sun., 8:13 am): Okay, so the massive elephant in the room was a report last night (that, for the sake of full disclosure has since either (1) been put into the proper & necessary context and/or (2) been considerably backed off from) that Jean Delance was supposedly questioning his commitment to OU.

As a result, I wanted to follow up with Delance again just to see if anything had changed since the last time we spoke. A conversation in which he was adamant he was not wavering in his commitment in the slightest. He and I spoke at length last night and a good deal of the conversation focused on OU’s depth chart, the heart of what evidently led to the aforementioned report.

While the depth chart is something Delance is taking into consideration, as it would be for any recruit doing their homework for any school they are considering, he was clear that alone will not be the determining factor for any school, OU included.

“We (OU) have three tackles signed in the last two years, so I have to be realistic about that. I just want to have a fair shot at competing and Coach B says I will, and he’s a man of his word, so I know I can. I need to come in and put on 20-30 pounds of good weight. I’ve seen guys do it and I know I can, so I know I can compete. I just need to come in and learn the offensive schemes. There’s no question if I do those things, I can compete for a starting job,” Delance explained.

The other thing that solidified where OU stands with Delance was the the most important person you have to get on board, mom, thoroughly enjoying her time in Norman. In fact, Delance said she came away more sure of her son’s decision than ever. Having the chance to meet Bedenbaugh and Bob Stoops in-person made a massive impression on her. He did say, however, that when meeting with Coach Stoops, the first thing he was asked was if he was still committed to OU. To which he said, “I told him I’m committed. I’ve been recruiting other guys like Dwayne Haskins, Chris Owens and JP Urquidez to join me in Norman. I’ve been recruiting them hard.” He continued by saying, “I’ve been telling them that we need to make the best 2016 O-line class. I’m just going to believe in the coaches and recruit others to join me.”

If that doesn’t sell you on his commitment, this will. He couldn’t me more high on how OU puts linemen into to the NFL saying. “OU is definitely ‘O-line U,’ especially the offensive tackle positions. Both left and right tackles are headed to the league this year. So they produce them, no doubt.”

The simple reality of things is no matter how many times he reaffirms his commitment, other schools aren’t going to stop their pursuit of him. That’s just something you (and by you I mean both OU fans and the coaching staff) are going to have to deal with when you secure an early commitment from talented players.

Delance confirmed, yet again, that he’s solid. And perhaps even more importantly, mom has now officially signed off as well. The plan as of right now is for Delance to get back up to Norman for the Red/White game.

So whatever concerns you may have had coming into the weekend, it sounds as though things are as solid as they’ve ever been between Delance and OU. – (Brandon)

– UPDATE (Sun. 11:16 am):

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– UPDATE (Sun., 12:39 pm): One of the two LB visitors that were on campus yesterday was 2016 New Orleans (TX) Easton’s, Pernell Jefferson. For those that don’t know, Oklahoma was among his earliest offers. The 6’3” and 240-pound prospect headed to Norman with his mom and girlfriend and was there early enough that he was able to see the Sooners first spring practice. He said he liked how everyone was getting after it and not slacking while out on the field.

After the practice Jefferson got spend some one-on-one time with head coach, Bob Stoops. Jefferson said Stoops was telling him that he wants to make him a better player on the field, as well as a better person off of it. Stoops also talked about wanting Jefferson to get his degree for life after football.

The Sooners are recruiting Jefferson as an ILB, so Tim Kish has been handling his recruitment along with Stoops. The two have a good relationship according to Jefferson and got the chance to get to know each other more during the visit. Jefferson talked about liking Kish as a person, but the main thing that stood out to me was the comment he said Kish made that he really liked.

“He said I would have to come in and earn a starting spot. A lot of schools tell you that you can start immediately. I liked that he was saying I would have to earn it,” Jefferson said.

For those that aren’t aware, Jefferson is from the same school as 2015 LB signee, Arthur McGinnis. Jefferson said McGinnis has been in his ear about the positives of the Sooner program. The two have been playing football together for a long time and Jefferson said “it would be great” to continue playing together, however he said he can’t make his decision based just off his brother (McGinnis). That said, with the two of them being such close friends it definitely can’t be a bad thing for the Sooners.

It does sound like Jefferson will return to OU for an official visit and that the OU coaches made a strong impression on him while he was on campus. He did admit that the possibility of committing crossed his mind, but he wants to take his time with the decision to ensure he makes the best possible decision for he and his family. Overall though, a very positive visit for both player and coaching staff. – (Alex)

– UPDATE (Sun., 1:49 pm):

https://twitter.com/keyshawnnnn/status/574641115334234112

https://twitter.com/DarnayHolmes/status/574639704697495553

– UPDATE (Sun., 1:59 pm):

– UPDATE (Sun., 2:33 pm): Rodarius Williams, one of three Calvary Academy (Shreveport, LA) DBs from the same secondary holding OU offers, was in Norman yesterday for the first of OU’s two Jr. Day events. And needless to say, he came away impressed. So much so that he and his family are already making plans for a possible return trip for the Red/White game.

One of the things Rodarius mentioned stood out the most for him was defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks. The two had spoken over the phone previously, but having the chance to meet him in person was a great experience. Williams referred to Cooks as a  ‘cool dude’ and added, “he’s a man of his word and just really down to earth. You can tell he treats his players like they are his own kids. I really like that about him.” The coach Cooks recruiting effect has been on display since he was hired, but you can really tell its true impact when players meet him in person.

I also asked Rodarius what he thought of the Jr. Day event as a whole. He said the stadium, locker room, and the fact he got some one-on-one time with the head man Bob Stoops, himself. “He (Stoops) was real cool. His office and watch case was really tight. I also liked the basketball game. It was my first time going to a big time college game like that. It was real fun.”

If there was any negative to the trip, it was the fact Williams’ twin brother, Andreaz, was unable to make the trip to Norman yesterday. Unfortunately, he had a previously scheduled drivers ed course that forced him to miss the visit. But Rodarius said he can’t wait to bring him up, along with yet another return to Norman from fellow teammate Chanse Sylvie, in about a month for the spring game.

It will be interesting to see how all the numbers shake out, but it would appear as though Coach Cooks is setting himself up for a potential trio of talented defensive back teammates. – (Brandon)

– UPDATE (Sun., 2:50 pm):

– UPDATE (Sun., 3:30 pm):

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https://twitter.com/Larry19AllStars/status/574661570136924161

https://twitter.com/Chanseluvgod/status/574660640926666752

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– UPDATE Sun., 3:45 pm): We were caught off guard just a little bit ago when 2016 West Mesquite WR & LSU commit, Darius (Dee) Anderson, tweeted out a picture of himself and his mom at OU’s Jr Day from yesterday. Somehow we completely missed checking with him to see if he would be in attendance. Be that as it may, he made the trip up to Norman with his mom and a friend.

The 6’4” 190 pound prospect has been being recruited by the trio of Lincoln Riley, Cale Gundy & Dennis Simmons. We asked Anderson what he thought about Simmons with him being an outside receiver prospect, “he’s real cool and keeps it honest.” That’s one thing we continue to hear from recruits during these Jr. Days is the fact they like how straight forward the OU coaching staff has been.

Like almost every kid we’ve heard from so far, Anderson (and mom) also got some one-on-one time with Bob Stoops and seemed to enjoy the time they spent together talking. When I asked him what stood out about the trip after seeing all the facilities and everything OU had to offer, ‘those five Heisman trophies. They really stood out.”

Oddly enough during the visit, though, Anderson was of the mindset that he did not hold a Sooner offer. While watching the OU/KU basketball game, he was talking with Simmons who had asked what he thought the program. Anderson stated that he wasn’t really sure because he didn’t have an offer. Simmons then turned and asked Riley, “Dee has an OU offer doesn’t he?” and Riley responded with “yeah he does.” At that moment, Anderson said he was shocked to hear the news. (We are working to confirm independently this offer did happen yesterday but don’t have any reason to doubt it in the least.)

At this point Anderson was adamant and wanted me to make it absolutely clear he is 100% to LSU. He said the environment and campus in Baton Rouge just feels like home. He’s also close friends with LSU freshman QB, Justin McMillian out of Cedar Hill, TX and has a family friend down in the area as well.

Anderson did say it’s a possibility  he could return for the Red/White Spring Game, but wasn’t quite sure just yet. He did say that his mom really liked the visit as well, but he hasn’t sat down to really talk it over with her at this time. OU will have its work cut out for them to try and steal Anderson away from the Tigers, but the process of possibly doing so got off to a good start with that visit yesterday.

– UPDATE (Sun., 3:57 pm):

UPDATE (Sun., 4:18 pm):

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– UPDATE (Sun., 4:50 pm):

– UPDATE Sun., 5:04 pm):

https://twitter.com/tyrese_robinson/status/574690456019169280

 

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