Weekend Open Post | April 17th – 19th
Posted on: April 17, 2020
LincUp21 | Class Numbers and Main Targets | Defense
– Charlie S
The Sooners currently have 84 players on scholarship (once all the rest of the 2020 class makes it in).
Oklahoma will have 12 players exhaust their eligibility following this season.
I would venture a guess that 4 players declare early for the draft before exhausting their eligibility and I would wager that 4 additional players will opt to leave via the NCAA Transfer portal.
So right now, I am going to work with 21 being the starting point numbers-wise for the class of 2021 (84-20=64) (64+21=85)
Those numbers can always change and they are likely too. But we have to start somewhere, right?
Now, the 2021 class currently has 4 verbal commits. Then you add in the potential of Kobie McKinzie reclassifying to 2021 along with 2 sets of eyes out there, right now, it looks like Oklahoma is looking for 14 additional commitments (I am counting Kobie as being part of the ’21 class right now)
Defensive Tackle (2)
Isaiah Coe (JUCO), E’Maurion Banks, Kelvin Gilliam Jr. and then some guys who have yet to be offered are the most likely candidates to fill these spots.
Banks and OU were a hot topic for a while, but I haven’t really heard much about this relationship from either side over the last few months and K has brought you all up to speed on Gilliam and his OU interest.
That brings me to where to place Tunmise Adeleye and Shemar Turner. Are they ends? I don’t think they are at OU as I think their frames will translate into an interior position for OU and Calvin Thibodeaux is their primary recruiter at this time for Oklahoma (along with Grinch and Riley) So I’m going to clump them in as a possibility with the DTs right now.
With that said, I think Turner and Adeleye are guys you could list at either DT or DE as I believe they both would be enough of a priority for the Sooners to ‘make room’ for them at either spot.
Defensive End/Rush LB (2)
Ethan Downs (Sooner commit) Tobechi Okoli, Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge, Monkell Goodwine, Shambre Jackson, Junior Colson, Dallas Turner, Clayton Smith– some of the names you need to keep an eye on.
Lot’s of moving pieces at the DE/EDGE position as Coach Jamar Cain will likely be looking for one true defensive end and one twitchier guy to play RUSH.
You already have Downs in the fold and to me, he would not be a true DE at this point so there is your RUSH. Downs has good athleticism and I’m not sure how much more weight he can pack on to his frame so initially, I think he starts his career at OU on the edge standing up.
Then you look at a guy like Rawlins-Kibonge who is a massive human being at 6’7″ who would need some time to put on some muscle, but the potential of him at DE is very high.
Linebacker (2)
Kobie McKinzie (Sooner Commit), Kendal Daniels, Kendrick Blackshire, Trenilyas Tatum, Danny Stutsman, Terrence Cooks, Smael Mondon, are some of your top options and Collin Oliver is out there and has not yet picked up an offer (which I thought was coming the day the pandemic shut things down and canceled his visit to Norman).
I’m counting Kobie in for this exercise, so Oklahoma is looking for one more true ILB and they have a lot of good options up there.
I think your attention should be on Stutsman, Daniels, Tatum and Smith in large part. Blackshire is the name everyone wants to hear about OU pushing for, but following his injury, I don’t see how that happens until he puts some film out about his recovery and progression…which likely won’t happen until the middle of his senior year.
Oliver is a guy who has blown up of late on the recruiting trail and I absolutely feel like he would have picked up an offer if his visit had taken place and OU is still speaking with him quite frequently as of last week.
Cornerback (2)
Latrell McCutchin, Dreyden Norwood, De’Jahn Warren, Isaiah Johnson, Ishmael Ibraheem, Damond Harmon, Jadarrius Perkins, Ceyair Wright are some of the names you want to pay attention too.
Obviously, the Sooners are in a good position with McCutchin following his unofficial visit earlier this year. You all know the story there at this time.
The second corner spot is a bit of a mystery at this time. I’m not sure I would say OU is the outright leader for any of those guys mentioned above or any of their other offers out there. I also would not say OU is out on any of the guys mentioned above or, again, any of the other offers they have out there.
There does not seem to be a great sense of urgency at corner right now and OU is just plugging away on the recruiting trail and their evaluations as they look to complete the corner class. Feels like they are taking a very measured approach here at this moment.
Safety (2)
Andrew Mukuba, Jordan Mukes (Sooner commit), Jantzen Dunn, Tommi Hill, Daymon David, Jardin Gilbert are some of the names to keep an eye on.
Again, not a whole lot of momentum here following Mukes commitment.
OU and Andrew Mukuba have cooled significantly since his visit when he received an offer and that could be tied to Mukes’ commitment perhaps, but not sure.
OU continues to send out offers at safety through some deep evaluations (see Daymon David for an example) and again, it feels like OU is in no hurry at this time as they continue to progress through some really in depth evaluations.
Does OU end up pursuing Kendal Daniels as a guy who could play some safety along with linebacker? Is he a jack of all trades for them? Should Daniels end up in Norman, which position group will he count towards…LB or DB? That is an unknown at this point. I feel confident in saying he would end up at LB at OU, it’s just how they designate him should he choose to commit.
Recruiting | Virtual Visits
– Super K
With visits cancelled through the summer, teams are starting to do virtual (online) visits with players.
OU staff uses FaceTime with recruits, regularly. In fact, they seem to be the best and most consistent at this digital visual contact. They hold regular FaceTime staff to recruit calls each week.
A virtual visit, I imagine, will consist of them doing FaceTime calls with recruits while they show them around campus.
As I understand, the staff is still not permitted on campus so this hasn’t started at OU. However, I do believe it is in the works.
Sources have indicated what exactly it will look like but they have said that knowing Lincoln Riley and company, OU is going to find a way to make it more interesting and creative than just about everybody else.
Quick Hitter | 2021 LB Danny Stutsman Timeline Update
– Charlie S
*** The Sooners were expected to host 2021 linebacker Danny Stutsman (6’2.5″ 215) out of Winter Garden, FL (Foundation Academy) for a visit this spring.
*** I touched base with him last week to get the latest on where things stand between him and OU.
*** Oklahoma had been ramping up their pursuit of Stutsman prior to the pandemic hitting and they pulled the trigger on an offer back on March 2nd.
*** Stutsman told me that the Sooners staff, led by linebacker coach Brian Odom, is in touch with him ‘almost daily’ throughout the dead period.
*** He has picked up a lot of attention of late and added another half dozen offers since the Sooners threw their hat in the ring including offers from Texas A&M and South Carolina.
*** I asked him which programs were pursuing him the hardest and aside from OU he said “A few others are pushing their recruitment of me, but I don’t think one stands out as of now”.
*** As for his timeline, Danny planned on committing to the school of his choice in the early summer, but right now, due to the pandemic, he says it is looking more like late summer.
Caleb Williams | Timeline & the Serious 3 | Sourced
– Super K
***Sooners fan base is eagerly waiting some possible good news on the recruiting from. And nothing would be bigger than a commitment from 2021 5-star QB, Caleb Williams.
***We’ve already noted multiple players who have mentioned the desire to play with Williams. Williams isn’t just incredibly talented, he also has the kind of dynamic personality that helps on the recruiting trail.
***While Williams has been mum on his commitment timeline, I did speak with a source who tells me they believe that Williams has something planned for the summer with his family. Again, we aren’t able to confirm that with Williams but that is what I heard, earlier this week.
***Perhaps a piece of corroboration for that possible summer time timeline was this tweet (posted last night) of fireworks…
Perhaps that’s an indication of a July 4th date. Perhaps it’s an indication of something big coming. That’s speculative but again, the latest we’ve heard is that a summer date is very likely.
Interestingly, that fireworks emoji tweet was followed by hot dog emoji tweets (yes, we are now apparently at the phase of recruiting where we talk about hot dog emojis).
Again, perhaps a reference to 4th of July?
Either way, it’s clear that it is connected to “#TheSerious3” as both Mario Williams and Christian Leary tweeted the same thing right around the same time.
And Leary…
By the way, I have to say that if Riley pulls this off and lands Caleb Williams, a guy who can sling it, run away from you, and run you over, to go with two of the fastest most explosive WRs in the country…
OU’s had a lot of offensive firepower but the potential with these three could be something not yet seen.
Update | 2021 Edge Clayton Smith
– Charlie S
*** Checked in with 2021 Edge defender Clayton Smith (6’4″ 215) out of Texarkana, TX.
*** Smith is a very athletic linebacker who the Sooners are recruiting with the RUSH spot in mind.
*** You may recall Super K had a chance to see him last summer at Deion Sanders event (Prime 21 | True Buzz) and said this:
‘Texas High LB Clayton Smith looked real smooth in coverage at middle linebacker. He was often tasked with covering 2022 Nolan Catholic RB Emeka Megwa in the game I watched and did more than hold his own.
Whether the plan for Smith at the next level is to have Smith in the middle or the edge, his athleticism and fluidity will certainly work in his favor for either position.’
*** Smith tells me that Sooners outside linebacker/Defensive End coach Jamar Cain is his lead recruiter.
*** Cain is in contact with Smith ‘almost every day’.
*** I asked him what kind of vibe he gets from Cain and he said ‘He’s a laid back kind of guy’.
*** While the pandemic has halted his immediate plans for a visit to Norman, Smith tells me he plans on taking all five of his official visits prior to making a decision.
*** He has not decided which school will be getting those visits at this point (if he has, he did not share them with me) but he did mention that the Sooners are in consideration for one.
*** Smith is a guy who is viewed by different programs at different spots. For instance, Darius was in touch with Smith recently and he was told that his lead recruiter for Texas is the DL coach, Oscar Giles so you would be lead to believe that Texas is recruiting him like a hand in the dirt guy while Oklahoma is recruiting him as a stand-up guy.
*** With the hiatus on visits, Smith’s recruitment will likely go deep into the season and should the Sooners continue to keep the lines of communication flowing, they likely will factor into his process throughout.
New NCAA Guidelines | Additional Time Allotted
– Charlie S
This is undoubtedly welcomed news by all parties involved…
Division I coaches in all sports will be allowed more virtual connection with their teams beginning Monday, April 20, and continuing through May 31, the Division I Council Coordination Committee determined Wednesday.
At the recommendation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association Compliance Administrators, committee members voted to allow teams in all sports to require up to eight hours per week of virtual nonphysical countable activities like film review, chalk talks and team meetings. At the request of the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the committee also will require student-athletes to be provided at least one day off per week.
