Open Post | Tuesday, Jun. 30th

Image of Brandon Burton via Scout

Brandon Burton: 2016 ATH, Brandon Burton (Gardena, Calif.) released his Top 7 schools yesterday which included Oklahoma, Arizona, Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State, UCLA & Florida State.

Burton let TFB know he will indeed take an official visit to Norman this fall, and that OU is one of the schools recruiting him the hardest. Burton has the talent to play on either side of the ball at the next level, but the Oklahoma staff is recruiting him as a defensive back. – (Super K)

Tate Leavitt: This past weekend JUCO OT Tate Leavitt (Hutchinson CC) released his Top 5 which included Kentucky, Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri & Texas Tech.

Leavitt is a December grad, so he will be someone that can come in and go through winter workouts and a full spring with whatever program he eventually chooses.

He recently visited Oklahoma and shortly after the visit, he received an offer from the Sooners. I had a chance to speak with Leavitt last night, and he said there are plans for a return trip to Norman later this summer. When I asked him about a commitment time table, Leavitt said that he doesn’t have one and that instead he will just commit ‘when the time feels right.’ – (Super K)

Team News: So a name some of you may remember but probably haven’t heard in a while is Dalton Rodriguez, the one time Oklahoma commit who ended up signing with Tulsa. After a year, he left Tulsa and enrolled at OU this past year and is a walk-on member of the football program.

You may also remember that during Rodriguez’s recruitment, the Sooners were looking at him as an offensive line prospect despite the fact he was playing on the defensive side of the ball for Tulsa Union. And now even though he’s currently listed as a linebacker on the OU roster, I have been told Rodriguez is currently working out at both right and left tackle. Additionally, of late I have heard some very complimentary things, from multiple sources, regarding Rodriguez.

He’s been described to me as incredibly hungry and doing everything he can to prove he is worthy of an OU scholarship. One source actually said that Rodriguez has been doing so well that while he won’t start this year, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see him on the field at some point.

It sounds like this is a young man who has good length and athleticism that is putting his heart into everything he is doing. And based on what I’ve been told, it’s definitely making an impression with a number of people. – (Super K)

UPDATED (11:05 am): My apologies folks, there was a miscommunication between myself and one of my sources regarding Dalton Rodriguez. It appears he has not moved to OT. Again, my apologies for having misspoke. – (Super K)

249 Comments

  • Cole says:

    First!

  • Cole says:

    If I remember right, every kid that’s gone to Serra has been “recruited the hardest” and they’ll visit but just come up short every time. I mean at one I point I thought OU would actually get Adorree and the d line kid last year.

    • Jordan Esco says:

      John Houston anyone. Remember how hard a certain OU site was selling how the Sooners were totally in it practically right up until NSD.

      • KJ1123 says:

        Serra = USC farm team.

      • Cole says:

        I don’t know which one if you had to pay. Never have paid or will. But John Houston last year. I only thought we wpd get him because all the LBs they were getting and the depth chart would be stacked.

  • KJ1123 says:

    Woah….3rd! Or I guess 2nd……im movin up!

  • hemisooner says:

    Did Rodriquez finally put on some weight? I thought the young man was on the light side

    • ToatsMcGoats says:

      He’s still listed at 6’6 236lbs. on the official roster…

      • Jordan Esco says:

        Right, but that hasn’t been updated since April. Which is not to suggest he’s suddenly added 100 pounds of good weight, but rather that current listing probably isn’t all that accurate (I’m assuming).

        • hemisooner says:

          This is one that will take a few years to add on the amount of weight needed.

          • Jordan Esco says:

            You could very well be right. But either way it sounds like based on what K has been told the kid is doing everything he can.

          • hemisooner says:

            at least he has some fight in him. can’t dog a young man that is willing to put in the work

          • Coach K says:

            Things must have changed. dalton didn’t want to add weight and lost it on purpose in HS because he didn’t like the feeling of being 260. I saw him last year and he said he was still at DE and he looked smaller to me. Hope he can find a spot

            Those asking about his athletic ability he would be a great athlete at Ot. He has the feet of a basketball player, long arms and can bend. The question is will he get big enough and buy into being an Offensive linemen long enough to make the change.

            Hope he does.

          • Jordan Esco says:

            That’s interesting to hear, appreciate you sharing

        • ToatsMcGoats says:

          I figured as much…not sure what type of weight he could have put on in his short time in Norman. But, even if he put on 30lbs, he’s only as big as Blake Bell was. That’s not OL size…wonder if he’ll stick there.

    • Jordan says:

      I go to OU and have seen him as recent as a month and a half ago, he was not even close to being big enough. That said, if he takes a year to learn the position, lift a lot, and eat a lot, he was is tall enough.

  • Sooner 4Ever says:

    Fifth!

  • Stikboy says:

    Uh, yeah. From what I saw in the Spring game Rodriguez is waaaay too light to play OL. He must have put on tons of muscle, I hope…

  • Stephen Dale says:

    maybe Rodriguez can add enough weight to become Lane Johnson #2……worth a try…

    • Cam says:

      That’s probably what the coaches are thinking and they have more time to work with Rodriguez than they did Lane.

  • Jason Vos says:

    Has a long way to go to play OL weight wise. Maybe they are looking at him as a more of a blocking TE

  • Randy says:

    Any teams news (good or bad) on CBs, Austin, Green, Taylor and Johnson (love him at nickel in the spring game) ?

  • vargo05 says:

    Nothing excites me more than a young man with good length. As long as he doesn’t play stiff.

  • Randy says:

    I was hoping Rodriguez would work at OLB, love that length but looks like he is not quick twitch enough. Maybe Austin Roberts can play there.

  • Robertson / Robertson 2016 says:

    I got a request for TFB: I’ve heard that local ranchers are upset because they cannot keep up with Coach Tiff’s nutrition demands. They’re now saying a daily cow per player is thinning their herds at an alarming rate. Could TFB confirm this information?

  • Randy says:

    Super K. I want to go back to Saltes what is the hold up on offering him. Are we recruiting him as DE ? What position does he want to play. You mentioned Oregon offered as a OLB.

  • Super K says:

    Apologies for dropping the ball there on Dalton folks. Misunderstood one of my sources. Very sorry y’all.

    • Exiled In Ohio says:

      No prob, K! It’s the offseason, and if you blow your nose there will be 100 posts regarding the brand of Kleenex you use and your technique. Football needs to get here soon!

      p.s., shoot me but I like Puffs

    • ccmosaic says:

      So, is he at LB or where?

    • Thomas Lenard says:

      It’s all good! everyone is allowed a mulligan once in a while! keep the good stuff coming, and we do appreciate all the accurate and early information!

    • Boom says:

      One time in almost two years-not bad

    • Bob Edwards says:

      We appreciate your honesty K. It things like this that show we can trust you guys, because you will fess up when you make a mistake.

    • Mr. Jones says:

      Just don’t let it happen again or we’ll demand a refund.

    • Fear The Magic says:

      If our WRs and RBs drop as few balls as you do we’ll win the NC.

    • L'Carpetron Dookmarriot says:

      That’s your one mistake for the year.

    • SamSooner says:

      It’s all good. There are lots of things to worry about. That’s not one of them.

    • Randy says:

      Awesome.. Love his length at OLB. Saltes ?

    • Patvan says:

      thanks for truth. a quality I admire

    • Whitey Whiterson says:

      Pretty detailed conversation you laid out there to not understand what was being discussed. Also combined with the others “positive stuff” you had been hearing about the move, makes it look like you made it up.

      • Boom says:

        Whitey, you have one post and you question K? K made a sincere apology as soon as he found out. Not sure why you would pick this time to post but I would venture to guess that all the posters and viewers on this site don’t share your opinion.

        • Zack says:

          Ban hammer after one comment would be a record right?

        • Whitey Whiterson says:

          Just a basic question of sorts. How on earth can you write what he wrote and have no idea they were talking about a DE or an OT? If they were talking in general terms about speed, power etc than how did he get himself to think OT? Or he was lied to. Are we not allowed to question?

          • KJ1123 says:

            If K (and the rest of the TFB staff) didn’t have the integrity that they have and correct himself, none of us would of known otherwise that there was an error. You’re coming off as someone who has something against K.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            “Pretty detailed conversation you laid out there to not understand what was being discussed. Also combined with the others “positive stuff” you had been hearing about the move, makes it look like you made it up.”

            That is not a question that is an accusation. You don’t get to make accusations against someone who has proven themselves honest without being called on it.

          • Jordan says:

            Question: “K I am a little confused as to how you misinterpreted someone about that conversation. Can you explain please?”
            Your statement: “You made up that statement”
            See the difference?

          • boomersooner says:

            You’re picking nits to be a douchebag after the fact. This site is free. Just like you are free to leave. I’m sure you’d be 1st to jump on the grenade and retract when you make a mistake. Or do you not make em. How on earth can you be such a douche? So hopefully this is bye bye

          • Boom says:

            Fair enough. However, how long have you been coming to this site? Curious.

      • Super K says:

        Haha I certainly didn’t make that or anything up. You can misunderstand the position a person is playing and still be told that he’s working hard, has great length and athleticism and could def see the field this year.

        • Whitey Whiterson says:

          I guess this would be my point. You talked about him at length to gather that he is working hard on the field doing something has great length etc and you expect to see him on the field. What did you expect to see him on the field doing? Not wanting to be on the list but just asking was under the impression this site had thick skin.

          • Super K says:

            I didn’t say I talked about him at length. I said I was told he had great length. And I don’t mind you questioning me at all. It does surprise me that you’d immediately go to the assumption that I’d be ignoble enough to make up information. But to answer your question…conversations about players are never going to be particularly detailed. I mistook part of one of my conversations and assumed we were talking about him as an OT. That was my mistake. But as I mentioned, the other matters such as the work ethic, his athleticism, etc was really the crux of my conversations. Hope that answers your question a little better.

          • hemisooner says:

            I understood what you were saying K. Dalton has worked his tail off and has really made strides to see some playing time.

      • Fear The Magic says:

        seriously?

    • SoonerinLondon says:

      So is he actually doing well at QB? (I hope)

    • Sooner 76 says:

      No worries, my friend. Dalton played SDE and OLBer with the 2nd team in the spring game as a sub.

    • jonnyBgood says:

      Nobody is perfect. You guys bring the goods and the fact you retracted and corrected your statement says a lot about you and this site. Allllll good.

    • Bill Duncan says:

      That’s a long route to end up where he should have started. Any indication as to why he chose TU and then ultimately returned to OU?

    • Jason Vos says:

      So your source must have been talking about someone else. Who?

      • Super K says:

        It was definitely dalton. It’s hard to explain the miscommunication in the position without saying too much. But it’s def Dalton that’s impressing

    • lulzer says:

      Dude… Don’t apologize. It happens. Putting it up top was more than enough. Really like how you own up when wrong. Great character trait.

    • Stephen Dale says:

      am ready for you and the other mods to comment on the possible switch by OU to the SEC——any possibility this can happen ? Cowherd apparently has been discussing this possibility….and it has been discussed on other sites today………

  • EasTex says:

    Though I remembered Rodriquez by name, I couldn’t remember much else so I did a quick search on his rivals page and saw where he had been recruited as an offensive tackle.
    I also found a link where he had been dismissed from Tulsa for a violation of team rules.
    http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/tusportsextra/dalton-rodriguez-michael-sorrels-dismissed-from-tu-football-program/article_112a76d5-a009-587a-8997-5853398fb30a.html
    Curious as to what the violation was.

  • Jordan Esco says:

    2016 OK Preps CB, does not hold an OU offer (just in case anyone asks)
    https://twitter.com/GPCwallace/status/615926618284929024

  • Bob Edwards says:

    Fun fact: What do Kansas State, Iowa State, Georgia Tech, Colorado and South Carolina share in common?

    Answer: They are the only P5 schools with fewer 2016 commits than OU.

  • KJ1123 says:

    I hear a true freshman has a legitimate chance to push for one of the OT spots. However, it’s way early, everything changes when the pads go on.

  • Randy says:

    Evans.. ? I thought he was hurt, or we got a T in the other 3 OL ?

    • KJ1123 says:

      Could be, just hear it’s a freshman, I just think it’s encouraging that a young guy seems pretty focused enough to push for a spot. Hope there’s more of them in this class.

    • Robertson / Robertson 2016 says:

      I’m already liking what I’m hearing from (per my Twitter snooping) and about B. Evans. Same for Bolton and T. Evans. They got that attitude. The same attitude I got walking into Golden Corral.

  • BleedCrimson says:

    G-Day minus 67
    Don Brown

    • Robertson / Robertson 2016 says:

      Back when boys were men and men were Sooners.

    • EasTex says:

      Good find on the image.

      • BleedCrimson says:

        Thank you, it took me a bit of searching. I finally found it searching thru the 54 season photos at a particular site. I probably should have saved the website, but it was late last night and I was just happy to find his pic. lol

    • Cush Creekmont says:

      Yes. Nice photo. I think you have a tough job on some numbers. When you get to those killer numbers, I think two or more players would still be appropriate.

  • Stephen says:

    Is there more of a need at ILB or OLB in this class?

    • Randy says:

      I say OLB.. Striker and Bond both graduate.

      • Daryl says:

        I would have said inside but now I am not sure. But still don’t feel we have a true inside LB on our roster.

        • Randy says:

          Alexander is not bad, Shannon is ideal, Jordan Evans could be a All-American this year. People forget him and Alexander are true sophomores..

          • Daryl says:

            I think Alexander is a very good ILB but I think Jordan is a OLB they are trying to make inside. Shannon will graduate. So you only have IMO 2 true ILB on roster. BOLTON and Deberry should fill OLB holes and again I would put Evans at OLB as well.

            This is a great question. The overall reality I would say is we need LB depth across the board.

          • Randy says:

            I would love to see Evans at OLB this year with Alexander and Shannon in the middle don’t think it will happen with Bond outside. Bolton is playing ILB which is surprising but he did in the spring game and looked good alongside Tay Evans.

        • Randy says:

          Well, true Juniors now.

    • JD says:

      Hard to tell…we already have Terry and he’s a OLBDE…both DeBerry and McGinnis are slated as OLB on passing downs (in a passing league)…Both Bolton and Tay are red fresh so we’ll be relatively young all around next year outside of Alexander and Jordan…I’d guess we take two more ILBs that can cover and blitz to go along with Terry

      • Stephen says:

        I was just wondering since the offers for OLB are 3 times more than ILB

        • JD says:

          Curious how many of those are “committable” I could see us taking two OLBs and one ILB but you fig the OLB position is one spot and ILB is two…we do have young depth inside and still not sure how the two fresh show up yet,..or they might be considered hybrid and plug in either spot..prob need to wait until fall camp starts to see how the depth stacks up…I’d be shocked if Kish landed more than 3 lol and we already have 1…hoping for Caleb…Jackson..and the other Terry or even the kid from Arthurs school…I could live with those guys

          • Stephen says:

            I know Caleb and Jackson have hinted/joked about being a package deal so that would be nice. I really like Michael Divinity and I think we’re in an ok spot with him.

            As it stands today there are 18 offers out for OLB and 6 out for ILB, if anyone was wondering.

  • Jason Vos says:

    My guess for starting WR’s

    WR: Jeffery Mead/ Dallis Todd
    IR: Mark Andrews/ Michiah Quick
    IR: Sterling Shepard/ Michiah Quick
    WR: Dede Westbrook/ Durron Neal

    • hemisooner says:

      I agree with Andrews, Shepard, and Westbrook. The other spot is up for grabs.

      • kokevo says:

        Neal will prolly start

        • Zack says:

          I think Neal will play some on the inside. To me he’s more of a slot receiver not wideout. I think shep can move all around he’s more complete than people realize. If his injury didn’t happen he would have been a finalist for the biletnikoff. I hope to see Todd and mead but they are going to have to step up and impress riley since green and miller are going to be his guys

        • EasTex says:

          I like Neal.

    • Daryl says:

      Quick will start. Before either Andrews or Mead but both those 5 guys will play a lot.

  • Jason Vos says:

    Got this from one of the OU forums. Check out Lincoln Riley calling plays, gives you an insight into what the offense will look like.

    2 back set looks intriguing as well as the screens

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRsa_Nb6_HI

    • Zack says:

      He definitely just click baited everyone

    • SoonerinLondon says:

      Go West, young man.

      • Brent says:

        agree…I still want OU and Texas to join the Pac-12.

        • SoonerinLondon says:

          We’ve won the Big 12 roughly 50% of the time since BS arrived. I think we could do about the same out West.

          In the SEC? I can’t see anything close to 50%.

          • JD says:

            You’ve been brainwashed 😀

          • John Garner says:

            Wow, you don’t think OU could compete in the SEC? Missouri has. I also think being in the SEC would boost our recruiting. It’d be tougher that’s for sure, week in and week out, but I feel that it would be a good move for us.

          • Stephen says:

            A&M has and we beat them 77-0 in semi-recent history. It might be rough first year but we’d get our footing quite fast.

          • SoonerinLondon says:

            Didn’t say we couldn’t compete. I said I think we could win the Pac 12 about as often as we did the Big 12, which would put us in the playoff 50% of the time.

            I don’t think we could win the SEC as often, which means not making the playoff as often.

          • John Garner says:

            My bad. I misread your comment. Pac 12 would present some problems as well, but I understand what you’re thinking.

          • Boomer4life says:

            I would much rather play in the B1G than anywhere else. Straighter line to the playoffs in my opinion than any other conference. An Ohio state rivalry would be fun to watch develop.

          • blaster1371 says:

            I don’t think OU would win the PAC 12 that often. It is a much better conference than the Big 12.

          • SoonerinLondon says:

            Maybe not.

            We should go where we’d expect to win more CCG’s to get to the playoff. If that is SEC, so be it.

            IMHO, we would win more CCG’s out West than in the SEC.

        • Stephen says:

          OU won’t move to the PAC-12 (which is two timezones away) when they have the opportunity to play only one timezone away in the SEC. Fans from either teams playing won’t travel.

          • Brent says:

            Timezones? OU plays had half their games as an 11am kickoff. What difference to time zones matter? OU and Texas have alumni everywhere and California is an entire state of transients so the fan travel argument I don’t think holds any water.

          • Stephen says:

            A.) They do matter, especially if they have 7pm kickoffs on the west coast which would be 9pm here. It would hurt television numbers. People won’t stay up till 12am to finish a game.

            B.) I doubt more than 100 fans would show up at Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, USC and so on.

          • Brent says:

            Totally agree. But they can put OU and Texas into optimum kickoff times for the CST. It would not be difficult. That’s why I mentioned all the 11am kickoff times OU played in last year.
            You would lose that bet on under 100 people going to see OU play Oregon. I was at the last game where OU got jobbed and there were probably 2,500 OU fans and that was before Oregon was even good. The only challenging stadiums would be Oregon State and Washington State, but being on a rotational schedule, that wouldn’t matter so much.

        • blaster1371 says:

          why?

          • Brent says:

            Because it would create unarguably the best conference for men’s and women’s sports in the country.

    • Jeremy Phillips says:

      Im not laughing yet.. That’s kind of been the thought since Boren’s comments.. Like he was setting the stage for an Oklahoma Big12 exit once the original GOR agreement is up..

    • Sooner Ray says:

      I would be fine with this. Get away from texsa, leave little brother to fend for himself along with everyone else in this crap hole. As long as we don’t end up in the pacific time zone I’m good with anywhere else.

    • JD says:

      I wonder if he still thinks OU is middle of the pack in the SEC since OU had no chance against Bama in the sugar

    • Stephen says:

      I’d be okay with this. Not a Finebaum fan but Colin Cowherd is a decent listen.

      • blaster1371 says:

        I would rather scrape my tongue with a potato peeler than listen to Cowherd.

    • Slim Sooner says:

      “Hello, Finebaum”. (Spoken derisively with expression and voice of Newman to Jerry.) I can’t like Finebaum. He hurts my eyes and ears.

    • blaster1371 says:

      Finebaum is a freaking idiot. How he is able to keep a job as a CFB analyst is mystery; he must have dirt on someone powerful.

  • Zack says:

    As much as I dislike finebaum I do think OU would benefit from the sec hype.

    • Fear The Magic says:

      Just imagine that angst ESPN would have knowing that they have to hype OU.

    • Defend Colfax says:

      I think the boost they’d receive by joining the SEC would be larger than after the last BCS win. The Mississippi schools are rarely relevant and they both still have rabid fan bases. Same with Rockytop, when was the last time Tennessee won anything and they have a 100,000+ capacity stadium? As much as I can’t stand some of those fan bases, it’d be nice to be able to mix it up.

      • Zack says:

        Well if you apply the sec logic from mizzou and a&m then OU would be the best in the sec over a 10-15 year stretch.

  • EasTex says:

    With Coach Stoops, OU is 5-4 versus the sec including 3-0 against their bell cow.
    It would be interesting to see if or how the sec would realign their two divisions if they added OU and one other school.
    UM in the East seems odd.

  • KJ1123 says:

    Would be interesting to see how realignment would affect recruiting. Not sure how many kids have the conference that they will play in as a major deciding factor.

    • Stephen says:

      Last years numbers would lean that they enjoy SEC hype. I haven’t seen conference recruiting numbers yet and it is just June.

  • Stephen says:

    I just want to see the dramatic shift in perception should OU move to the SEC among the media and recruits.

    Also, I heard the term SEC-like facilities. I don’t know what that means exactly.

  • Stephen says:

    This would definitely take some getting use to.

  • Will Narramore says:

    Assuming OU brings OK State with them, which I think they would have to in my opinion, I think you could set up your divisions like
    “East”
    Tennesee
    Vandy
    Kentucky
    Florida
    LSU
    Georgia
    South Carolina
    Arkansas

    West:
    Oklahoma
    oklahoma state
    Missouri
    Texas A&M
    Alabama
    Auburn
    Ole Miss
    Mississippi State

    • Fear The Magic says:

      Geographically you’d probably have to switch Arkansas and LSU for Ole Miss and Miss St

    • Zack says:

      I personally think OU could benefit from going independent. Obviously notre dame has a bigger audience/demand…but you can’t go anywhere and not find someone who knows what OU is all about. And since the last 4-5 years we’ve really focused on a national product then it would make a lot of sense to me.
      If enough teams went independent then I don’t think super conferences would be the future but instead more of a free agency atmosphere.

    • EasTex says:

      I think LSU and Ark should be in the West and the two bama schools in the East.

  • RocketCitySooner says:

    And, the best thing about joining the SEC, is this Sooner would have a four/five hour drive to some of the games.

  • Fear The Magic says:

    Going by Stoop’s history Alabama would be the one Gimme win.

  • SoonerinLondon says:

    Well, it’s no secret that I feel strongly that heading West is a much better move for the Sooners, but, if we do end up in the SEC, the good news is that we’ll be able to cheat in recruiting without having to worry about being punished. That’s a plus.

  • Randy says:

    Go all out to get ND and Cinci put them in the North. Get NBC and the Longhorn Network (Netflix if you can) working together to creat the best Network in the county.

  • BleedCrimson says:

    U S A !!! U S A!!! U S A !!!
    US just beat #1 ranked Germany 2-0 in quarter final of FIFA Womens World Cup.
    Robertson / Robertson 2016, Sorry Bro, I am having to pick up your slack again… 🙂

  • EasTex says:

    The LB corps all hung out with the Kish’s today.
    https://twitter.com/tayvns96/status/616085836526784512

    • JD says:

      Bolton looks like he’s putting on the weight nicely..JEvans as well

      • EasTex says:

        Yes he does.
        A good looking bunch of young men.
        The wait to see them in uniform and slobber-knocking is agony.

        • JD says:

          By the time I slow down this summer it will be August…crap! Thats just 31 days away!…Fall camp is just around the corner my friend

    • William Ryan says:

      Bond looks like a grown man out there with those kids

  • BleedCrimson says:

    lol, actually, had to follow on Fox Sports Go network because I was at work, got busy and wasn’t able to send the text until I got home. Really like how this team is getting it together.

  • Jordan says:

    Let’s say that for whatever reason the Big 12 does evaporate, I think it would be OU and OK State to SEC, all four Texas schools to PAC 12, then somehow split up Kansas, Kansas State, West Virginia, and Iowa State into the Big 10 and the ACC. That sounds like a pretty straightforward way to do it.

  • Carl Carter says:

    Parker B just committed to Notre Dame and it hurt my feelings