The Football Brainiacs

This past weekend, the Sooners held their first scrimmage of the spring. Additionally, OU also hosted several visitors which included Tyrese Robinson (OU commit), Deiontae Watts (2017 Plano, TX DT), Jalen Reagor (new OU commit), Verone McKinley (2018 CB) & Grayson Reed (2017 Houston, TX OL).

– Scrimmage Notes: We will start with some scrimmage notes, separated out based on what each of us heard.

Brandon:

* Dahu Green had a huge day. He had a multiple deep catches and a touchdown. Dede Westbrook also scored a touchdown on a deep ball.

* Jordan Thomas and Kyler Murray didn’t dress out, but no reason to believe it’s anything serious. Just dinged up.

* While the receivers did some good things, there were also some drops, including more than one would-be TD catch.

Super K:

* Also heard Green had a big scrimmage. In terms of offensive players, his was definitely the name I heard mentioned the most. I’m told that if you play off-coverage against Green and give him that kind of space, ‘it’s pretty much over.’ One source also added, “you’re not going to out-jump him. He’s just too big.”

* Like Brandon, I also heard JT did not go. As such, Dakota Austin started at right cornerback and PJ Mbanasor started on the left side. Was told they each had decent days, but both also gave up a deep ball or two.

* One name that may not have been talked about as much as some others who evidently had a fantastic scrimmage, sophomore safety Will Sunderland. In fact, I heard his name mentioned by multiple sources. Kahlil Haughton would still be the first safety off the bench, but I’m told that Sunderland is definitively ahead Prentice McKinney right now and, in general, has really cleaned up issues he had early with regards to alignment and assignment. Sunderland had multiple PBUs during the scrimmage according to those we spoke with.

* Marquise Overton also stood out, but apparently had his day cut short because he got kicked out for fighting with one of the offensive linemen. While some may not like to hear that kind of thing, personally I love to hear about a young guy having that kind of fire! You hear about guys getting into it all the time during camp, competition has a way of doing that to a team. Far as I’m concerned, it’s healthy. And so long as there’s nothing dirty about it, I like to hear these guys are already out there competing like a real game is on the line.

* Was told Neville Gallimore is starting to look better after returning to practice this past week. He had at least one sack in Saturday’s scrimmage.

* Not surprisingly Samaje Perine didn’t go, and Joe Mixon also didn’t get a bunch of reps. Instead, the focus was on getting Rodney Anderson and Daniel Brooks the carries.

* After running with the first team all week, Jamal Danley was moved down and Ben Powers took his spot at right guard.

* However, I continue to be told the best combination ‘by far’ on the offensive line is when they move Dru Samia inside to RG and put Christian Daimler out at RT (Alvarez at C, Ford at LG and Brown at LT rounding out the rest). This was a grouping we mentioned previously the coaches would be experimenting with, and we were again told this combination was easily the most effective during said scrimmage. We continue to hear Daimler is legitimately good enough to start at RT.

* Generally, I’m told the first team defense was very stout and one source indicated it is not simply a case of the offense lacking. The offense scored multiple times, but I was told that when the first team defense was in, it was ‘tough sledding.’

Alex:

* Was told during the scrimmage Baker Mayfield looked like his play-making self from last year. His leadership in the huddle and on the field continues to stand out. It seemed to be hard for those I spoke with to put into words how good Mayfield really was on Saturday and already looks to be in mid-season form, according to one person I spoke with.

* His presumed backup, true freshman Austin Kendall, evidently also had a strong performance. “For someone that should still be in high school, he shows impressive poise out there,” according to one source.

* At RB, it was Rodney Anderson that really stood out Saturday per a source. Anderson ripped off a couple big 25-30 yard runs. One source said that multiple times there were nice runs being made and each time it was Anderson with the ball in his hands.

* One name we heard on the 0-line that stood out Saturday was that of Orlando Brown. I was told Brown moved around really well and had a strong scrimmage overall.

* On defense one name that came up repeatedly was Steven Parker, who looked to be even quicker out there as compared to last year according to one person I spoke with. Which could certainly be a sign as to his level of comfort in this defense and that the game has only continued to slow down for him.

* Charles Walker continues to look the part, one source relaying that his (Walker’s, not the source, haha) arms ‘are just ridiculous.’ It’s clear Walker has been putting in work in the weight room and with his physical ability, he has the chance to be OU’s next DT drafted in the 1^st round.

* Kyler Murray did not suit out on Saturday, however I’m hearing he has been showing out this spring so far. I’ve been told the general consensus around the program is that he is one of the most talented QBs the staff has seen in some time. With his quickness and speed, if you give him a crease he can take it to the house. And it sounds like some of that has already been happening in practice.

– Grayson Reed: K plans on having a write-up regarding Reed later this week, but I (Alex) wanted to pass on a couple notes regarding some of what I’ve heard. Apparently both the family atmosphere OU is fostering as a program and their momentum on the recruiting scene, along with their success on the field, has really caught Reed’s attention. Reed was in Norman over the weekend with his father, sister and aunt, and the family wound up staying an extra 3-4 hours longer than they had originally planned after the scrimmage was over just chatting with the coaches and taking everything in.

From what I was told, it sounds like there is a possibility a decision could be coming in the near future. While Texas has long been believed to be the team to beat, a source mentioned that right now the battle may actually be between OU and Texas A&M. Now obviously the Aggies have the proximity factor, but there is a feeling the Sooners gave Reed a lot to think about this past weekend. – (Alex)

– Deiontae Watts: Had the chance to catch up with 2017 DT Deiontae Watts (Plano, TX) over the weekend following his trip to Norman. And I’ll definitely have more from that conversation in the next day or two, but I just wanted to mention now that Watts said the trip could not have gone any better. Both Watts and his mother told TFB they “absolutely loved” the visit. As we’ve mentioned before, Watts and his family are originally from Oklahoma and are long-time OU fans. In fact, Watts mentioned recently that his mother actually attended OU for ‘a year or two’ at one point. – (Super K)

– Tyrese Robinson: 2017 OU offensive line commit Tyrese Robinson was also in Norman this past Saturday and from all accounts had a great time. Robinson had the chance to see the Sooners scrimmage, but also stayed after for several hours watching film with OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh. Another thing Robinson got to do on his visit, which speaks to the type of player he is, was ask Bedenbaugh questions on what exactly he needs to be working on to help himself be prepared to get on the field as a freshman.

We were also told Robinson and Grayson Reed spent a good deal of time together and evident the two ‘really hit it off’ according to one source. “It was like they had known each other for years,” was how one person described it.

Now we do want to make those aware who may not have been already, Robinson is planning to take official visits in the fall. And while things can, and often do, change all the time in recruiting, we’ve been told that as of today Robinson is ‘100% locked in to the Sooners.’ – (Alex)

– Chevin Calloway: I spoke briefly with the coach of 2017 CB Chevin Calloway (Dallas, TX), and just wanted to pass along a note that apparently Calloway quietly visited Oklahoma a couple weeks ago. – (Super K)

– #SoonerSquad17 Targets: Just wanted to pass along a few of the names the current #SoonerSquad17 class has been working on to join them in Norman. Hunter Rison, JK Dobbins and Tylan Wallace, among others, have been the main focus of late.

Again, this class is really putting in work on the recruiting scene unlike almost any OU class in recent memory. And as you have seen, it’s definitely paying dividends.

– UPDATE (6:40 pm): Following Monday’s practice, Bob Stoops confirmed TFB’s original report that DB/LB Hatari Byrd is no longer with the program.

– UPDATE (6:54 pm): If by chance you missed the following tweet (below) from OU defensive lineman Du’Vonta Lampkin regarding his spring being cut short due to injury.

So we reached out to a source to try and get some details, and this person with knowledge of the situation shared with TFB that the talented redshirt freshman is dealing with a knee issue. The full extent of the injury will be determined during the actually surgery. However based on the information we have at this time, the expectation is that he will have recovered by the start of fall camp, at the latest.

– UPDATE (8:00 pm): As was brought to our attention, figured it was worth mentioning that Dalton Wood is no longer listed on OU’s roster. Don’t believe there has been a comment from Bob Stoops or OU, at least not that we’ve seen, but one would safely assume this ship has probably sailed for the last time.

– UPDATE (9:28 pm):

Source confirms #Sooners H-back, Dalton Wood has left the team. Wood originally signed with #OU but lost scholly status for not reporting

— Super K (@SuperK_TFB) March 29, 2016