Sooners Pick Up Commitment From 2016 JUCO Offensive Lineman
Posted on: November 30, 2015
And just like that, OU fans got themselves another #boom and the Sooners current roll in recruiting continues.
I am honored to announce that I have committed to the University of Oklahoma. Boomer Soooner! #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/NC6SEdo1fh
— Bennett Powers (@BigBen_72) November 30, 2015
6’5″ 315-pound junior college offensive lineman Bennett Powers announced his commitment via his Twitter account earlier Monday afternoon. And Powers is a bit unique for a JUCO prospect in that he’s actually a 4-for-3 guy, rather than having a typical two years of eligibility. At this point it’s believed Powers will play on the inside, at guard or center, for the Sooners.
Powers, like now fellow & recent OU commit Abdul Adams, was another one of those in attendance two weeks ago for the TCU game. And it’s becoming more and more clear that both the work the OU staff put into that weekend and the results this team have achieved on the field have propelled this run of commitments.
If the Sooners can continue to take care of business on the field, don’t expect things to slow down off it (i.e. on the recruiting trail) any time soon.
157 Comments
First
Soccer sucks!
Guess who?
BOOMER
BOOM
That kid at center or guard would be unbelievable. He takes his opponent completely out of the game.
January enrollee?
Could be, he’s a Dec. grad.
Rivals has him listed as a Dec grad so I’m guessing so
Offensive lineman named Powers. Great name for OL. “Kid really Powers the DL back there Kirk, yep Chris and that’s why OU is back to back National Champs”
Good one Dave
Nice!! Always like see Denzel’s ‘BOOM’.
think he’ll be an immediate contributor next year, or is he a redshirt candidate and get him to start for 3 years?
Bit of a surprise. Anyone else heard this name? But in BedenBOOM we trust.
Tell u how important this kid is when he is Bob’s first stop on the first day
Any idea on how many more commits we can take?
Quick question re eligibility? For the 2018 graduating OL, is it Brown, Frison, Paul, Dalton, Samia, Mittermier and now Powers, if he doesn’t redshirt?
I would bet we have a transfer or 2
that may very well happen. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know squat about the oline recruiting, but it does seem that those names are all highly thought of. I will be watching to see how this plays out.
Or it could mean we just love this kid at center, now from what I was told and now have seen, when bill was hired he was told to find players and a lot of them, No more gaps in our classes, we have always had gaps going back to 2000
I’m real curious about Paul & Dalton. Don’t hear about them so much.
Dalton has played so frim time to time in important game time, think there is a good chance he is our starting guard opposite of Alvarez is they don’t move Alvarez to center
I would be surprised if we landed any more freshman OL this year. That is quite a logjam to navigate. However, likely puts us in a better position for 2017 kids.
This was 2015 class that is RSing except for Dru. A good year along with the class above us will create a lot of depth.
OT Bobby Evans 6-5/270
OT/G Cody Ford 6-6/310
OT Dru Samia 6-6/300
OT/G *Jamal Danley 6-5/310
Danly is a jr, so adding another guard would be nice
Did Danley RS this year?
No has played a few snaps
Atleast I don’t think so, cause I have seen in a few games at the end
Getting a little full for 2016. Talked about it earlier if OU only can take 18 in the 2016 class. Add Kelly, Moore (or E.J. Price), Daniels, Southall, Bledsoe, Velus Jones, – that’s it. Of the above 6 probably 2-3 are silent commits. Good position to be in.
Bet we take 2 or 3 more freshman, Price, Moore and Valentin if we r still on him
Ha! This is where I point to my prior comment about not knowing squat about Oline recruiting.
Lol, I have a little time at work
Yes u would add Powers to that class if he doesn’t play
Guy’s a bit of a beast. Will get leaner and meaner under Schmitty but he definitely has the right attitude to play OL. Blocks to the whistle. A 6-5, 300 plus Center would really add punch to next years line.
Darlington 6-3 286
Powers 6-5 315
WOW
Kid looks like he could be brothers with parker boudreax.
Brock lesnar jr.
Great footwork for a big man
Funny, I was thinking he needed some work on that. Especially his kick-slide.
I guess we should keep our day jobs 🙂
LOL! Yeah, no soup for me. One year!
If he is a center like I hope so we can keep alverez where he is, he is more then quick enough, love this pick up, not sure y, just love that it shows how much we wanted a guy on the first day of visits and we get him now
Yeah, I hope he’s a center too.
Nice pickup by B, good size. Looks to be a little raw but but we have the best training staff. I like his aggressiveness.
What’s not to like?
Can we sign his Dad too. I see where he gets his size.
Who’s his dad?
Austin
I caught what you did there… 🙂
Coach B?
lol
Baker be in the oline room now … all ‘gotta get extension like this’.
ah, my old HS…
Welcome! Just love those BIG guy Booms. Work’em out. Coach’em up. Send’em to the League – kids should notice that OU has a PASS protection game AND a RUN game.
Just what the NFL is looking for – the Power Spread brings a power run game with an air raid passing attack. Praying that LR does not go full air raid on us when #32 and #25 go to the next level.
From a numbers aspect, does OU still have room for Tramonda Moore and EJ Price?
We’ll make room. 🙂
If only …. hope OU needs to make the room…
Don’t forget Valentin
I read somewhere that things had cooled with him I am hopeful that is not the case as that kid can play too!
To answer your question to the best of my knowledge! We could take 19 at the start of the recruiting cycle, that was before Ford and Hansen both left, that would free up 2 spots and I am sure the coaching staff is sure 1-2 more will leave thus allowing us in my guess 21-23 spots to fill. If Moore and Price decide they want to join they will make room even if there really isn’t! You make room for those type of players! No need to worry and looks like we are getting the kids that want to be a Sooner. I don’t want kids that where in love with a school cause “OU fell off” and then all of a sudden wait they are still good. Give me the kids with that #OUDNA!
Didn’t we give a scholly to Baxter and a kicker at some point. I have read between 18 and 22 for 2016. Being at 12 we may be basically done by our Bowl game. Another note with 40 bowls it is assured that they will be at least 2 teams short (for the mandatory 6 game winners). Could be as many as 5 teams short depending on games this weekend. Might as well go to every team gets a bowl game (not really).
Well even if that is the case I am pretty sure it was 19 and I am sure coaches plan on losing one or two so I still say 21 is the magic number with anything more pushing it. I’d like the final 8-9 spot to be filled out by, Kelly, Daniels, Southall, Jones, Burton, Bledsoe, Juarez, Cleveland, and Price. The last 3 may be a stretch but if not them, give me Valetine, Moore, and Elysee Mbem-Bosse would be nice
I’d like Eboh
Well if it’s between Eboh or Burton I am taking Burton, my 2 cents kids is a player and can play a lot of spots for us!
I’m just curious too see if Trevor Knight transfers after this season. Bake N Shake will be back and hopefully he gets that extra year of eligibility back from that Taco Tech debacle. I would like too see Trevor get a shot somewhere else for one year.
I do not believe that TK will be going anywhere, now that is only a gut feeling nothing I know for sure but, I say he is a Sooner to stay and think he loves the team too much. If he was to transfer IDK where it would be other then a D2 or D3 school as he wouldn’t start at any D1 school maybe KU or a terrible school like that!
TK will be at OU when he quits playing football
Maybe go play baseball?
Bob Przybylo
@BPrzybylo
“This is my home. This is where I’m supposed to be.” #Sooners QB Trevor Knight
12:28 PM – 30 Nov 2015
Bennett is a big pickup for the Sooners. At 6’5″ 315, he’ll bump down inside most likely to guard. It’s clear that Bedenbaugh is building depth and quality depth for years to come. With Darlington graduating, I anticipate either Alex Dalton or Jonathan Alvarez at Center. You’re also graduating Kasitati, and it’s clear that Bedenbaugh wants to send a message to the young interior guys that competition will rule the day. Guys like Alex Dalton, Cody Ford, Joseph Paul, Dominique Hearne as well as Erick Wren and Jamal Danley and now Bennett Powers will be competing for the two interior spots you have up front. With Alvarez, Samia and Brown settling in to have really solid years this year, the o line shouldn’t have a huge drop off if any one at all. With 8 returning starters and Mixon and Perine among them, the run game should be big for us while we’re breaking in a couple of new receivers.
Even though I can’t see you…I know you’re smiling right now.
Oh yes sir!
So, if we take any more OL recruits this year, it only makes sense they’d be OT to help with depth there, right? EJ, Little, or Moore?
Yeah, probably filled up on interior guys.
R we still working on any more OG like Valentin maybe, cause I bet we take Price and Moore if they come
I’ve also seen many think Samia moves to OG if Frison comes back strong. That’s could be a tricky situation.
I would love to hear JY’s take on this young man. I have a hard time judging OL talent, but from his film I am really impressed. Looks strong, mean and reasonably quick. Def gaurd/center type would be my guess. I’d really like an expert opinion to help me understand how good this young man might potentially be. With the HUGE fish out there all indicating interest in OU, I wonder where Powers falls in line?
Ask and you shall receive lol
that was impossibly fast 😉
As far as the type of player that he is, he’s definitely the heavy handed powerful mauler that Bedenbaugh loves inside. Always generates movement and knocks people back off of the line of scrimmage with ease. Built like a smaller player, he’s someone who will help Oklahoma be extremely physical within a spread scheme. Really like him as a player.
Thanks JY! Def looks to have that home-grown country strength I know BB loves.
ps I’m so impressed with how far this line has come over the season. really hope we can keep BB around for another few years
Old Double B is smiling and saying bring on the steaks. Brown, Julious, Alvarez, Danley, Samia, Frison, Ford, Dalton, Paul, Evans, Daimler, Wren, Hearne, Mittermier, Roberson, Powers and he’s not finished yet.
Lets go get Tramonda and EJ Price and call it a day.
That would be sweet.
Rather have Castillo / Frederick & Price…….
JY, I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. How’s the man-cub?
I would like to see you analysis of the growth of the OL and what their continued development will mean in the future.
Yeah I’m gonna get something out tomorrow or the next day. Man-Cub is good. 17 months old tomorrow and ornery as all get out!
Heavy hands? Hows his punch.
That’s what I mean. He has a really good punch, and can use his hands as a weapon. He really does well controlling people.
I was talking about the man cub. Sounds like he has a good punch and he controls you & momma real good. Some weapon.
yes sir. he’s a handful!
with his little finger, no doubt !
Thanks, JY. It’s been fun watching the OL mature. Even though they’re young, they seem poised, minus the bonehead penalties and all. I suspect Darlington and Kasitati were multi-tasking earlier in the season. Hard to take care of your responsibilities and watch out for the pups too.
With your eye for lineman, can you tell us where he projects with that sort of orneriness in the class 2034?
But seriously thanks for the notes man!
Would love to, I think he’ll be more of a linebacker type. He’s a little brick right now. He’s tough as a boot and loves to run, so we’ll see!
JY…My guy coming through with the analysis! Keepin’ the TFB peoples happy!
Thanks a lot, brother.
We get a WR or RB and get crickets from you. Big Ugly commits and you hop all over it. 🙂
got to bud!
I have a feeling that Both Mr Perine and Mr Mixon are happy with this commit.
VERY HAPPY
Thanks for your insight. I enjoy hearing your view of the trench guys and their play.
Will Oklahoma call it a wrap on Offense Line recruiting or will they go for one more guy?
I’d like to see OU get EJ Price then add one more from a list of Castillo, Frederick, Gutwald……
This is one of those bruisers that renews my appreciation of Bill Bedenbaugh. I dig his approach to finding interior linemen. He has a knack for finding big, physical guys inside that love to hit.
Being from Wichita, know a little about the player. Kid who didn’t get much attention out of high school. Plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder because of it. Used it to motivate himself when he could have cried about it. Good pick up for the sooners.
Is he a mid year enrolle?
I’m hearing summer enrollee, but I’m not 100% certain.
Welcome aboard, young man!
Outstanding! The line play seems to get better every week. The future looks bright!
Boom
BIG old Boom! Like seeing Denzel so often. Welcome, Mr. Powers! Good name.
I agree, it is a great name! It is very similar to mine.
..
Well done.
That was a POWERful BOOM!
Pretty cool seeing him block for Justice Hansen in those Butler County highlights! Glad Justice had a great year there as well. Has anyone heard if Hansen is transferring back to a D1 yet?
Welcome to OU, Mr. Powers.
Hey, there, EasTex.
I just got home. I ran into some OU friends of mine. They said they were traveling during the game and they were forced to listen to the game by radio. They got the OSU broadcast out of Stillwater. He said it was rather comical. I’m going to have to see if I can find the broadcast.
I can only imagine.
Don’t bother with it, I’m still basking in the enjoyment of the entire season the Sooners have given.
I’ve decided to watch the carnage this weekend, see how it plays out.
At this point, the only way OU doesn’t play in Dallas(Arlington) is if they are ranked at #4 and I don’t see that happening.
I’ll watch some of the action this weekend, but it sure is going to be a long 31 days.
Yeah, I’d like to see them keep playing. But healing and resting up is not a bad thing. I just hope they don’t lose their edge. Win the first one and the second one is a cinch.
Pretty cool seeing him block for #11 Justice Hansen in his other HUDL in game highlights at Butler CC. Powers looks aggressive and has good feet. Justice had a good year at Butler also, after he missed the first couple of games due to injury. Has anyone heard where Justice is going? I know he is finishing BCC at semester. I sure hope KSU doesn’t snag him but I do wish him the best.
Pretty cool seeing him block for #11 Justice Hansen in his other HUDL in game highlights at Butler CC. Powers looks aggressive and has good feet. Justice had a good year at Butler also, after he missed the first couple of games due to injury. Has anyone heard where Justice is going? I know he is finishing BCC at semester. I sure hope KSU doesn’t snag him but I do wish him the best.
Anyone know where Ben Powers went to HS?
Kapaun
Kansas?
East side of Wichita. Catholic school.
Anyone know where Ben Powers went to HS?
Well according to Duvanta, we will continue to win this bad boy while he’s here!
https://twitter.com/deechilllin/status/671347350309236736
I heard he lost 38 pounds this fall , Schmitty workouts are intense.
Lampkin is one of those guys that probably could have played this season if the rest of the line hadn’t gone Hulk on the conference.
Props to Diron Reynolds; he has taken some guys with a world of potential and turned them into beasts. Just look at what he did with Charles Tapper. Dr. Frankenstein couldn’t have created a scarier monster.
It leaves me salivating at what Reynolds can do with someone like Lampkin.
Despite all the talk about the new offensive scheme, moving Mike to the booth, etc. the biggest change Bob seems to have made is to get guys who can recruit and prepare linemen. Given what he had to work with this year, Bedenbaugh has done a heck of a job putting together a solid Oline.
Agree 100% with that. I would add that my fears about the D-line coaching change have been blunted. In fact, I will say that I think some of the improvement and resurgence of the D-line play goes directly to the coaching job.
I think Monty was a great recruiter, but may have been a little weak on teaching technique. Reynolds seems to be a great technician and we will see about his recruiting ability. Definitely not as flashy as Monty.
Never understood those worried about Reynolds. Maybe on the recruiting side a bit, but the dude was known as a great teacher, and had experience as Stanford. I was excited about him from day 1.
Looks like he has some nasty to him. Just kept hitting guys. I likey.
Do you know if he will he be here in Jan. or May?
I bet Ashton Julius gets the LG position next year. I bet they want to team Ashton and Brown together on one side.
Powers maybe at RG or C with Alvarez taking the other spot. The bigger question then becomes does Frison move inside because Samia has done so well at RT, I dont see him moving out of there
I have watched Samia these last several games and the dude is impressive and even more so when you co solder hepis youth. I can’t help,but think the Texass game would have been different had he gotten the start over St Johns
Just curious because of who we will have on campus ect. Where do you guys think he could be placed? Guard or Center? I feel like we have some decent depth and good youth at Tackle but losing Darlington and Kasitati
From the article: “At this point it’s believed Powers will play on the inside, at guard or center, for the Sooners.”
I would guess guard over center. I’m thinking Alvarez will get the first shot at center. He was pretty damn effective when he took over for Darlington while he nursed a knee injury early in the season.
http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2015-11-30/mike-smith-says-texas-tech-coaches-were-told-ouster-season-started#.Vlztl8ou2ta
This is kinda sad…how motivated can someone be to coach if you’re told at the beginning of the season that you’re done at the end of the year?
Is it me, or does he look like a mini xlarge Mike Stoops?
Great pickup. Our OL depth might be a major strength next year. Imagine Riley using a hockey line change every few minutes, and wearing down the opposition.
Now we need a difference maker or two at WR and new DEs to step up. That should do it.
Sounds like one of those kids that jut get lost in the shuffle of recruiting as opposed to being academically ineligible to pass the clearing house. So, he went the JUCO route and after only one year showed enough to get a bigger offer.
I could very well be putting myself on an island when I say this but, I can’t help but feel like Reynolds is an upgrade from Monty in terms of a teacher. Monty couldn’t be touched when it came to recruiting but Reynolds has completely turned this D-line around. I’m thoroughly impressed with his performance and I believe that will make up for whatever he lacks in recruiting. When you can physically show a player what you can do in terms of development, there’s no need for the quick pitch sales gimmicks. His product simply speaks for itself.
I am with you on this. If you watch the d line play they have gotten so much more explosive with the arm extension and keeping the blockers off them. They are better hand fighters too and manipulate offensive lineman better- stringing them out then trashing them to get to the ball. Since so many rotate in they get something on film, get coached up,the next week and get to apply it again. He has the first and second rotations playing at a high level, they seem to have bought into his techniques and the whole squad is feeding off each other. It’s an interesting dynamic- I would pay to go listen in on their film review and practices. I suspect there may not be a drop off in recruiting.
Honestly, cannot agree yet. These are kids Montgomery recruited. He deserves a lot of credit since these kids were considered elite prior to Reynolds being hired. He probably deserves credit for putting the right kids in the right spot though.
I’m with you.
It looks like he was a solid hire. The line is playing the best it has in some time. I’ll wait until after signing day to bemoan his recruiting skills. I think there’s BIG pickups coming.
Spot on! The technique and development of this group is the best on the team. He is building future NFL draft picks and the kids that we are in on only makes me think it will get better. Trajectory: upward and steep. Diron needs to get paid!
What other offers did he have?