The Football Brainiacs

Image of Aston Julious via 247 Sports

– Devwah Whaley: Chatted briefly with 2016 running back target & OU offer Devwah Whaley last night. He let us know that he is planning to take three trips this summer. He will visit Arkansas, Georgia, and make a return trip to Oklahoma. He didn’t say the exact visit dates, but did say it will be ‘early in the summer.’ The fact he will be taking a second trip to Norman certainly sounds promising for the Sooners. – (Super K)

– Bryce Youngquist: 2016 LB Bryce Youngquist is another prospect the Sooners are expecting a visit from this summer. I caught up with Youngquist recently, who confirmed he expects to be in Norman later this month. He told TFB that Tim Kish and Dennis Simmons have been recruiting him very hard. He has an unofficial Top 5 of OU, Oregon, Arizona State, Washington State & Wisconsin. He says he will use all five of his official visits and plans on announcing his commitment after his senior season.

Youngquist is exactly what the Sooners need on defense. He’s comfortable in space, between the tackles, and/or coming off the edge. He plays with great pad level, but doesn’t appear mechanical. He has good length, excellent downhill acceleration, and change of direction. But also looks like he could play a ‘Tampa 2’ technique if you asked him to. Really appears to be an excellent linebacker prospect that could play in multiple schemes, but in my opinion looks tailor-made for a 4-2-5. Perhaps my favorite aspect of his game is his patience. When he makes his read, he can slip through the trash and close quickly.

This is the type of athlete Oklahoma really needs to start bringing in again at the linebacker position, especially in a league like the Big 12 where so much is asked of that particular position. One thing you don’t always see is testing numbers that actually translate to the field or vice versa. In the case of Youngquist, however, he plays fast but also has the numbers and measurables behind that. His SPARQ verified height and weight are 6’2″ (without shoes) 210 pounds. He ran a blazing 4.54 SPARQ verified laser 40 and posted a verified shuttle of 4.09, along with a 38 inch vertical. I cannot begin to tell you how incredible those numbers are for a young man just out of his junior year. – (Super K)

– Ashton Julious: During Bob Stoops’ tenure the Sooners have had success recruiting JUCO offensive linemen. Be it Stocker McDougle, Dionte Savage, Phil Loadholt or Lane Johnson just to name a few, many have gone on to have solid careers not just in Norman but playing on Sundays as well.

Bill Bedenbaugh is hoping to continue along that type of tradition with one of his more recent offers to 2016 OG Ashton Julius (6’8″ 330 – Scranton, PA). We had a chance to catch up with Julious recently to try and get a feel for where his recruitment currently stands.

Julious told TFB that he and Bedenbaugh speak on a regular basis and that he really likes OU. With offers from schools like West Virginia, Baylor, OU, Illinois, Arizona State and NC State, he has no shortage of options. But he was up front in telling TFB the Sooners are one of his top schools and is planning to visit at some point during the season. – (Brandon)

– Team News: Nothing really specific here but just wanted to pass along a note from a friend, who recently commented to me on the current vibe inside the OU program. I know there is a lot of cynicism right now but with the new players coming in, it’s always nice to remember that every year there is a bit of a fresh start. And it sounds like the coaches feel that way as well.

My friend said that, in general, there’s some excitement around the program with the new players reporting. They also said the coaches and players are “pumped and it feels like a clean slate.” They went on to say, “with a new offense and really a new defense everyone is hungry to learn and practice…there is no complacency right now and everyone is going to be fighting each other for playing time.”

I know it’s perhaps something you hear every year, but a little sunshine in what’s been a little bit of a cloudy past few months can’t hurt. – (Super K)

– Work Opportunity | Play-by-Play: Wanted to pass along a note for anyone who might have some experience doing play-by-play. Had a gentleman from iCB Live reach out to us about an opening they have this coming fall. Here is the work description and we have been told it does pay:

inCommand Broadcasting is looking for play by play talent for fall football games in the Oklahoma City and Surrounding markets. Games will be broadcast on the internet as well as local TV affiliates in the Oklahoma City area. We are in need of crews to work in the Northwest Arkansas area as well. Candidate should have Play by Play experience in either Radio or TV and be willing to Work Fridays throughout the 11 week fall football season. Please email any sound clips, headshot photo and resume with your contact information to [email protected] this posting.

– UPDATE (Fri., 5:06 pm): Sooners have offered 2016 ATH Jayvaughn Myers (6’1″ 175 – Dade City, FL).

– UPDATE (Fri., 5:11 pm): Evidently OU was hosting 2016 JUCO offensive lineman Tate Leavitt (6’6″ 315 – Hutchinson, KS) today.

Had a great visit at Oklahoma today! #thankful #blessedbeyondmeasure pic.twitter.com/4R9cKAcDvP

— Tate Leavitt (@CoachTLeavitt) June 5, 2015