Weekend Open Post | June 13th – 15th
Posted on: June 13, 2025
Late Night Sourced Visit Notes
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 7, 2025
Couple quick notes from the official visits…
***Source says the Bowe Bentley visit is going exceedingly well. Sounds like the Sooners are pulling out all the stops for the family, and Ben Arbuckle has held the reins to the visit from the minute the Bentleys arrived. No commitment has been made at this time, but Sunday’s are for closing, so we will see how that shakes out.
***Some guys I am paying close attention to aside from EDGE Matthew Nelson and TE Tyler Ruxer (who you know I believe will commit at some point here in the near future) are LB Braxton Lindsey, WR Jayden Petit, and DT T-Ron Richardson.
***Source said OU commit Jakore Smith has been a big assist in regard to Lindsey and it sounds like the Sooners are moving into a very good spot.
***Was told Emmett Jones is working the room hard this weekend and all three of Dickerson, Groce, and Petit appear to be having really solid visits, but I was told that it seems like OU has made the impression on Petit that they were hoping to and they have moved into a place where they are very legit contenders.
***I have not heard of any commitment nods at this point, but it does sound like that remains a distinct possibility with some of the guys I have mentioned as well as with a couple of guys in the trenches that we are still gathering info on.
More when we get it.
Sourced Visit Notes | June 6th Weekend
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 8, 2025
I know you are all chomping at the bit for ANY positive news in recruiting, and the best I can tell you is that, according to multiple sources, the Sooners had a very successful weekend and they feel good about the work they put in.
If you take a look at the pre-visit notes from June 5th (HERE) and last nights Sourced Notes (HERE), then you are pretty much caught up to speed and OU feels like they accomplished what they set out to accomplish.
The biggest jump over the weekend? Probably solidfying their place at the top of the pile for LB Braxton Lindsey.
Things are still on track with EDGE Matthew Nelson and TE Tyler Ruxer and as I have been saying for quite some time now, I would be surprised if they were not part of the class.
Following the visit, sources still feel like OU is trending well for OL Noah Best. As we have been saying throughout, if all things are close to equal at the end of the day, Best will likely be a Sooner, and that still holds true. He is scheduled to visit TTU and SMU over the next two weeks, OU is hopeful that those visits may not occur. We will see.
Sounds like the defensive line targets (Branch, Richardson, and Golden) all were receptive to Todd Bates and the OU pitch and with Branch making his commitment this week, we will find out soon whether this was a courtesy visit or a commitment visit. Right now, I cannot tell you where it will fall, but so far, I have not heard of any verbals to OU this weekend. That could all be being held under wraps. We will keep digging.
We are checking on the buzz around the defensive backs still (Danny Odem and Derrick Johnson) but right now, sources feel like the Sooners made a nice impression on both; however, there is still a ways to go in their recruitments. This is an area where will will focus on this upcoming week as well.
Sounds like Bedenbaugh made some nice gains on Deacon Schmitt, who we have had OU leading for, and Desmond Green. In Green’s case, I still get the feeling he will be a tough pull from his geography and the programs who are pushing for him, but he is another guy we will get more info on as he gets a bit further away from his official.
As for QB Bowe Bentley…nothing really left to say. Kind of in a hurry up and wait situation as Bentley and his family have all the information from both of his top schools, and now, it comes down to the final decision-making process. OU feels like they did a very nice job this week, and I still would lean toward him landing in the OU class as I have since he was offered, but right now, he has not told OU his decision.
We will have lots to talk about in the coming days from this weekend as we lead up to the ChampUBBQ weekend on June 20th.
***Sooners hosted 2026 DBs, Danny Odem and Derrick Johnson. We are hearing very good things on this front. Both have more visits scheduled however we have heard that one or both may shut things down early in favor of the Sooners. So, for now, we will keep an eye on a more imminent commitment. If a few days pass and nothing has happened, that’ll be the signal that one or both decided to go ahead and take the remainder of their visits.
***Just picked up some corroborating info for our note last night (HERE) on WR Jayden Petit. Source today noted that they felt the Sooners made a move right to the top of the list for the talented WR, and they may have put themselves in a position where they will be tough to catch.
Edit: Obviously Best and Johnson have committed.
Business Picking Up
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 9, 2025
***Prior to Noah Best announcing, I know many of you saw the graphic on Twitter from the edit guy, Hayes Fawcett, that indicated he has 3 OU commit edits in the works.
***Based on our sourcing, I believe he is on the low side of commits to come out of this weekend for OU. Not all will come before the dead period, which arrives on June 23rd, as some guys will take additional visits.
***Keep in mind that just because there are edits made, it does not mean announcements will be immediate, but they could come anytime over the coming few days/weeks.
***What I can tell you is that the sourced notes, along with the updates we have provided for you, are a blueprint for who the commits are; we have mentioned each of the ones that I am aware of.
***Now, speaking more freely, much like we did with Matthew Nelson, we believe TE Tyler Ruxer will be part of the class, and he is scheduled to announce on July 7th, and if he is one of Hayes’ edits, he is not in the ones I am counting.
***Shaping up to be a fun couple of weeks leading up to the ChampUBBQ on the 20th.
Sooners Treading Their Own Path
– Super K – Posted on: June 10, 2025
For years, we talked about how Nick Saban evaluated and recruited based on his evaluations and no one else’s. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know folks who came up under Saban and I can vouch for the fact that Saban built his recruiting inside the building. Recruiting services or other offers didn’t play much of a role in how Saban and co evaluated.
I always respected that.
We don’t know how successful this new Nagy staff era is going to be. But what does seem quite obvious is they don’t give a rip about other folks’ opinions.
For evidence, look no further than Matthew Nelson. Nelson doesn’t even have an in-state offer from Arkansas.
My opinion of Nelson is probably rosier than most. I actually think he looks like a prototypical high school DE prospect who ends up an NFL prospect. He’s tall and long. He can run. He looks flexible. He gives off the basketball on grass vibe. He has a ton of room to fill out. And, he plays for a perennial Arkansas high school powerhouse.
I am checking in with sources close to that program to find out what I might be missing. But on film, he looks great.
Brian Harris is another example of the Sooners walking their own path. Harris has some offers but he certainly isn’t the most high profile recruit. Still the Sooners pursued him and took him…early, I might add.
Again, we don’t know how this will pan out but it’s clear Nagy has a vision and he follows that vision. I prefer that. I’d rather know if a guy can do this or not than have someone who piggy backs a bunch only to stumble on some hits and misses. I’d always rather sees the Sooners try and fail so than accidentally but occasionally succeed. You have to find intentional success to have sustained success.
If Nagy and co really are good at this, they’re going to be invaluable as this new iteration of the NIL is upon us. There will no longer be unlimited funds for anyone. Perhaps we will get into that and the recent happenings in the NIL world, later.
Bowe Bentley | What I’m Hearing
– Super K – Posted on: June 11, 2025
I know the Sooners have already added some nice commitments from this past weekend. But, we all know the big win they’re looking for is a commitment from Bowe Bentley.
It’s been well known for a while now that Bentley is down to OU and LSU.
Charlie has maintained since early in this race that he believes this one leans towards OU.
I did connect with a source yesterday who did offer some additional corroboration for that.
Essentially we are getting the sense that vibe from around Bentley and now around LSU is that OU has an edge.
One qualifier mentioned by the person who passed on the information was to say, “as long as the staff stays.” I took that to me – Arbuckle is the key here.
Until it’s done, it’s anyone’s guess. But, this is what I’m currently hearing.
Broadcast Windows for 2025 Football Season
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 11, 2025
The game time and broadcast windows for the upcoming football season are out.
Still a lot of ‘or’ involved, but at least there is something to start planning with!
8/30 – Illinois State at 5:00 (SECN+)
9/6 – Michigan at 6:30 (ABC)
9/13 @ Temple at 11:00 (ESPN2)
9/20 – Auburn at 2:30 or 3:30 / 5:00 or 7:00 (Network TBD)
10/4 – Kent State at 3:00 (SEC Network)
10/11 – Texas (Dallas) at 2:30 (ABC or ESPN)
10/18 @ South Carolina at 11:00 or 12:00 (Network TBD)
10/25 – Ole Miss at 11:00 or 12:00 (Network TBD)
11/1 @ Tennessee at 2:30 or 3:30 / 5:00 or 7:00 (Network TBD)
11/15 @ Alabama at 2:30 or 3:30 / 5:00 or 7:00 (Network TBD)
11/22 – Missouri at 11:00 (ABC or ESPN)
11/29 – LSU – 2:30 or 3:30 / 5:00 – 7:00 (Network TBD)
Pair of Running Back Visitors
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 12, 2025
***The Sooners will host only one official visitor this weekend and that will be ’26 running back DeZephen Walker (5’11 190) out of Peculiar, MO.
***On Monday, the Sooners will get some one-on-one time with another running back as they will host ’26 RB Ryan Estrada (5’11 185) out of El Paso, TX for a midweek official.
***Both of these Running backs are post-Nagy offers, and Estrada is so new he didn’t even make the updated big board as OU offered him on May 21st.
***Walker picked up his offer on May 8th, and this will be his first trip to Norman.
***The Sooners will have all hands on deck as they look to make a move with the backs while playing from behind. Expect both of the backs to receive the red carpet treatment, and this probably is a good thing for the Sooners as they will be able to go up and over the top for each of them.
***Currently, these guys are the only active targets the Sooners are working at running back as their previous priorities have either committed elsewhere (Jonathan Hatton and Ryelan Morris) or OU walked back from their offer (Kaydin Jones).
Update | Cornerback Recruiting
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 12, 2025
***The Sooners picked up their first cornerback commitment earlier this week on Tuesday as Derrick Johnson II announced his pledge to OU following his official visit last weekend.
***Prior to him announcing, we dropped a source note on Sunday evening (HERE) which laid out what we were hearing coming out of the visits:
“Update: 5:51
***Sooners hosted 2026 DBs, Danny Odem and Derrick Johnson. We are hearing very good things on this front. Both have more visits scheduled however we have heard that one or both may shut things down early in favor of the Sooners. So, for now, we will keep an eye on a more imminent commitment. If a few days pass and nothing has happened that’ll be the signal that one or both decided to go ahead and take the remainder of their visits.”
***At the time, there was confidence on the OU side that both Derrick Johnson and Danny Odem were going to shut things down and commit to the Sooners.
***While Johnson did follow through, it appears as though Odem has decided to finish out his visit plans.
***This does not mean things with Odem are over, by any means, it just means that he will take his visits before officially announcing his decision. Now, obviously, the chances for someone else to step up and challenge the Sooners are there, but right now, OU is still in good shape; they will just have to keep working to close things out with Odem.
’26 OL Deacon Schmitt Announcement Timeline
– Charlie S – Posted on: June 12, 2025
***Longtime Sooners ’26 offensive line target Deacon Schmitt has announced he will make his commitment to the school of his choosing on June 28th.
***Schmitt (6’5 320) visited Norman last weekend, and he had visits scheduled for Tennessee and Nebraska coming up, but he will not be taking them.
***From the sourced notes (HERE) on Schmitt following his visit last weekend, we noted:
“Sounds like Bedenbaugh made some nice gains on Deacon Schmitt, who we have had OU leading for.”
***Following the visit weekend, the Sooners picked up a commitment from Noah Best (6’3 290 out of Midlothian, Texas) and Will Conroy (6’2.5 280 out of IMG) is already in the OL class.
