Open Post | Wednesday, Jan. 27th (UPDATE 4:18 pm)

Brandon Bowen: As much as Brandon Bowen enjoyed his OU visit, it sounds like he and the Sooners have actually parted ways. I get the sense OU felt like while Bowen and his family really did enjoy their trip to Norman, it didn’t feel as though a flip was likely to happen. Also the Sooners are in a much better position overall with Mark Jackson (Cibolo, TX), and the word is that some of Oklahoma’s competitors were attempting to use the Bowen visit against them with Jackson. – (Brandon)

Zach Farrar: Last night the Sooners did an in-home visit with recent 2016 WR offer and Mississippi State commit, Zach Farrar.

Following the visit, Farrar confirmed to TFB that he will be taking an official visit to Oklahoma this coming weekend. Farrar has referred to OU as his “dream school” and the Sooners have been recruiting him for quite a while (even though the offer was made just recently).

Farrar is also pretty adamant about wanting a chance to play baseball in college, so that will likely be the lone potential sticking point. It sounds like the Sooners are going to want him to focus on football, for at least his first year. – (Brandon)

Chris Black: Speaking of wide receivers, there had been some chatter on the interwebs about OU possibly adding another grad-transfer WR in Alabama’s Chris Black. So we reached out to Black to see if there was any interest or communication between him and OU. Black said there has not been any talk with OU, and let me know he will be deciding between two or three schools, namely South Carolina, Florida and Missouri. – (Brandon)

– Caleb Kelly: This one is going to come down to the end. It will be a fight between Oklahoma and Notre Dame. The bottom line here is do not be surprised if he picks the Sooners or the Irish. – (Super K)

Jauan Williams: Last week, 2016 OT Jauan Williams confirmed he will be taking an official visit to Oklahoma this weekend. We’ve checked with him to see if the visit is still on but have not yet heard back. We asked around and we were told it’s something the Sooners are still working on setting up, so hopefully we will be able to get some confirmation one way or another in the next day or two. Bob Stoops planned visiting Williams earlier this week, but with the weather issues in that part of the country the visit did not happen. – (Super K)

Chris Daniels: Daniels’ father let me know the Texas in-home visit last night went as well as it could have. I’ve been maintaining over the past week that I feel like Texas has a slight lead here, but the in-home visits will ultimately decide things.

OU’s Diron Reynolds is expected to do his in-home visit with Daniels tonight. And while Texas seems to be sitting in a good spot with Daniels after their in-home visit, we should hopefully know more about where OU stands after they make their pitch tonight.

I will note that Oklahoma’s lack of a presence in Texas, in terms of commits, certainly isn’t helping their cause right now. Daniels has a number of Texas commits/leans that are encouraging him to stay closer to home, meanwhile the Sooners don’t have those same voices supporting their cause.

Having said that, the Daniels have an immense amount of respect for Coach Reynolds and his ability to develop talent. – (Super K)

– UPDATE (4:18 pm): Bob Stoops with 2016 DE/LB Maxs Tupai & family.

801 Comments

  • Tim Wilson says:

    First!!!

  • Kelly Gurbcock says:

    the kelly news sucks, the daniels news sucks, hope we do something to close these guys.

  • Lincoln Hawk says:

    K, Any news on T. Moore? Haven’t heard much lately. Thanks!

  • Brian says:

    Dang – Not much good news to share, huh?

  • Sooner Scoop says:

    I need a Boom or else I’m going postal worker on some Krispy Kreme doughnuts laying around the office.

  • Joe says:

    Funny that Daniels lives closer to Norman than Austin…

  • gtq says:

    For what it is worth, all the 247 folks, even the ND guy, seem to think Kelly is going to OU.

    • Furr-Sure says:

      This is why I’m cautiously optimistic.

      But I won’t be shocked if he chooses ND. He seems like a mature kid, and mature 18 year olds think long-term (as they should). That’s prob why ND is gaining so much ground

      • Fear The Magic says:

        Im not optimistic on Kelly right now. While 247 might have a broader spectrum on recruits Id be surprised if they have the inside sources that TFB does on OUs specific recruits.

        • Martin says:

          The late in-home w/the ND HC is what would make me worry. ND loves to tout their prestige and Rudy posters. He’s a big part of this class if he signs w/OU.

        • Furr-Sure says:

          If ND insiders are picking Kelly to OU (like Tom Loy did recently and Wiltfong, who’s usually spot on), then I’m cautiously optimistic.

          Don’t forget Kelly has a great relationship with the OU coaches and several players.

          Those factors are why I’m cautiously optimistic, but won’t be surprised if he goes to South Bend.

          • Fear The Magic says:

            Kelly has even a bigger relationship with his mom and if shes all ND we’re in trouble.

    • Soonerboyz says:

      50/50 – means tossup. So K is saying
      that there’s no reason for all of us to be disappointed I guess.

  • metzker says:

    BOOMERRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Maranatha846 says:

    Sounds like K is trying to prepare all of us for Kelly to go north and Daniels to stay south.

    • Kelly Gurbcock says:

      Good thing K started that UTerus board so he could have something positive to post every now and then.

    • Soonerboyz says:

      YEP…NSD might become National Sobbing Day if we strike out on some of the remaining prospects we had our hopes up for.

    • Super K says:

      Definitely prepping you for the possibility. Not sure how it’s going to play out but it wouldn’t surprise me at all

  • Reuben63 says:

    Whats the news with Max Tupai ? that kid with Jackson over DeBerry . would be freaking nuts!!! Tupai is a very versatile kid we need kids like him who can play all of the place.

  • soonerborn says:

    OU has 16 guys coming back on the Dline. I can see why Daniels would want to look elsewhere. OU has a lot of returning WR’s as well. Maybe another reason top rated WR’s are looking elsewhere. DB’s and LB’s were the biggest needs. They have addressed those spots.

    • Eddie and Amber says:

      I think most recruits see the WR position as a huge opportunity. Westbrook is the only player coming back with consistent production. All the other positions are up for grabs. Numbers returning doesn’t always equate to limited opportunities.

      As for why we’re not getting more WR talent in … bigger problem than a positional issue, but I don’t think #s of WRs returning is reason.

  • Corey says:

    It’s crazy that a month ago OU looked like they were in prime position to have Kelly, Daniels and Velus join the program. Now there’s a good chance we won’t get any of them. If you want to win, come to Norman… share the word!

  • Hooknladder says:

    I hear all kinds of different things- there is no solid evidence that Kelly is leaning toward ND. We have had some good contact w/ Stephon Taylor DT out of La. We have also stayed in the thick of it w/ Daniels. I doubt seriously if “Texas recruits” have a lot of influence with other kids from Texas who live hundreds of miles away. We have several top Texas players verbaled and on our Roster. Usually best friends don’t even insist on going to the same schools and usually make their own decisions.

  • Fear The Magic says:

    I know that 2017 recruiting has started out well but for the life of me I can’t believe that OUs amazing run to the playoffs seems to have not helped 2016 recruiting one IOTA.
    Its amazing the amount of negative hits we seem to be taking.

    • Kelly Gurbcock says:

      that 2017 class could totally fall apart as well.

    • soonerthunder says:

      I think OU recruiting is going very, very well. NSD hasn’t come yet. seems to me we are in on a bunch of great prospects and hvae great ones committed.

  • Furr-Sure says:

    Hope Tupai & Mark Jackson have a great OV this weekend. Both look like difference makers

  • KatyOUdad says:

    Having a crappy day at work and I take a peek on here and it’s like your best friend is giving you the heads up that your girlfriend is going to break up with you. Can Feb 3rd get here any Sooner.

    • Fear The Magic says:

      I know exactly what you mean lol

    • soonerthunder says:

      even though your best friend may have gotten the information from you worst enemy’s best friend, who had a friend speak “directly” to her about your worst enemy and heard her say nice things about your worst enemy, but said nice things about you, too, when someone asked her about you. You won’t know for sure on some girls until the day of the dance.

  • Sooner Scoop says:

    I’ve thought about not checking this website until signing day to keep my mind right. But like crack, I come and get my fix. I’m so weak. ???

    • soonerthunder says:

      a problem many have but won’t admit (including myself). It really would be best if some didn’t follow recruiting, though. I don’t think they have the personality for recruiting nor do they understand it.

  • Fear The Magic says:

    I vote that we pay extra to TFB if they only give us good news.

  • CS says:

    Wish my best for Kelly, the kid has been nothing but class. Will love to get him in the crimson and cream, but even w/o he has a big FAN in me rooting for him to do great.

    • Lane Gilstrap says:

      If he’s not with us then he’s against us IMO

      • Slim Sooner says:

        He’s. Not. Gone. Yet. Until he doesn’t send in a letter next Wednesday NOBODY knows anything for sure. Maybe not even the kid himself.

    • BigJoeBrown says:

      I may be disappointed if he choses ND but not feel like a total loss, because he never committed. But that being said, come one Kelly! BOOMER SOONER!

  • Johnny Greenlantern Otis says:

    just gotta hope for the best baffles me kids want to play for texas with the track record of suckiness these past few years

  • Lane Gilstrap says:

    To me if we don’t reel in Caleb Kelly there’s a serious problem. He’s been all OU since day 1. Michigan was our biggest competition and now it’s ND. Not that those are bad programs because they aren’t. We have 3 spots open at LB and every single analyst had us picked all along. Not to mention we made the playoff. If he picks ND somebody needs their butt fired.

    • Fear The Magic says:

      Negative recruiting the competition can be even more effective than positive recruiting your own program. I have no doubt that ND is all over that.

    • Mr. Jones says:

      Maybe I’m off here but I can’t see how taking two juco LB’s helps any with this cause.

    • BoomerDave says:

      Somebody needs to be fired! Really?? Geez! That’s plain stupid! If he picks ND, it won’t be through any fault of our coach, it won’t be because of negative recruiting by ND or anything else within our control. It will be because oh his mama. She has stated publicly that ND is her dream school for Caleb. She was blown away by their academics and has made it very clear that Notre Dame is where she wants Caleb to go.

    • L'Carpetron Dookmarriot says:

      Football is played by more than one person. It’s OK. OU is not going into oblivion if we don’t get Caleb.

      And if a player decides to play somewhere else than OU, then that is not necessarily indicative of a serious problem on the part of the OU coaches.

      If I had any modicum of talent back in the day, then I would not have ever played for the following programs, regardless of the national titles they claim to have won:

      Notre Dame
      Texas
      Alabama (“Gumps”)
      Auburn (“Barn”)
      Florida
      Miami
      Savannah St.

    • SamSooner says:

      I disagree.

      Most people can’t control what their kids do. We can’t let this consume us. Last year most people were acting suicidal. We don’t have any idea what tactics other programs are using to get kids, i.e., Michigan. I don’t know a thing about Coach Kelly. But my instincts tells me he will do anything to win.

      So, no one needs to lose their job if we don’t get Caleb Kelly. We need to find the next kid. Plain and simple.

      Some people tend focus on the current class and forget that OU got that must-have kid from the year before. Why can’t some people remain calm and be patient?

      • metzker says:

        Sam its very difficult,but i will try.

      • Bob Edwards says:

        I’m not going to call for someone to be fired every time a seventeen year old makes what I consider a bad decision. If I did I have a couple of kids that would have caused everyone on the planet to be out of a job.

      • soonerthunder says:

        My instincts don’t tell me that kelly will do anything to win. I think he’s a tremendous coach who probably does things cleanly. I think ND tries to run a clean program, although I dislike them sports-wise next to UT. I get the same feeling about strong. I think he’s one to run a clean program. same with stoops

    • Jpsooner23 says:

      Wow, if that’s the case then every coaching staff in the country would have had to fire someone for this. You think he would be the first high end player who was considered a lock most of the year to flip at the end? C’mon now.

      • Furr-Sure says:

        I agree. Caleb Kelly should do what’s best for him and his family. That doesn’t mean coaches should be fired.

        People need to step off the ledge and let the process play out. OU still has an in-home I believe in the next couple days

    • SoonerSpock says:

      If we lose Caleb and someone needs to be fired I would suggest you resign as a fan instead.

      • Lane Gilstrap says:

        It doesn’t have to be anybody in particular just the first person that crossed my path would suffice. Me not being a fan will never happen so there’s that.

    • soonerthunder says:

      woah there, buddy, slow down. it’s that time of year when fans get a little edgy.

  • Jake says:

    I’ve “HEARD” it mentioned that Caleb Kelly’s Mom is a Notre Dame lean.

    Caleb is supposed to have OU tattooed in his heart…

    Thus, in the wise word’s of Henry Winkler, I say to Mr. Kelly:

  • JJSoona says:

    No stress here. We’ll do well regardless due to our staff and talent level already here. There have been so many years when we make a late push. How you finish….how you finish.

  • @DallasSooner says:

    Rivals has us at #30 right now and Baylor at #10. Would you have taken that bet 10 years ago?

  • SoonerMagic76 says:

    Close out strong boys

  • Johnny Greenlantern Otis says:

    i need to just log off until nsd i feel like im bout to lose it

    • metzker says:

      I hope you are correct.

    • L'Carpetron Dookmarriot says:

      Bless you and how much you’ve had to drink already this morning.

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    • cush creekmont says:

      Thanks KJ for the being POSITIVE – this OP was getting to be a dowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwner.

    • Jake says:

      Always thought you were a guy, KJ. Thanks for clearing that up for us…

    • Doobie74OU says:

      I love the positive attitude and I share the optimistic attitude as well but is this just pumping sunshine into a downer day or are you hearing good things behind the scenes from your trusted sources!

    • Rick says:

      There is nothing better than a young female OU fan doin’ the happy dance.

      • metzker says:

        A shorter skirt would have been more appropriate .

        • Rick says:

          I’m much too (ahem, ahem, cough, cough) MATURE to be wishing for a fabric challenged skirt, but I always, always, always loved to watch the cheerleaders!

          • Golfluvr13 says:

            You may be old, but you aren’t dead! It’s always good to look at the menu, as long as you don’t order. If you order, your wife may do things to you that the doctors will have no clue how to fix.

          • Rick says:

            “Wife MAY”….., that woman is beautiful, kind hearted, loved and blessed person, BUT, she packs heat, practices at the range faithfully, and does not take crap from the man in her life. That is a certainty!

          • Golfluvr13 says:

            She sounds just like my wife. LOL! First time I took my wife to the range she was a bit nervous and put the first five shots dead on in the groin of the target. I told her she was doing just fine. Now she is a great shot! Has a tight grouping on a pistol from about 25 yards. Really impressive for someone who did not start shooting until she was above 40.

          • DrewChubbs says:

            Being unattached, I can say that I’ve always found women who are proficient with firearms to be very attractive. I don’t have a type, or any specific characteristics that are a must for a potential life mate, other than she should love guns as much as I do.

          • KJ1123 says:

            You should check out Dan Bilzerians instagram then. 🙂

          • DrewChubbs says:

            I will do that in a bit (I have to act like im working a bit). I am always game to see girls with guns!

          • Golfluvr13 says:

            My wife hated it when I would take the boys hunting. She did not want the guns in the house. Yadda yadda yadda. Here Dad had guns, but she was never around them. Once I brought her to the farm and started teaching her about them, she became interested. Now she loves to go shoot.

          • DrewChubbs says:

            I know they can be taught…some of ’em anyway. But I figure if I start out with one that already is conditioned, I can put more energy into othrr aspects.

          • Golfluvr13 says:

            Very true. My wife and I were very good friends before we started dating, then I when I wanted to take the boys hunting she thought oh great a girls weekend for her and our daughter. Then it was like, you are buying them shot guns? Then our youngest got on to a team at school that shot skeet for competition and he was really good. I think then she realized that it was all ok. Her Dad used to tell her to lighten up too.

          • Stephen Dale says:

            yeah, my ex enjoyed it as well–as long as I was down range changing targets.

          • jimintexas says:

            My wife is a better shot with her 9MM that I am. But, worse than that, we are about the same with my 45. She has no problems reminding me.

          • metzker says:

            Lmao nice Rick.

          • MoJoOkie says:

            Yep, mine always lays out a better grouping than I do. Helps keep me in line.

  • BigJoeBrown says:

    I still can’t get past Austin Kendall, he was what looking to be reshirted, 4 guys in front of him with experience in the program. With Mayfield, Knight and Thomas, let alone with McGunnis as a walk on. and BAM…..a month later. He looks like he is going up on line to #2 spot unless, Walk on Conner McGunnis really shows he has potential.

    • Fear The Magic says:

      We’re already RB U LB U OL U we might as well add Walk on U to our resume.

    • MoJoOkie says:

      Happens in the pros, not surprised it happens in college. People leave and then say “oops”.

      • Indy_sooner says:

        Yup. Look no further than THE Landry Jones, *almost* starting QB for the Steelers

        • Defend Colfax says:

          If Landry could’ve shown more I guarantee the Steelers would’ve sat Rothlisberger in favor. He had an opportunity, I just don’t think he’s an NFL caliber #1. I always thought he could do what Phillip Rivers does, but maybe not. Since he will probably end up a FA I wonder if he will continue to play or take his payday and be thankful to have played injury free.

          • cush creekmont says:

            Like the kid – fine Sooner too. I just never thought he was in that very top required to be NFL good.

          • Indy_sooner says:

            Agree. I was hoping he’d get a chance to shine but hey, dude has proved many wrong already by:

            a. Getting drafted
            b. Starting for the Steelers, impressive in its own right
            c. Winning games for the Steelers

          • Defend Colfax says:

            He showed me something.

    • SoonerfanTU says:

      I wonder if they’ll give Kendall mop-up time early, or hope they don’t need him, keep the redshirt, and play a walk-on for mop-up?

      That would be dangerous not getting your #2 any game experience. Probably depends how good Kendall looks in preseason compared to the walk-ons. My guess is he’ll play, and compete with Murray the following year.

      • MoJoOkie says:

        Might be hard to get Kendall in early due to the OOC schedule. But having said that, I agree with getting him some experience before throwing him in the fire.

      • cush creekmont says:

        He could play and still RS the next year if need be.

        • j l says:

          When asked to RS after playing a year, that usually leads to kids leaving.

          Same thing happened with a WVU rb a couple years back. He said he would RS, then bailed.

        • SoonerfanTU says:

          The only problem with that is in 2017 either he or Murray will likely be the starter, and the other the backup, with the recruit we have that year (forgetting his name) being a redshirt candidate.

          Interesting to see how it all plays out. If he is ready to play, play him. If he isn’t, I hope we can find a way to redshirt him at some point.

      • Fear The Magic says:

        My guess is that Cody Thomas will be back for fall practice

      • Rick says:

        Your are thinking exactly right, but looking at the early schedule next year, WHERE is the game you would suppose that would offer “garbage time”. That’s a loaded OOC schedule, then we open conference with TCU. If he doesn’t get lots of reps in the spring and summer, he won’t have an opportunity other than ULM early in the season (we all hope Baker stays healthy).

      • Spitting Bull says:

        I was wondering the same thing.

  • Eric Hutton says:

    For what it’s worth- 247 has Jauan Williams OV on the 29th to UGA so not good for us? I’ve been following him on Twitter and it looks like it will be FSU LSU or UGA. Hopefully he will be convinced to come visit OU! This guy is special.

  • Doobie74OU says:

    The thing that is keeping me optimistic about Kelly and OU is Chip Viney still being a part of this program! He has had a great relationship with those Cali kids and especially Kelly. Coach Viney gave us a tweet a couple days ago that said #justwaitonit and I’m and choosing to believe that is in regards to Kelly(and Mayden too! LOL!)

    • Rick says:

      I think Kelly and Darlington made some kind of mental connection on his visit. I was reading into the exchanges knowing Darlington was a cerebral dude, that he and Kelly had clicked on a mental level. I don’t know if he’s going to sign next week with us or not, but knowing there is a good relationship between Kelly and players and coaches gives us as good a chance as any. We have some very good young talented LB’s on campus now. If he does sign, WOW. If he doesn’t, we still have very good talent here.

  • OUBmrSnr72 says:

    Wellllllll…….that sucked!

    Only thing missing is Cobb is a Baylor lean. I want to feel good about Kelly until I think about Brian Kelly vs. Kish in final in-home visits. Big advantage ND! Sure wish Bob had thought this one through a little better.

  • SamSooner says:

    It seems like we have to deal with “Mamas who don’t like us” or “parents who have ties to OU but don’t care where their kids go to school”.

    • Bob Edwards says:

      That’s just part of the problem. These kids have everyone in their ear trying to influence them. Yet most of them don’t have the maturity to listen to everyone and then make their own decision nor the wisdom to make a good decision once they’ve listened. I know a lot of fifty year olds that can’t do that and yet everyone expects these seventeen year olds to do it.

      • SamSooner says:

        Exactly. I can’t concern myself with that. Rarely are these kids given all of the information they need. “I commit to (fill in the blank.” Then, “I de-commit from (fill in the blank). That should tell us everything we need to know about how informed these kids are.

        Bryce Youngquist, Chanse Sylvie and Austin Kendall are kids who know what they want. Youngquist is so committed that he canceled his visits because he knew he might get persuaded. But he gave his word and stuck to it.

        Stoops understands commitment: he gave his word to Corey Wilson and the TE out of Florida with the back problem. Those kids didn’t play a down for OU because their careers ended in tragedy. Stoops promised them an education and they got it. Stoops did this when he needed that scholarship but he kept them on scholarship anyhow.

        But kids don’t know about this. But they do know about how Saban, Harbaugh, Dan Mullens some other coaches have pulled kids scholarships weeks leading up to NSD. But that’s where they want to go.

        I don’t understand.

    • Doobie74OU says:

      I think momma’s like the “idea” of Notre Dame. A school so closely associated with the church makes them believe there kid will be safer and maybe they don’t “party” as much, but it is all a myth. College kids are college kids wherever they go. ND and OU both have their share of knuckleheads but the vast majority of the student body is good kids on most every campus. To date myself a bit, as the Fresh Prince says “Parents just don’t understand!”

      • SamSooner says:

        Doobie, I’ve been to that campus. That campus is beautiful and you don’t want a kid you’re recruiting to go there.

        People talk about OU’s location. There’s nothing in South Bend. I was not impressed with Notre Dame once I left the campus.

        • Scott says:

          I loved TCU campus and USC campus , but their was something special about OU.

          • Golfluvr13 says:

            I have a friend that played DIII basketball that is a huge KU fan call me a couple of years ago from the OU campus. He told me that he took my advice and took his family on a tour of the campus and that I was right. It was the most beautiful campus he had ever seen.

    • soonerthunder says:

      hey, we’ve had and still have many who come to OU b/c their parents, friends, etc. like OU too, so it works our way as just as it does against us. this is normal

      • SamSooner says:

        That was my weak attempt at humor. I know it balances out.

        • soonerthunder says:

          sorry, I’m slow–almost normal IQ but missed it by .01%. I’ve done the same thing many times and people don’t get the humor. This last week is not a week fans can appreciate humor. They are on edge over things they shouldn’t be on edge about.

  • Malicong says:

    Doing some peaking around and stumbled upon a trend that can put recruiting in perspective. As mentioned above, OU doesn’t have a ton of Texas recruits on board this year. I took a gander at the top Texas prospects and saw that another school is conspicuously missing, TEXAS. Of the current Texas top 30, they currently have 2 commits. None in the top 10. They will end up with a few that flip and a couple that are currently uncommitted, don’t get me wrong, but all the momentum it appears Texas hasn’t come to fruition yet. Even if it does, they are not exactly getting all the top in state guys. Even more surprising, neither is A&M. They also only have 2 top 30 Texas guys.
    That lead me to examine other states to see if it is just a Texas thing or a national trend. The results were a bit mixed but there are some surprises (all numbers are based on 247 composite ranking)
    Georgia – state is loaded this year with 25 4* and up players. UGA is having a good recruiting cycle but not with the top players in their own state. They only have 1 current top 10 in-state player committed. Georgia Tech doesn’t have a single top 40 in state player committed and just 1 in the top 50.
    Florida – FSU only has 1 top 10 player committed. Florida is doing a little better, but all the 5* players are leaving the state.
    Virginia – every top 10 player is leaving the state and every 4* and 5* player.
    North Carolina – 14 of the top 15 (all 4* and up) are leaving the state despite NC winning their side of the ACC. OU has recruited better in North Carolina than the home schools and so far than they did in Texas.
    Illinois – none of the top 20 are committed in state with Swenson being the only 4* and up considering staying.
    Missouri – weak year in the state but even then only 3 of the top 20 are committed to UM.
    Tennessee – UT has so far only been able to keep 3 of the top 20 in state and only 2 top 10. This include 8 4* and up players.
    On the flip side there were some states with the home schools doing well. To no surprise LSU, Alabama, Ohio St, and USC are all doing well with local kids. It also helps that those states are loaded with talent most years (Alabama is unusually thin this year). Every year this close to NSD I always hear the words of Pat Jones in the back of my head, the best programs always have a lot talent close by. It fluctuates from year to year (For a great example of that just look at the state of Alabama this year. A few top end guys and not much after that. By result, Alabama is well outside the top 5 and Auburn is outside the top 10) but it is typically true. Some schools have more of an advantage with loaded states nearby.
    I don’t have the energy to try to and analyze it any further that that, but I do think this is telling. The state of Oklahoma is typically thin on elite talent. Texas is being picked over by so many schools it is hard to be consistent in that state, even for UT and ATM. OU has to recruit nationally to stay elite if they can’t get back in with the Texas kids.

    Edit: Sorry for such a long post. Didn’t realize it would be this long as I was typing it.

    • soonerthunder says:

      good post. well done. thanks

    • Fear The Magic says:

      Sorry my computer is acting funny and accidentally deleted your post. Could you please re-type it? Thanks in advance.

    • Maverick says:

      So what you’re saying is that airplanes and the internet have made the world a lot smaller and kids aren’t as scared to leave home and actually are more prone to WANT to leave? Makes sense to me.

    • SamSooner says:

      Thanks for the time you put into this. That’s a lot of work.
      There are kids somewhere. If Bama is reaching into Texas, then there’s something in their back yard they’re leaving.

      Has anyone noticed that Brian Kelly and Butch Jones both coached at Cincinnati. If they were as good at recruiting as they appear to be, why couldn’t they get it done at UC?

      Now, both are at schools with big time boosters. That makes me curious.

      I’m not saying it’s not happening at OU but I don’t believe it is. If it is, I can bet you Bob doesn’t know about it. Stoops learned a lesson with Bomar and boosters. I can bet you he’s told boosters to stay away if this is what they’re going to do.

    • Golfluvr13 says:

      Thanks for putting so much effort into that. That is really telling. Kids may want to get out away from mom and dad’s control. Kids may see a greener grass elsewhere. I think it is cyclical and this is just one of those years.

    • Tipman says:

      I agree with you assessment on top prospects from OK
      No one in the top 100 for 2016 and 2017 but 3 in 2018 (according to 247)
      Walker, Thomson and Proctor

  • Jpsooner23 says:

    Quick, someone with time on their hands please make a list of:
    -Who is on our board
    -How many spots we have open
    Then everyone can relax when they realize we are in good with many more than we have spots for. The sky ain’t falling. We’ve known about Kelly, Cobb, Daniels for awhile. Why does everyone keep acting like it new news?

    • SoonerfanTU says:

      Nobody knows how many spots, b/c I guarantee the coaches know of a couple of guys leaving that we don’t yet know about.

      • Jpsooner23 says:

        Understand, but we know its not going to be a very high number. add a couple to the couple open and its still only 4 I believe.

        • SoonerfanTU says:

          I’d be pretty surprised if we don’t take more than 4. That may include losing somebody like Cobb too, but I’d expect 5-6 new names from where we sit today.

          • Jpsooner23 says:

            I can buy that for sure. and I would say we are in decent shape with enough high end guys to fill out that many.

  • KJ1123 says:

    Bowen I hear can jump….that why he wants to go to Baylor. So he can be like that other DE they had that can jump.
    https://twitter.com/springtownman/status/665764089730232320

  • Malicong says:

    I don’t usually disagree with K on recruiting, but I don’t think it is nearly as 50/50 as he is making it out to be. From everything I have read (national guys, Notre Dame writers, others in the “know”) Kelly is still a heavy OU lean. It is always a possibility that he goes to ND of course, but it still looks really good for OU IMO.

  • DCinAZ says:

    Texas nativism; that’s what is killing our recruiting in the state. “Stay home and play in Texas. You’re a Texan.”

    • Maverick says:

      Nah. More kids than ever leave the state. If anything, it’s because we aren’t trying as hard in Texas. Plain and simple.

  • HoustonChiver says:

    I will actually be a bit heartbroken if we don’t land Caleb Kelly.

  • Fear The Magic says:

    On a side note. Who else thinks we should be seeking therapy for our OU football obsession?

  • SoonerSpock says:

    We need a list of January 29 official visits as soon as is possible with their arrival only 2 days away for many!!!

  • Fear The Magic says:

    Ok Im leaving my desk at work. When I come back in 20 minutes there better be some positive OU news or there will be Hell to pay!

  • SoonerBredCD says:

    Your information concerning Kelly is inconsistent with most other reports, even the reports coming from the 247 beat writer, Tom Loy. According to his report following Brian Kelly’s in-home visit, he didn’t believe that Notre Dame will have done enough to get him away from OU. I really respect the work you guys do, and the information you provide. I’m just wondering why your report is so different than almost every other report that I’ve read.

    • Jpsooner23 says:

      All he said was “don’t be surprised”. If he picks ND, I for one would not be surprised. That doesn’t mean I think he will pick them, just that if his mom is a big fan of ND there is a chance he could pick them.

  • SamSooner says:

    Checking out, folks. I’ll come back later. This room just got heavy. I need to put this out of my mind. I’ll see you all later today.

  • bommer85 says:

    top 12 class or BUST. just bring in needed talent. would love to have kelly but if he wants to go to ND then make sure we get jackson and/or tupai. if moore won’t qualify, get williams. if cobb wants to go to baylor, get mayden. if daniels wants to go to texas, get southall…. bring in farrar and Jacobs to finish off the class

  • SoonerinLondon says:

    If the kids we get aren’t good enough when they arrive, we’ll make them good enough.

  • sooner8 says:

    I think Mav. is correct for some reason or another the OU coaching staff has chosen to not make the state of Texas an emphasis in recruiting.Having only 1 player from the top 100 in Texas is embarrassing to say the least..Go Sooners!!!

    • MoJoOkie says:

      How is it embarrassing if they have decided to recruit elsewhere? Logic lost me.

      • sooner8 says:

        You really don’t need to understand it,Texas is a hotbed for athletes that OU has always recruited well.It just seems that Stoops & company have chosen for one reason or another,to put more resources nationwide,the last 3-4 years.

        • MoJoOkie says:

          Maybe that where the players that fit their board were (outside of saxet in that particular year).

        • Rick says:

          There is exponentially more competetion in Texsa recruiting than there used to be. Basically 3 schools recruited Texsa kids. Now, the whole fricking country invades Texsa annually. A lot of time can be wasted putting major emphasis on kids with borderline interest in OU. It may not be to OUr advantage to place too much effort there anymore. We probably will always be somewhat successful recruiting there, but it can as i see it being a waste of time, money and effort in some cases.

    • Doobie74OU says:

      It probably should be noted that most of our new coaches didn’t have a lot of Texas connections coming into this job. Riley has some older connections that I am sure he is using but Reynolds(who hadn’t recruited very much ever), Cooks, & Simmons are coming from places that are not so focused on Texas. One of the reasons Gundy is so good is he knows all the coaches and has been recruiting the area for almost 2 decades. A lot of the kids even know him from the times he recruited older guys at their school. It may take the new guys a couple of years to catch their stride in those areas but I think that will get it figured out sooner than later.

  • j l says:

    Did anyone see caleb kelly’s tweet the other night about enjoying messing with people’s heads?

    I really hope that means hes just having some fun, and will come to the good guys. That one has got me very nervous.

  • KJ1123 says:

    ND’s top Cali recruit since 2002:
    1. QB Jimmy Clausen (2007)

    • Golfluvr13 says:

      Look how great he turned out to be. I still remember that gawdy picture he took with all those rings on his fingers.

    • cush creekmont says:

      Yes – poster boy for Mr. 5-star. All those trophies he just “had to get.” Where does he do second-rate commentary now?

  • Jeff says:

    If Kelly goes to the fighting catholics heads need to roll!

  • Ron Burgandy says:

    We can’t/will not have another year like 2011, #14 ranking, 17 signers, only 7 contributed ? ?

  • Soonerfan24 says:

    ESPN’s draft profile for Shep:

    Character issues, possibility to develop into a 4th or 5th WR and mid-to-late Day 3 draftee…

  • Rick says:

    I thought maybe some of you might be interested in this article. It explains the star system and opened my eyes.

    This is an excerpt. http://247sports.com/Article/247Rating-Explanation-81574

    110 – 101 = Franchise Player. One of the best players to come along in years, if not decades. Odds of having a player in this category every year is slim. This prospect has “can’t miss” talent.

    100 – 98 = Five-star prospect. One of the top 30 players in the nation. This player has excellent pro-potential and should emerge as one of the best in the country before the end of his career. There will be 32 prospects ranked in this range in every football class to mirror the first round of the NFL Draft.

    97 – 90 = Four-star prospect. One of the top 300 players in the nation. This prospect will be an impact-player for his college team. He is an All-American candidate who is projected to play professionally.

    89 – 80 = Three-star prospect. One of the top 10% players in the nation. This player will develop into a reliable starter for his college team and is among the best players in his region of the country. Many three-stars have significant pro potential.

    79 – below = Two-star prospect. This player makes up the bulk of Division I rosters. He may have little pro-potential, but is likely to become a role player for his respective school.

    • Tipman says:

      what did it open your eyes to?

    • metzker says:

      Tells me theirs thousands of kids out there no one knows about.

      • Bob Edwards says:

        There are slightly more than a million HS football players in the US. That means there are roughly a quarter million graduating each year. If you spend 15 minutes evaluating each player that means you’ll be finished in 30 years if you work full time.

        • Golfluvr13 says:

          I think my 8th grade football coach told us that 1% of us would play most of the time in HS and then 1% of them would play in college (in any division). Then he said 1/2 of 1% of those in college would play in the NFL. He was trying to teach us the value of getting an education.

        • metzker says:

          Right on Bob.

        • soonerthunder says:

          except that the SR class is always the smallest class by far. where my son went to school, in 7th grade there were 90 kids who went out for football. Many who played in grade school didn’t go out in 7th. In 8th, there were about 60. In 9th, about 40. In 10th, when 3 middle schools combined into one hs, there were about 60 sophs, then 40 or so JRs, and about 20 SRs. 6A school in OKC. Not all the SRs start, but they usually play. sometimes a soph or jr will start; it’s rare. That’s kind of how I guess who OU will recruit: If a kid starts as a soph, he’s OU/FSU/ etc., good. Obviously, this isn’t alwasy the case, but it happens a lot, if a kid starts at one of these 6A schools as a soph, watch him, b/c he might be OU good. I’m guessing the other 6A schools are pretty much like it with one exception (u.s. grant).

          • Bob Edwards says:

            Except that you are wrong on the numbers. According to the NCAA of the 1,086,627 HS football players in 2013, 310,465 were seniors.

            https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Probability-of-going-pro-methodology_Update2013.pdf

          • soonerthunder says:

            interesting. I am not looking at that large a sampling, just the HSs I’ve experienced. SR classes are always the smallest from my experience. Of the guys college bound, very few go to D1 schools, and of the ones who go to D1 schools, very few of those OU would want, so it’s hard to be that elite athlete for sure.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            I would think that bigger schools would have fewer SR’s. At a big school you have a big enough pool that talent determines whether you play or not. Guys recognize they don’t have the talent and drop out.
            At smaller schools you are more likely to get to play because there just aren’t as many bodies and having some experience probably means you get to play as a senior so more incentive to stick around.

          • soonerthunder says:

            yeah, that’s what I would think too. And, then when you add to that that not many kids are taken from the smaller schools =pretty hard to play in college. A lot of those kids on smaller schools would never play a down at a bigger school and many would give up before they ever became SRs like happens at the big schools. It’d be interesting to me to see where these kids are coming from (6A schools) versus all the rest. Many good athletes transfer to Jenks, etc to get seen by OU, etc.

          • soonerthunder says:

            For example, how many DL or OLmen at a small school could play at a large school. Not many usually. Sometimes the lines are pretty small. That’s why, without going to the camps and letting the coaches see you there, it’d be hard to be a OL/DL from a small school. So you are 280 and maul a 180 slow lineman? So what?–is what OU, etc say

          • soonerthunder says:

            That’s exactly right. At a large school you see you don’t have the talent and are wasting a lot of time standing around at practices and games. At a small school you should get better each year which means you get to play HS football someday probably.

          • soonerthunder says:

            I’ve seen Crescent HS have to play 140 lb FR at Noseguard b/c they need the bodies.

    • MoJoOkie says:

      Interesting. Thanks Rick.

    • Bob Edwards says:

      So no matter how good or bad a class is there are always the same number of five stars. So five star isn’t a measure of how good they are but where they rank them relative to other players. Given that they are comparing QB’s to OT’s can’t see how it means much of anything.

    • cush creekmont says:

      I don’t recall any players rated OVER 100. Do they have an archive list of the 5 or 10 guys rated over 100 in the last 30 years? If so, was it done contemporaneously or massaged a little after-the-fact?

    • Rick says:

      One thing that opened my eyes when I read this is the classes are compared to all the other players in that particular year. If you are one one of the top 30 players this year, you get a 5*, you may have been a 3* or a 4* the year before if you had been in an earlier or later class, but this year you are a top 30 player, so you get a 5* rating. The other classification that was eye opening for me was the 3* catagory, “One of the top 10%”. That makes a 3* pretty desireable. I have watched posters scoff when we take a 3*, and I could have been guilty of that myself at times. In my opinion this brings us full circle on how OUr coaches evaluate and coach up the talent is the most important key to a successful team.

      • Bob Edwards says:

        A lot of times the difference between a 3* and a 4* isn’t talent. Two guys with the same talent can have vastly different coaches in HS. A 4* can be near the peak relative to his talent where a 3* can be near the bottom and the difference is that the 4* had a better HS coach who got the most out of him.

        • Rick says:

          You are right, also, much is made of the summer camps (sponsored by the paid sites). A stellar player from a smaller school, that doesn’t have the exposure of the camps is not going to get the higher grades. Good evaluators are necessary to pick these kids up.

          • cush creekmont says:

            Agree Rick – camps (at least some) and recruiting services are often very, very tight.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            And good evaluators are not what a lot of the recruiting sites are about. Think about it, if you were really a guy who could spot can’t miss talent wouldn’t you be working as a coach or a scout or something. If you had a nearly 100% rate of success on predicting talent at the next level someone will pay you large piles of cash.

    • Mustvid says:

      I have no problem the star rating as general way to understand talent level except I don’t believe the rating should include pro potential. Difficult to project one level much less two. As a college football fan, I only care about what they are going to do at my favorite school. Besides, play on the field will ultimately provide insight to next level only. Just my opinion.

  • Ron Burgandy says:

    I guess I’m scratchin’ my arse that only about 1/2 of signees ever make it. Anywhere. After all the eyeballs on them.

  • JrsySooner says:

    As far as Kelly is concerned let me see go to Notre Dame and get caught up in the middle of a bunch of so-so guys or go to Oklahoma start as a freshman possible national championship team yeah that takes a lot of thought process… Oklahoma needs to start playing the Murray card that guy is just sick he is Cam Newton all over again

  • Stephen Dale says:

    in other words, Daniels, Cobbs, Kelly, Williams, Swenson are likely to sign elsewhere so brace for it ! the other sites are preparing OU fans as well.. I ‘ve bought an extra 1/5 of scotch for next Wednesday…….better stock up before the shelves are empty.

  • Bob Edwards says:

    An interesting article to provide some perspective in these last days before NSD.

    https://twitter.com/Jake_Trotter/status/692417317611786240

  • Soonerboyz says:

    Who do we blame?
    Let’s all agree on dissisng ONE thing when NSD comes and the possibility of the Sooner Nation being in meltdown mode.

  • Wilson says:

    Stopped trying to guess whats under tree. I will wait to open presents on second Christmas. lol…

  • RBear says:

    You guys/gals with Twitter need to remedy this:

    https://twitter.com/NoLimitJay4/status/692346544838803460

  • 47 Straight OU Know says:

    OK, Just got back from lunch. The channel they had on to witch i prefer to leave nameless, said that as of right now LSU has the #1 overall class for 2016 as of this moment. Somebody explain how that happens. And yes i know what conference they are in. Very, very frustrating.

    • SoonerGoneEast says:

      They’ve got great in state talent and the ESPN media telling every kid in the United States that the SEC is where it’s at.

    • Malicong says:

      A bunch of local talent. Louisiana has nearly the same amount of 4* and up at DT as Texas and 22 4* players overall with no other in state school to compete with. They are also getting east Texas kids that were going to aTm.

    • OUBmrSnr72 says:

      They produce NFL 1st round talent and OU has had one first round pick in the last 5 years. Kids aren’t going to LSU for the education and LSU does a great job of coaching them up and getting them paid. OU produces 3rd-7th rounders and FA pickups.

    • Jpsooner23 says:

      That state is LOADED with talent this year and there is only one program in that state that kids grow up wanting to be in. Only Monroe and Shreveport see heavy poaching as they are further north and very close to border states.

      Their staff is full of recruiting specialists as well.

      Basically it’s Texas talent this year with kids that are like Oklahoma kids and know only one program owns the state and they don’t even have a little brother to deal with.

      BTW, La is loaded next year too. I like seeing us trying to get a presence there.

  • SoonerGoneEast says:

    Everyone is sitting around hoping for a boom, but I’d just settle for an update that doesn’t suck.

  • Furr-Sure says:

    Would OU have room to sign both Tupai and Mark Jackson?

    • 47 Straight OU Know says:

      Ahhh yes, SoonerStats.com. Put that bit of info in the Term Paper.

    • KatyOUdad says:

      Why doesn’t OU tout the 16 NCAA Recognized titles instead of the AP 7 titles. ‘Bama makes up two more in their mind and counts 16 now.

  • ⚡️Electric Sooner⚡️ says:

    Absolutely! But I don’t like are chances on getting both of them.

  • RBear says:

    Food for thought:

    Why didn’t OU make Derrick Strait wear #47 ?

  • Mark_in_VA says:

    I am seriously jonesing for an update.

  • TSFFKAG says:

    This will be a great signing day. All those recruited by OU, who want to go to OU, will make it official.

  • kt-raida says:

    Not feeling too good about caleb kelly, hope it wears off.

  • Dusty D Anderson says:

    I’m trying to remember when the last time Stoops reeled in a top 5 recruiting class, anyone know for sure? I’m thinking it was prior to A&M’s departure for the SEC. <— That, coupled with the rise of Baylor, the addition of TCU and the recent success of Houston, is making it really difficult for OU to pull top talent from Texas. That has a direct impact on OU's recruiting, meaning the staff has to be really good salesmen to pull talent from other parts of the country.

    • TSFFKAG says:

      The coaching changes at OU doesn’t always help. More often than not, coaches “come through the OU program” on their way to becoming HCs somewhere else. A downside of sort, of success. E.g., Jimmy Johnson, Larry Lacewell and Mac Brown

      • Dusty D Anderson says:

        I think the Big XII as a whole is lagging behind in recruiting, with the exception of Baylor. I can’t believe it’s come to that, Baylor has the top ranked recruiting class in the Big XII!

        • Kelly Gurbcock says:

          looks like UTerus might end up right behind them though.

          • Dusty D Anderson says:

            People say recruiting rankings don’t matter, that we made the playoff without garnering a top 10 class. Sure, OU made the playoff…then got outclassed on a national stage again, by a team with far more talent than OU had. Just look back at recent national champions, and look at how much top flight talent they had on their roster. So yes, recruiting rankings do matter.

          • Brad Warren says:

            Outclassed, far more talent…dude, you are drunk.

          • Dusty D Anderson says:

            Not at all. Clemson was far more talented on both sides of the ball than OU, that’s why they won by 20. While I expect OU to be improved along both the offensive, and defensive lines this year, they overachieved this past season for the most part. I’m just being real here. Go back and look at the talent level Clemson had just on the defensive side of the ball, and compare it to OU.

          • Rob says:

            OU was ahead at half time. Perine and Mixon both go down with injuries early in the second half. Walker being out on Defense hurt as well. And we were still fighting. OU was not that far away. Don’t act like they got destroyed.

          • Matt says:

            Walker and Jordan Evans both out and then Frank Shannon comes in and plays on an injured knee and Matt Dimon plays at 240 after dealing with an illness over the break.

          • Bob Bender says:

            Just keep on putting down the Oklahoma football team.

          • Dusty D Anderson says:

            That’s not my intention, sorry you’re taking it that way. I’m just stating the obvious, they were the more talented football team on Dec 31st. And my original comment was about how long it had been since OU had a top 10 recruiting class.

          • Clint Lenard says:

            Let’s go back down to that little place called reality for a second. I feel your pain, but being ‘outclassed’ is a bit of a stretch. OU was still in the game until they fell asleep on that fake punt. Also keep in mind that missing your best DT is going to hurt up front. Bad coaching decisions lost the game, not the talent.

          • Lane Gilstrap says:

            Just to be fair they lost their best defensive player in one of the first few series and still got tons of pressure on Baker.

          • Clint Lenard says:

            Yep, they did. Against Freshmen tackles that Venables said they would be targeting.

    • Daryl says:

      I don’t care about the ranking of the class until the results on the field are not good. Example we just went to the final 4 and what was this class ranked? (Striker 3 star, Dom I think 2 or 3 star, sanchez was maybe a 4 star, Charles Walker 3 star and so on) Even in Stoops early years he had some 10-15 rated classes but they were still going to National Championship games so who cares. Baylor has risen to great heights and so has OSU with classes not even in the top 20. We need coaches who can sell but even more so who can evaluate and coach them up regardless of their rank.

      • Kelly Gurbcock says:

        but the winners have had top 10 classes. the team that looked much better physically in the Orange Bowl has had top 10 classes.

        • TSFFKAG says:

          OU had a first year OC, DL coach, DB coach, receivers coach, RB coach, TE coach, MS in press box, and a thin OL… Yet they were conference champs last year. That’s encouraging.

          • Kelly Gurbcock says:

            I got you man, it is encouraging. however, I don’t put stock in the Big 12-2 competition as a whole. The bowl games proved that much. LosuR was 2nd in this conference and got Ned Beatty’d in front of the nation.

          • OohRah Mama says:

            Some fans don’t much care about Big 12 titles until we don’t win one. Then those fans run around yelling like their hair is on fire.

            Not necessarily you, I mean…but some fans.

        • Matt says:

          Clemson’s recruiting was remarkably similar to OU until last year. That was the only class that Clemson was ahead of OU that I saw on 247 or Scout I believe.

        • Daryl says:

          I can’t argue with that but look at the top 10 even top 5 teams at the end of the year and look at their recruiting classes.

          Also just look at the top 10 last few years in recruiting and compare results. Look at Florida, USC, Michigan (though not bad this year, had very good classes with Hoke and they achieved nothing) Tennessee, A&M, and Georgia. All these teams “great” recruiting classes but what have they won recently.

          I agree that we need to recruit well and I want top 5 classes but I would rather win games than recruiting rankings of guys that have never played college football.

          • Kelly Gurbcock says:

            You’re right, getting a top 10 class isn’t fool proof and still prone to mess up due to poor evals, coaching or character. IMO, part of the formula to win big is getting a top class and not just bank on diamonds in the rough. I think the other part of said formula is luck + character + great coaching.

    • Matt says:

      it was 2010. That class was #2 on ESPN I think or that might’ve been Scout but it was definitely top 5.

    • Jordan Esco says:

      2005

  • Jake says:

    The thought of Oklahoma losing out on an in-state prospect of Jacobs’ caliber makes me feel like our buddy, Kramer.

    — Super K (@SuperK_TFB) January 27, 2016

  • Furr-Sure says:

    To think a few days ago Wyoming was Josh Jacobs’ best offer. Now today Bama’s coming by to visit

    • Clint Lenard says:

      Kid will never see the field at Bama. He won’t fit into that system, IMO. I’d rather see him go to Mizzou if OU can’t land him.

      • Rick says:

        This is exactly right, the only reason Satan might want him at Bama would be a dedicated return artist. They don’t use small quick dudes in their O.

      • Maverick says:

        Kenyan Drake was a similar back.

      • rphokc says:

        wouldn’t say never…….kiffin chgd up their o while he’s been there

      • Indy_sooner says:

        I agree. Go back and look at the entire Bama 2016 recruiting lineup. (I’ll save you effort, 2/17 are under 6″) I forget the article (HBO Real Sports with Gumbel) saying something that he will recruit size over any other attributes any day. This kid would atrophy in their system. He would be at best a change of pace back. At OU, easily triple his production since he’d be catching in space.

    • BoomerDave says:

      It’s actually good news that an Alabama assistant is doing the visit. Saban himself was trying to figure out how to get by to see Jacobs.

    • Kelly Gurbcock says:

      didn’t someone say there is speculation that bama is where he wants to be?

        • Slim Sooner says:

          I wonder if mentor is code for imaginary person.

        • Malicong says:

          It’s funny that according to their posters any player with interest in Alabama fits their “style” but as soon as they move on they don’t. Jacobs fits everyone’s offense because he is an elite athlete. He can play with speed and power. If he ends up at Alabama, it is a major miss by OU and especially OSU. They need someone like Jacobs 100x’s more than OU does.
          I am not 100% sold that he is interested in Alabama to begin with. He could be but the first mention of Alabama in his recruitment was yesterday.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            If you are a HS football player and Bama comes knocking you at least open the door and listen to what they have to say.

          • Malicong says:

            Very true.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            In fact, if it were my kid, I would play along with Bama just so I would get a lot more interest based on getting an offer from them. Bama is like a dog in heat, there is a whole pack of other dogs following them around.

          • Brien Brown says:

            I disagree he is an even bigger miss by TU than any of the other schools as he played basically in their back yard and he is the kind of kid TU can not afford to continue to miss out on.

          • rphokc says:

            funny, apparently some out-of-state lesser schools were doing their homework and found him before anybody

          • Brien Brown says:

            You can’t tell me this kid couldn’t play in Montgomery’s O something is wrong that they missed out on him. I am a Sooner homer for sure but, would like to see TU do well so they can’t miss these kids. Just like Dae Williams from Sapulpa they let him go to Louisville and Mason Fine go to North Texas!

          • Defend Colfax says:

            The best scouts and recruiters aren’t the ones getting paid.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            That’s definitely a head scratcher. I just looked at there offer list and they have several offers out, but nobody that seems interested in them.

          • Brien Brown says:

            Don’t get me wrong I think Frederick was a great get by them and I think Bucktrot and the Muhammed kid all 3 could be a great anchor of a future O-Line for them. Johnson, Revels, Stewart and Williams could all be great players for them.

          • Malicong says:

            That is true, McClain is literally up the road. I reference OSU because they are a P5 school.

          • Brien Brown says:

            I agree with your statement but, TU has to build itself into a contender by first keeping their in state talent home, they have some lead way into Texas with Montgomery and they will always be able to get a few certain kids from Lousiana

  • Spitting Bull says:

    Jonesing for an update!

  • connie usa says:

    Eagles hire Chris Wilson as defensive line coach.
    I’m getting closer to heaven every day. Lane, Sammy, Demarco, now CW. Maybe they draft Shep.

    • rphokc says:

      interesting, he was just hired as mizzou’s dl coach……really worked his way up the ladder

    • Brien Brown says:

      Get Dom or Striker as a LB cause lord knows they need LB’s! Shep would be a great asset but, would they take him when they are still developing Matthews and Agholor?

      • connie usa says:

        Aside from Hicks (from UT), Eagles do need LBs.
        As for the WR position; The Eagles had more drops than any other team this year. Shep has very good hands.

        • Brien Brown says:

          I agree but, they need a better running game as well. I am a Cowboys fan but, my best friend is all Eagles so I keep up with them as well basically cause he tells me every week how great they are and how bad the Boys are. But I am also a realist and see what stands out to me about other squads, Sheps need to be a Cowboy him or Treadwell actually both would be nice get Tread in the 1st and Shep in the 2nd. But Eagles need a more solid run game which they may get without Kelly and the OL which use to be a Eagle strong point needs some help and LB play and probably CB also!

          • crazyb says:

            The boys will draft a defensive player in the first, and Derrick Henry in the 2nd round. Shep could be a 3rd rounder though.

          • Brien Brown says:

            They need a play maker opposite of Dez and Witten is get older and Dez had his first bad year of injuries which won’t get better. If Bosa falls to them I’d be ok with that pick!

          • crazyb says:

            Odds are that they take Jalen Ramsey from FSU or DeForest Buckner from UO with that #4 pick though. The D line and secondary need a ton of help.

          • Doobie74OU says:

            I would love this pick! Along with Byron Jones you would have 2 guys with great flexibility in playing corner and safety and then add getting Scandrick back and you are on your way to a pretty solid secondary!

          • BleedCrimson says:

            Jerry Jones is the new Al Davis. Had a good thing with a great coach, then thought he could manage the team and never won the big one again.

        • CPSooner says:

          I’m hoping all of the QB’s are still available and Dallas can trade back and pick up some extra picks.

    • connie usa says:

      Wilson, 47, most recently coached the defensive linemen at USC. He was let go after the 2015 season and accepted a job at Missouri a few weeks ago.

      Pederson said he and new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz met with Wilson Wednsday morning at the Senior Bowl.

      “Sat down with him actually this morning and had a great interview with him,” Pederson said. “Jim Schwartz and I spent about 2½ hours with him and he’s got great attention to detail, fundamentals, he’s a technician.

      “He’s worked with some of our guys before, he’s recruited some of our guys before. He’s very aware of the talent we have and he’ll fit our system well.”

      Wilson is the final member of Pederson’s initial Eagles coaching staff. Pederson already hired longtime NFL defensive lineman Phillip Daniels as assistant defensive line coach.

      Wilson has never been a full-time NFL head coach, but he’s served NFL minority internships with the Cowboys (1995), Cardinals (1997) and Dolphins (1998).

    • Birddawg says:

      Shep going to my chiefs sooo yaa 😉

      • KJ1123 says:

        Shep will be going to the Raiders….Cooper…Crabtree….Sheppard! 🙂

        • BleedCrimson says:

          That would be sooo awesome! Finally has something to cheer about the past year. Been too long since Raiders were a factor.

        • BleedCrimson says:

          Me and the boy 2 years ago.

          • KJ1123 says:

            NICE!…I went to the KC game in Oakland this year. Was rough but fun.

          • BleedCrimson says:

            Have always wanted to go to a game in Oakland and experience the Blackhole first hand. If they do move to SA, I have an old Navy buddy I can visit every season!!! lol

          • KJ1123 says:

            Its a good time. Can get rowdy but unlike the ol days its pretty family friendly.

          • ColoradoSooner says:

            Go Broncos!! 🙂

          • Golfluvr13 says:

            Well I root for the Raiders twice a year, when they play the Broncos. I’m a Packers fan first, then the Chiefs. I worked for the Chiefs ticket office for one season, my compensation was free food a the big tent tailgate and free tickets to every game.

        • Birddawg says:

          That’s a super young wr corps
          Best outside wr in one class
          Best slot wr in the next
          Not too shabby

    • BleedCrimson says:

      Getting his NFL experience, then when needed back home. Boom! 🙂

  • Sooner Man says:

    Well signing day is a week away so cheers

  • TSFFKAG says:

    The Cotton Bowl is closer to Norman than to Austin.

  • TSFFKAG says:

    Texas schools have grown up since the 70s. It’s no longer OU versus UT in the recruiting wars. Even SMU would be in the mix had it not been for the “death penalty” slapped on them by the NCAA.

    • kt-raida says:

      you’re right because they would still be paying kids

    • sooner8 says:

      Texas schools have grown up no doubt,but so has OU and there is no reason why OU should be getting manhandled by Baylor,TCU,& now Houston??That’s not right!!!Go Sooners!!!

  • Jordan Esco says:

    update added

  • TSFFKAG says:

    Tupai would be a very good fit in this OU defense!

  • KJ1123 says:

    Cool update….need more polys…

  • soonerborn says:

    What’s the worst recruiting class OU has had. I’d say the 2011 class.
    Trey Metoyer WR 4* – need not say anthing else
    Brandon Williams RB 5* – transferred out
    Jordan Wade DT 4* – good role player
    Danzel Williams RB 4* – ??
    Marquis Anderson DT4* – transferred out
    Kameel Jackson WR 4* – kickoff the team
    Kendal Thompson QB 3* – transferred out
    Jordan Phillips DT 4* – great when not injured
    Nathan Hughes DE 4* – ??
    Max Stevenson TE 4* – medical
    Dan Tapko TE 4* – transferred out?
    Frank Shannon LB 4* – could have been great
    Dylan Dismuke OT 3* – ??
    Derek Farniok OT 4* – Couldn’t beat out a freshman
    P.L Lindley OLB 3* – good role player
    Bennett Okotcha CB 3* – not sure he made it onto campus
    Nila Kasitati OL 3* @ TE – Very good player

  • Boomer4life says:

    Think, I will grow a beard waiting on a Boom. Boom beard…yeah.

  • BleedCrimson says:

    Girls BB at 7pm tonight on FSSW+ DirecTV 676-1 for those interested.

    Time to lace 'em up ? pic.twitter.com/xGHBSNXDW6— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) January 27, 2016

  • Soonerboyz says:

    Nothing new: Recruiting has been a problem and is still a problem.
    The Brand Name is no longer going to get it done without dynamic recruiters. imo

    • D Hunter Sanchez says:

      I am not going to voice a negative view, unless we don’t get Caleb Kelly.

    • Maverick says:

      Could easily make the argument that our coaches are overachieving on the recruiting trail. Conf is weak, talent location, city of Norman, nature of today’s kids, etc.

    • Ron Burgandy says:

      Ya think the four playoff teams would each rate in the top ten, at least ? ?

    • blaster1371 says:

      Getting whatever player you extend an offer to and them saying no thank you is not recruiting failure. Have you. Not seen t he list of commitments OU has riight now? It’s pretty impressive.

  • OohRah Mama says:

    What’s up with all these new Negative Nellies? Like the old ones weren’t enough?

  • Randy says:

    Said it early in the season, but still think PL Lindley is/will be a better NFL player than given credit for..

  • SoonerinLondon says:

    Man, I have to say that our spoiled fans kind of suck.
    You know who you are.

  • JSam says:

    Maxs Tupai: count me in.

  • Soonerboyz says:

    Texas is killing it on the recruiting trail
    Baylor is killing it on the recruiting trail…
    OU better…well…figure things out sooner than later.

    • BoomerDave says:

      Geez! It’s like this every year. The crybabies always whine about our so-called “rankings” and who we didn”t get, yet all we do is win.

      • Tucker says:

        Personally, I’m a little less enthusiastic with our recruits this year. Is it wrong to feel bummed because it feels like we aren’t making ground but others are? Plus… Seeing Super K post about Texas bums me out as well.

        • Zack says:

          I think this class checks more needs than people think.

          • Tucker says:

            Could be sure. Not to say anything negative about the kids and I’m no expert but to me it feels like we have more or less put a body to a position and quality is lacking. I know that sounds like I’m dissing the kids i guess I’m just comparing to last years batch. Otherwise these last minute offers make me nervous, like we couldn’t get what we wanted so we’re just tossing offers to what we need bodies in. Again I know that sounds terrible but it’s just how I perceive it. However, if we close strong with the like of Kelly and so on I’ll shut my mouth and be happy. Again though, it seems like every day (exaggeration) we knock someone off our wish list because we don’t feel like we have a chance. So yes I’m whining but I feel like it is kind of within reason. Meh? Sure.

          • blaster1371 says:

            Part of the late offers are due to dominos falling into place at other programs leaving some recruits open to new possibilities. So far getting in late on some recruits has been working in OUs favor in terms of longer time to evaluate and getting the chance to leave a late, lasting impression.

          • Tucker says:

            Seee you’re being optimistic though. I’m trying to be optimistic just sucking at it.

          • blaster1371 says:

            It takes practice grasshopper 🙂

          • Zack says:

            I think Jordan Parker and Cobb/mayden are all better than the corners we brought in last year. I have a bad feeling about mbanasor, I think he’s average at best. And Stephens has rumors of leaving.
            As for safeties motley (some say safety some say corner) and sylvie I’m not impressed. The OL, I’m not going to doubt the guys because I think bedenbaugh knows what he wants. Kendall and Adams are great prospects. Bledsoe, JMT and youngquist are going to play lots of football here. That leaves hardy and the Juco linebackers which might be head scratchers but I’m willing to wait and see, they all 3 basically committed on the spot so I think they are the type of guys we want here as guys who waste no time.

          • Tucker says:

            That’s fair. I guess we’re still on wait and see status with Cobb and Mayden. I do like Kendall for sure. Not sure what I think of JMT. But honestly, unless we score Kelly and a few of our remaining wants I have a hard time telling myself to get excited about this class as a whole.

          • Zack says:

            I think we land mayden, Kelly and Jackson. Not sold completely on Daniels yet but I think it’s swaying to more of a 60/40 in favor of ou. We will land a receiver and I think we end up with Jacobs even though it appears he’s leaving the state, I don’t think he will.

          • Lane Gilstrap says:

            If you watched Sylvie in the All-American game you would come away impressed. I sure did.

          • Fear The Magic says:

            I did too. Theres a reason that they made him one of the team captains.

          • Zack says:

            We will see. I don’t think he’s trash at all, I’m just not overly excited. I think he will sit for 2 years and have a chance to learn and develop. He’s not very big right now, we will see if he can get to 195 (180 currently) with good weight by the time fall camp starts. If he puts in the work and achieves that first goal then I’ll have more faith.

          • Fear The Magic says:

            Not trying to be negative but its fairly likely that we might easily miss out on both Cobb and Mayden.

          • Zack says:

            And I think it’s just as easily we land both. I’m not buying Alabama here for mayden. Also I think Cobb knows what haughton knew.

          • blaster1371 says:

            Yep. It will be even more so if the final tally includes those who have yet decided. But even if OU gets just those now committed it’s a pretty quality class.

          • Sooner Ray says:

            Correct.

          • GrandeBass says:

            It’s the difference between needs and wants. Everybody WANTS a flashy 4-5 star recruiting class. Very few schools get that. As long as OU rights the ship and gets guys with a high ceiling of potential and grow that potential, I could care less about rankings. But if they don’t cultivate that potential well, THAT is where we have problems.

      • soonerthunder says:

        yeah, but, you don’t understand. We’d like to be like ut under brown and win not football games but the mythical recruiting title

    • Tucker says:

      Not gonna lie… My optimism is waning

    • Zack says:

      Texas is 50th according to rivals. I wouldn’t say killing it. They will surely finish strong but it won’t mean anything next year at this time when they have a new coach.

      • Birddawg says:

        Two losing seasons in a row.
        Coach on the hot seat.

        Writing on the wall..
        Going to lose 5 or more games next season
        Coach gets fired.

        I’m surprised they doing that well.

    • Jpsooner23 says:

      Seriously, by what measure are either of those 2 “killing it”. LSU, tOSU, yea, they are killing it. UT and BU? Not so much.

  • BoomerDave says:

    I’ve been following OU recruiting for 30+ years. I’ve learned not to stress over rankings and also learned not to judge a class until at least 3 years after they arrive on campus. I recall the excitement of the signing of such stud QB’s as Brent Rawls and Cody Thomas. Read tons of bitching and moaning over the signing of a 2*- 3* QB named Sam Bradford.
    My point is just chill out. Nobody knows who are gonna be the stars and who are gonna be the busts.

  • j l says:

    I dont see why its not ok to have at least a little frustration/worry about recruiting.

    You cant make a case that our recruiting is as good now as it was in 03-08.

    Are we still getting some good talent? yes. Are we still winning? yes

    Parity in football and the domination of the SEC on the trail is troublesome, i really dont see how you can argue that.

    Dosent mean the sky is falling, but its not all sunshine either.

    • Fear The Magic says:

      This ^^^^

    • BoomerDave says:

      How do you know? This may turn out to be our best recriutibng year ever!! People need to stop buying totally into star ratings and what Rivals and Scout think and more about what Stoops and Riley think.

      • j l says:

        If we were landing the majority of our 1st, or even 2nd targets, i wouldnt be worried.

        I do trust in the coaches ability to evaluate talent, but i also recognize they arent getting the top talent THEY want.

        Do you honestly think we take beal had we landed dontavious jackson, or bosse, etc?

        Its not about the star ratings bud, its about the order the offers are going out, and the fact that some of these guys are 4th, 5th, 6th on our boards.

        • BoomerDave says:

          What do you know about Beal to be critical of him? I heard his coach on the radio today and he said that he has put over 360 players into D1 schools, over 30 of them LB’s and Beal is as good of an athlete and linebacker as he’s ever coached, so lets wait and see. And as for Jackson, we cooled on him some time ago.

          • j l says:

            Im not trying to be critical of the kid, i hope he comes in and lights it up. Just saying that he wasnt a top target, or he would have been offered earlier.

            He fills a need, but does that mean we even offer him if we had landed kids we made earlier offers to?

            If hes as good a LB as that coach has ever had, why did we offer his LB teammate 1st?

            We cooled on jackson because he eliminated us very early in the process. No reason to waste effort on a kid we have 0 shot of landing.

          • Jpsooner23 says:

            I don’t think beal was a matter of running out of HS options and having to go juco. I think Dom leaving and the lack of experience led to his offer. Juco guys offer a higher floor. We need some players to come in and contribute immediately and he gives more of a chance at doing that, especially considering the bounty of young backers we have on campus and look to have in this cycle. We have several high ceiling guys now with last yr and this yr. ..

          • j l says:

            Outside beal, we had 26 LB offers out, and landed 2, hopefully 3 if we get kelly.

            Id say we missed out on a ton.

          • Jpsooner23 says:

            Never said we didn’t miss out. Everyone misses out. Not one school gets the top targets on their board. I’m just talking about the beal offer. That seems to be exhibit A in everyone’s argument against this class. Your assessments are fair, don’t disagree.

          • j l says:

            The reason its so worrisome is we lost 5 of 6 LB with any decent experience.
            Same goes with WR.

          • Jpsooner23 says:

            I agree the unanswered questions after losing all those guys is worrisome. I personally think that more a result a few yrs of getting nothing at the position. Last 2 classes (assuming we close with what has been expected this yr) have my hopes up moving forward.

          • Indy_sooner says:

            Landed 4, not 2. You left out Jon Michael Terry in your count and that Jefferson kid that supposedly had his scholly pulled. So theoretically with Kelly, we’ll have landed 5/26 offers, not 3.

            Then add in the two JUCOs as well

          • j l says:

            Thought JMT was gonna end up as a WDE. Hes a really big kid. And ya, didnt count jefferson since he flipped.

          • Indy_sooner says:

            Re: Jackson-Unless you are part of the recruiting process and actually talk to people involved, you can never tell why things seemingly go well with a recruit one week and then the next week it’s all crickets. Recruiting is a long term, continuous effort where we are evaluating options and I think more than likely, Stoops evaluates character and other aspects that a lot of other coaches overlook, preemptively locking ourselves out of a large group right on top. Off the top-Greg Bryant, Josh Jarboe,Cam Newton (Juco), Devon Thomas, Wariboko… who knows what Stoops and co’s line currently is??

          • j l says:

            I dont need to know the in’s and outs to know that we missed out on jacksons top 5, or top 7, or whatever he put out, months ago.

            Im just using him as an example. We missed on a lot of kids.

          • Indy_sooner says:

            I am really confused about what you are arguing here. Yes, we missed on a lot, but we equally cast a large net. It happens everywhere

          • j l says:

            Just saying I dont think we make some of these late offers had we landed some earlier kids in the process.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            On average all the top teams offer from 5-10 players for everyone they sign. For instance Alabama has offered 247 players this year and they will take no more that around 25. That means they have missed out on 90% of their offers.

          • paganpink says:

            Wow. I had no idea. Boom!

          • Jpsooner23 says:

            ..

          • soonerthunder says:

            I don’t care what a coach that has put over 360 players into D1 says or that Stoops, who is a defensive guru, wants him, he’s no good if he only has 2 stars. /j

        • BoomerDave says:

          Geez! Who lands all of their first and second targets. I think i read recently that Alabama has offered over 200 kids this year to get to their 23-25 kids.

          • j l says:

            Can you name me a single 1st or 2nd guy on our board we have landed? Honestly, not trying to be a jerk here.

            We are making a ton of late offers, because we missed on a ton of kids high on our boards.

            Unfortunately, guys at the top of our boards are lower on the bama boards. They have access to recruits we have no shot to land, and to be frank, the reverse hasnt been true.

          • Zack says:

            Kendall. Adams. Hardy. Jordan Parker, Cobb, sylvie, youngquist, JMT, Bledsoe, valentin. Daniels, Jackson, Kelly and mayden which I think our chance of landing each is over 50% all 4 are top targets from the beginning.

            Edit: all of that is regardless of what you, me or anyone else believes, that is strictly based on who the coaches clearly wanted.

          • j l says:

            We would have taken buchele, patterson, guarantano and haskins ahead of kendall. But kendall is a stud, so no complaints there.

            TBH what im most worried about is LB and WR. Those are our big question marks and the ones we seem to miss out on the most.

            But thank you for doing some research, presenting a good case, and not jumping all over my sh%t just because im not sunshine pumping.

          • Zack says:

            Well looking at our guys on paper and then looking at top 5 programs lists, ours is unimpressive but that’s the truth of ou right now. Our history is cool but that’s all it is right now. We’re not a destination town and we choked 2 national titles away in 2003 and 2008.
            As for the QBs, Haskins was the only other qb that Riley offered, so while we would have taken any of those guys, 3 were JH offers which should tell you something. Also I think Haskins is vastly overrated.

          • j l says:

            Thats exactly what im thinking, thank you. Not saying we arent doing well, but a lot of other programs are hotter right now. Its just the reality of the situation.

            Didnt patterson win the elite 11? that kid can sling it.

            Even if it was a heupel offer, had we landed him, i dont think we land kendall.

          • Zack says:

            We did bring in kyler Murray though.

          • j l says:

            Glad that happened at about the same time kendall enrolled lol.

            Hope it dosent cost us roberson.

          • Jim Casy says:

            Buchele over Kendall would be a mistake if you’ve watched them and looked at them.

          • Indy_sooner says:

            Off the top, one of our earliest offers-Amani Bledsoe

          • j l says:

            Mctelvin agim and madibuike, but bledsoe is a stud, very happy we landed him.

          • Indy_sooner says:

            You asked about our 1st and second offers. I will give you the first, that ship sailed with Monty’s departure. Not much difference in the other two #121 vs. 122 per Rivals for SDEs

          • j l says:

            Bledsoe was a really good land at a position of need. Stoked to see what he can do.

          • soonerthunder says:

            . . . and isn’t bama trying to recruit Jacobs? Interesting. If bama was getting everyone they wanted, why are they all of a sudden seeing him for the first time today? Was he the 1st or 2nd guy on their board? Is that how bama does their recruiting–wait until the guy isn’t going to ov (only one weekend left), go see the guy? I’ll tell you who lands all their 1st and 2nd targets: NO ONE!

          • j l says:

            This was a really, really bad year for RB recruits. Not a single 5 star. I believe they had a high level RB and he flipped, could be wrong though.

            Look at their offers compared to what they have landed, and do the same for us. They are landing kids at the top of their offer list, we really arent.

          • soonerthunder says:

            so in a bad year for RBs you wait until today when he can’t OV to visit him. All the more reason why they should have gone after their 1st target, obviously according to you, before today.

          • j l says:

            They already have the #2 RB committed.

            And jacobs blew up last minute, kind of a unique situation. Not often that a top 300 kid dosent have any major offers 2 weeks before NSD.

          • soonerthunder says:

            My point exactly. He wasn’t their #1 or #2 or top ten target. If you only knew, you’d find that they have several other positions that they didn’t get their #1 or #2 target and they have a “unique situation.”

            NOBODY GETS THEIR #1 AND #2 TARGETS ALL THE TIME. NO ONE

          • j l says:

            If we had bama’s recruiting classes, we probably win 3-4 titles as well.

            They might not land every 1st or 2nd kid on their board, but they obviously land enough to win more than any other team out there.

        • Slim Sooner says:

          I sure hope Beal doesn’t read this board and see some of the things some posters have said about him on and since his commitment thread. Kids have feelings, too. He could be a very good get just as easily as not. Nobody knows yet.

          • j l says:

            Dude, quit acting like im calling the kid trash. I dont care that hes a 2 star. I care that we offered him very late in the process AFTER we missed on a lot of other targets.

            If he was at the top of the board, why didnt we offer a long time ago? Thats all im saying.

            I honestly expect him to be a depth player, to get a shot in the rotation, and theres nothing wrong with that. Not everyone is a all american.

          • Slim Sooner says:

            Dude, alrighty then. You are correct about everything. Rant on.

          • j l says:

            How is that ranting? Im just a little sick of people acting like im stephen dale just because im not jumping for joy over missing on some positions of need.

            I dont get why people cant have their opinion on here without getting trashed on.

          • Slim Sooner says:

            Sorry about the rant remark and that you’re sick. Sorry we’ve missed out on so many top recruits and it could get worse before next Wednesday. You have every right to your opinion just like everybody else. I should not have replied to you the first time, so sorry if you thought you were being trashed. That was not my intention.

          • j l says:

            I welcome conversation, its why i come here. All good man. Hope we close strong and , could be a really solid class with a couple key pieces.

          • soonerthunder says:

            I think 20 year old beal is a lot more mature than those making negative comments about him.

    • Indy_sooner says:

      I’m a perennial sunshine pumper but I am also a realist so I agree with you on dialogue. I am not as worried about things because the defense, on paper is Elite and that’s where it all starts. We have changed focus to building size. UCLA, Ole Miss, Tenn and Bama …etc all sell something we can’t. It is what it is. But rather than mull over something we can’t control, I choose to celebrate the victories. You started with LBs so lets talk. Folks forgot that just 2/3 years ago the world was falling after A&M flipped our only LB, Mastrogiovanni. So while you see not landing Mbosse or Jackson as an issue, I see landing DeBerry, AMG, Bolton, Bond (hopefully) Kelly as HUGE positives. For 2016, 2 of the 5 LBs are Rivals 250.Then there’re 2 JUCOs plus 1 Oklahoma Kid with a huge upside.Three of those 5 were first priorities, 4-5 star kids with size. The other two? Products of unexpectedly losing depth.

      If you read the Stoops Lackwanna visit story you’ll see that the OU coaches went looking for a very specific breed to replace Alexander. They found two of exact same type and signed both of them. I’m not saying they will be world beaters, but its not quite as you make it sound/ “reaching”. It was intentional

      Now on offense.. no idea… I take issue to not having elite WR talent, Period. Even landing Velus, the #63 WR would not have made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

      Tl:Dr: The Lackwanna Linebackers were not “reaches”

      • j l says:

        We offered 31 WR, and landed 2, and 1 of those 2 might not even show. Thats a bit worrisome.

        • Indy_sooner says:

          You will get no argument from me on that all. Dennis Simmons was supposed to fix that, having come from the West Coast

    • Bob Edwards says:

      There are problems. I think the problem a lot of us have is people who never post except when something bad happens and then they show up to complain. A “realist” can talk about both the good and the bad that happens. I think we also have a problem with people who say “Player X is never going to be any good.” Most of us who have watched this for decades know that some players may have topped out but every year there are guys who step up and suddenly become good players. All these kids on the roster now are Sooners and we need to encourage them to go to the next level rather than tearing them down.

      • j l says:

        Am i tearing these kids down? Ive said numerous times i hope beal comes in and tears it up. Just because i dont think the kid is at the top of our board, dosent mean i dont think he cant be a good player.

        I most definitely consider myself a realist, but people sure seem to be coming at me like im trashing our entire class and im a horrible negative nancy.

        There is a middle ground between pessamist and sunshine pumper, and it really frustrates me that i cant offer my own opinion without getting trashed on.

        • Bob Edwards says:

          I didn’t say you were cutting them down. Sorry I didn’t know we were talking about just you.

          • j l says:

            Sorry, some of these replies have me very defensive. I come on here because i enjoy talking about anything OU related, the only school ive ever loved since i was 6 years old.
            Its the only board ive ever found that has some very knowledgeable people on it that i really like talking to.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            I haven’t read everything on here, so I don’t know. Most of the regulars here are sensitive right now because a lot of new people have shown up just to complain. Under normal circumstances they wouldn’t attack personally, but argue with your points. However, I think a bunch of them are getting a little testy because of all the rabble that’s shown up.

          • j l says:

            Ive been a regular on here since before the 2014 class finished. Thought i might get a little more benefit of the doubt, but alas.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            I recognize you’ve been here for awhile. I would point out that you are taking this a little personal. Just because someone argues with you that doesn’t mean they don’t respect you. It’s the Internet someone is going to argue with you unless you post pictures of cats.

          • j l says:

            The thing that really bothers me is that they are twisting my words.

            Saying a kid isnt at the top of our board dosent mean im saying hes bad. Thats really the only point im trying to make, but people seem to think im attacking a kid.

            Think im gonna go shoot some zombies and de-stress. Have a nice night.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            Yeah, I would step away from the keyboard. It’s just not that important. Come back when you’ve had some time to relax.

          • j l says:

            More important that i probably make it out to be, but that happens when you work all the time, have no social life, and live vicariously through your favorite sports teams =)

            Grabbing the keyboard to save us from the zombie hordes. Pew pew!

          • Bob Edwards says:

            Been there done that. Work hard, be wise with your money and things will get better.

          • j l says:

            Saving every dime we can =) Just working a bunch of OT to accelerate the process of getting in a nicer house. My girls are old enough to have sleepovers now, and i want them to have a house they can be proud of.

            Thanks for the kind words.

          • David Luc says:

            You got a problem with my cats!?

          • Sooner Ray says:

            It’s cool bud. I don’t post much this time of year for good reason, tensions are high.

          • j l says:

            ya starting to think that might be wise.

      • RBear says:

        OU fans have to realize that OU does not mean the same to everyone else- these kids have favorites of their own, we’re not going to snap our fingers and land whoever we want- ever.

        College football has way more parity than it used to, teams are on much more level playing fields and are on TV all the time- this creates competition for the cream of the crop (kids) that didn’t used to exist.

        This is just how it is- so, be happy with what/who we’re able to land, be happy for them and root them (OU) on or just decide to be grumpy.

        BOOMER!!

  • SoonerinLondon says:

    I hope we don’t have recruits that visit this board. I’d be worried they’d think OU fans were whiny, spoiled, bandwagon-types, and not want to be a part of that.

    • soonerthunder says:

      true, but so are fans at all schools, even HSs and Junior High schools. you’re right though and I think it’s embarrassing for children much less adults

    • Lane Gilstrap says:

      You know I don’t think we have “bandwagon” fans on this site that often. I just think we have some fans that are a little more extreme than others. Some might be overly critical of certain things but we all want the same thing…to be the best. If you think these players aren’t going to have to deal with some scrutiny and pressure think again. Look up the definition of a FANatic. We are extreme.

    • soonerthunder says:

      Don’t worry, they are more mature at 18 than these posters.

  • bmrsnr says:

    So whats up with Youngquist?

    • Cam says:

      Now I want some Reese’s.

    • Indy_sooner says:

      Nice catch and run, but it’s the HANDs too

    • John Garner says:

      Gawd, I hope he doesn’t land in Philly. Green Bay would be sweet. KC too.

      • ThatLibertyGuy says:

        I can hear it now “Bradford drops, turns, fakes the ball to
        Demarco Murray – it’s play-action. Lane Johnson with a crushing block as Bradford goes deep to a wide open Sterling Shepard”. That would make even corporate football fun to watch!

      • Chris White says:

        I’m a Cowboys Fan so obviously I want him to get a star but I think him and Amari Cooper, Crabtree would be filthy on the Raiders

    • kt-raida says:

      Shepard is so nice. Please get him Green Bay!

      • Kelly Gurbcock says:

        YES! Go Pack Go! We need more WR’s obviously and we need to have a year Bulaga doesn’t get injured. That dude wears me out! Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy having some philosophy issues right now, hope they can get it settled this off-season.

  • JD says:

    Man we need a room for the regulars…maybe call it The Regulars….js

  • Daddy R says:

  • Bob Edwards says:

    It’s buried down below, but I want to make this point.

    On average all the top teams offer from 5-10 players for everyone they sign. For instance Alabama has offered 247 players this year and they will take around 25. That means they have missed out on 90% of their offers.

    Keep that in mind when we talk about OU not getting their targets. None of the big boys get even half of the players they offer.

    That’s not to say we don’t have some positions of need and need to finish strong. But overall it’s just the nature of the game. You spread a wide net and hope you catch enough fish to eat.

  • Bob Edwards says:

    One more perspective on recruiting. Steve Davis almost didn’t get a scholarship and was #8 on the depth chart starting off. His record as a starter 32-1-1

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgMgDNIMCsc

    • soonerbred4ever says:

      Thanks Bob! Great memories.

    • blaster1371 says:

      I had a poster of him playing in a game on my bedroom wall for a big chunk of my boyhood. About twenty years ago,I went through my parents attic to find it so I could put on my garage wall. It had gotten heat and moisture damaged beyond recognition….. What a bummer.

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  • rphokc says:

    re jacobs……post on bama board, tidefans, fwiw………
    “The latest word on Jacobs : Coach Burns finished his visit in Ok, visit went very well. Jacobs is attempting to have OV at Alabama this weekend but he has Missouri already plan, but will try to visit both this weekend. No formal offer has been extended yet. The offer will have to get approval from CNS. Sources close to the situation believe Jacobs will commit as soon as Bama offers. Stay tune”

    • John Garner says:

      Geez, how do you miss a kid as good as Jacobs when he’s right under your nose? Not faulting our staff as it seems a lot of staffs did, but where was the breakdown I wonder that we didn’t get in on him until late in the game? Hopefully he wants to play close to home, but the draw of the national champs has to be great.

      • Jim Casy says:

        he’s not that good, but capable. Let him go to Bama if it is what he wants. We get the RBs wee need every year with a yes or no answer.

        • John Garner says:

          Really, he’s not that good? Hard to believe that tOSU and Saban would be interested if he weren’t, especially this late in the recruiting process when time and resources are most precious and not to be wasted.

          • Jim Casy says:

            Somebody is building a hype train with him. I see nothing outrageous on his tape. I don’t see 4.40 speed. I see 4 five something speed with some wiggle. He would be our 5th best back next year and that is no joke.
            Lets just see how interested tOSU and Bama actually are.

          • John Garner says:

            Fair enough. Not challenging you just curious about your reasoning. Thanx for sharing.

          • Jim Casy says:

            Just seems to be a lot at once. Not saying the kid isn’t good because that seems obvious. I just wonder if maybe somebody is overplaying the tOSU interest, etc…looking out for the kid like an agent.
            It is a privilege to be a RB at OU and I can see us not offering him first pass. His tape doesn’t look better than Abdul Adams, IMO, but he is clearly good.
            Pokieboys have ZERO excuse for not being all over him.

          • John Garner says:

            Yes, agree about Adams. Perfect fit for what LR wants to do with RBs in his system. If Bama offers, then I’ll believe he’s OU good.

          • Jim Casy says:

            You want 4.40 speed look at Velus tape, then look at Jacobs.

          • Jim Casy says:

            You want 4.40 speed look at Velus tape, then look at Jacobs.

      • kt-raida says:

        I believe if he were a texas kud he would have had a scholarship early. Stoops is known for slow playing instate kids.

    • Mark_in_VA says:

      I would question their information then, because I haven’t seen any indication that Mizzou is pencilled in for a visit this weekend, and certainly nothing in stone.

  • TSFFKAG says:

    There’s more than enough room for both Bowen and Jackson (names given alphabetically).

  • TSFFKAG says:

    No disrespect intended, but it seems curious that a group of UT recruits are texting each other encouraging undecided recruits to jump on the bandwagon to help turn the program around, while simultaneously, the alumni are devising a “respectable” way to remove the UT HC. One can’t make this stuff up.

    • brainpimp says:

      You just described UT logic in a nutshell!

    • Jim Casy says:

      Best scenario is strong wins just enough to keep his job while ATM hires Herman. Buyout will be down to about 15 million next year…which shouldn’t seem like much to a school that just spent half a billion on a stadium renovation. But aggy overspent.

  • Kelly Gurbcock says:

    UTerus board full of optimism, they’re closing very strong on this years class and OU is just trying to hold it together. Why is this? Coming off of a conference championship (albeit in a glorified mid-major conference) and a playoff appearance with a very young team and we are having trouble closing? hopefully when these new facilities get done we can regain momentum.

  • JrsySooner says:

    http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2611672-jordan-elliott-decommits-from-michigan-latest-details-and-reaction. So suddenly this guy is looking at Texass…hmm
    what makes a kid go to a school with a coach who is treading water
    I’m not going to say it you figure it out…

    • Johnny Greenlantern Otis says:

      could be harbaugh but man i dont know what charlie is selling but theyre loving it

      • Jim Casy says:

        Strong brought them all down to Austin as a group and let them bond with each other. Different than the Stoops one on one approach and not a bad idea. NBD really, UT has always outrecruited OU.

    • Kelly Gurbcock says:

      Yea, I saw this earlier while combing their boards. it’s ridiculous really.

  • ElDusto99 says:

    Has there been a recent visit with Kelly? Maybe I missed that info. I’m just curious why they wouldnt try to close strong with him.