Weekend Open Post | May 17th – 19th
Posted on: May 17, 2024
Sourced IDL Recruiting Notes
– Charlie S – Posted on: May 10, 2024
Spoke to a source last night about the state of the Sooners interior defensive line recruiting.
In a nutshell, not a lot has changed for OU in regard to where their priorities are and where they stand with them at this time.
Back in late February, I wrote the following HERE.
“Currently, the Sooners have one commit at the interior defensive line position and that is Ka’Mori Moore. Moore had a really nice winter camp circuit, but he still has a long way to go regarding development and you would not think he would be a guy that comes in and is ready to go off the rip, but who knows, it’s a long time between now and the ’25 season.
As for guys who OU has their sites set on as priorities, you have to start with Kole Briehler and Trent Wilson, both of whom will be visiting Norman at least once this spring/summer. As you know Landon Rink is also getting a lot of attention from Oklahoma and recent offer Floyd Boucard has already set an official visit to Norman. Josiah Sharma out of California is another guy I expect OU to get a visit from and there are multiple other guys that Bates and OU are doing work on.”
***In regard to Briehler, he is still a priority for Oklahoma and they were just out east to see him this past week. Source indicates that the Sooners are quite confident in where they stand in this one and I would not be shocked to see him shut things down shortly after his OU visit. Ohio State is still doing a lot of work here and that is always something to keep an eye on, but source reiterated they really feel like Briehler is ‘a Bates guy’.
***Trent Wilson is in the boat now, so that’s a change from February and right now, he appears completely locked in. Same can be said for Ka’Mori Moore.
***A name not on the Big Board is Christian Evans (6’3 275) out of Leesburg, Virginia. Evans made his way out to Norman for the Heisman Hangout and the Sooners made a big impression on him and his family. Expect him back for an official and should OU choose to push, source said there is a good chance they could put themselves in a position of dominance in that recruitment.
***Sharma is a guy that OU continues to push for and the Sooners went out west to see him this spring. The former Washington commit included OU in his top 7 in April and it is likely that OU will get an official. Right now, I would not consider them to be at the top of his top 7, but if they can get that official, they could make a move.
***Boucard is a guy who likes OU enough…but pulling a South Florida kid who plays a position of priority is never an easy task. OU has shown it can be done and they will get a chance to put their mark on this one when he officially visits in June.
The Latest | Transfer DT Brandon Lane
– Charlie S – Posted on: May 12, 2024
As you know, last week I first reported that Stephen f Austin defensive tackle Brandon Lane was looking to visit Norman.
Following that note, Lane made his way to Norman and met with Todd Bates but did not technically visit campus.
Lane reiterated to me that he was looking to visit this week officially.
This morning, Lane told me ‘no visit has been set still’.
As I noted HERE Lane is very high on LSU and USC. He is at LSU today and looking to visit USC along with OU in the near future, but he and the Sooners have not set up that visit to this point.
In chat on Friday, I was asked who the next commits will be for OU and I replied that OL Antoni Ogumoro would be the next high school commit and Brandon Lane would be the next portal commit “if OU wants him.”
I spoke to a source last night who mentioned that there is some debate on whether OU will get that visit on the books, which tells me there is some debate on whether OU believes the juice would be worth the squeeze on this one.
I know Lane wants that visit to happen, ball is clearly in OU’s court. I will let you know if/when that visit gets set.
Max Granville | Update
– Super K – Posted on: May 14, 2024
We’ve cautioned folks about getting over the skis on guys like Jonah Williams and Cobey Sellers (who recently committed to Aggie).
But I have had Max Granville trending OU even if only by a bit.
It does seem that the winds have changed a lot in the Houston area and Granville is caught up in that.
Last I checked with him (a week or so ago), he confirmed that he still plans on visiting OU for his official next month.
But I spoke to someone close to him who confirmed that the Sooners have lost a step in this one. As to the reason, source indicated that Granville isn’t the sole person making the decision and it appears folks around him who were initially fine with OU are less so now.
Things could change on the OV but for now I do have to rescind my Sooners trending on this one.
Drop Box – First Five | Charlie Digs In
– Charlie S – Posted on: May 14, 2024
Dipping into the Drop Box and taking no prisoners.
Below you will find the first five handpicked questions and answers!
This was fun, very cathartic.
Looking forward to grabbing another bunch later this week!
@Bearkat_Hurley
Where is OU roster relating to TX? Are we the supposed “1 year behind” or has that been closed?
This is one of the best questions I came across of the 125+ mailbag questions…and it was the first one asked. How about that?
Anyway, I never understood this narrative, and maybe I just do not comprehend what “1 year behind” means in regard to being ready for the move to the SEC. Did pundits want to refer to OU as “1 year behind” because they were not as good of a team as Texas was last year? Was it because OU has been feeding the NFL with their offensive linemen for the past 2 years and therefore they are ‘behind’? Was it because Texas had a better interior defensive line last year? Or, as I suspect, are most people who are pushing that narrative focused solely on the QB rooms, where yes, Texas is one year ahead of OU?
If you look at the rosters and compare them as I did HERE, it’s a pretty even split. OU has the advantage in most of the defensive rooms and Texas has an advantage in more of the offensive rooms.
With college football still being a very QB-centric game, and with Texas having the advantage of having a 3-year starter in place, it is easy to say “OU is a year behind” and not draw many objections from the sheeple out there. But on a room-to-room basis, no, OU is not a year behind, in fact in many rooms they are in a much better position than Texas going forward.
Either way, no matter what the roster looks like today, with the transfer portal, “One year behind” can change real quick.
@eddie55
Thanks Charlie – Question for anyone really.
Why hasn’t media put any pressure on JJF for the lack of production in the TE room? Whether it be for recruiting and/or development, seems like JJF not only gets a free pass but hell, a promotion. Even in the Spring game, production and play was below average to embarrassing. Sure we were running a basic offense, but Burks and JA and others still made their positions shine.
May be wrong but I thought Mitchell was coming here with or without JJF (especially with the early rumors of JJF leaving with Lebby).
You and I have the same question. I have my thoughts about the “why” JJF does not draw the heat that say a Jay Norvell or Kerry Cooks did, and I will get to that in a minute, but I think it is very fair to question what the heck is and what has been going on in the tight end room, particularly when you take into account the way recruiting for the ‘25 class is going.
Real quick on the ‘25 class…right now, as things stand, OU is not leading for any of their primary tight end targets…most of whom are in the region and OU should have been able to pull at least one of them. Nate Roberts (Oklahoma) is committed to Ohio State. Da’Saahn Brame (Kansas), Linkon Cure (Kansas), and Chase Lofton (Nebraska) are all within OU’s region and the chances are very high that none of them will be heading to Norman. Yes, JJF helped to secure Davon Mitchell last year, but he got a huge assist from Jeff Lebby when Lebby secured OU legacy Michael Hawkins who happens to be best friends with Mitchell.
As for the play on the field over the past couple of years…it has been lackluster to poor. Brayden Willis was a very talented kid who used his athleticism to excel in college and make a roster in the pros…but he was never a legit tight end in Norman, more of a Swiss Army knife who actually struggled to be consistent as an all-around ‘HB’ which is how OU used him. Austin Stogner was expected to come in and contribute, and he looked like he regressed once again while back in Norman. Now was that because of his development, or a QB/playcaller combo who didn’t use him correctly? Either way with Stogner, he was it last year as the Sooners had no plan B worth his salt and they wound up frequently playing a walk-on former basketball player at tight end far too often when Stogner needed a blow.
Wanna say his room has been bit by the injury bug? Ok…but so has every other room at one time or another.
Anyway, the tight ends have not been good. We can all agree on that. Why or how did he wind up getting a promotion and a pay raise? I have no idea. Personally, I would have not dangled the promotion carrot to get him to stay. I would have taken the position of “If you wanna go to Mississippi State for a promotion, go ahead. You can stay here in your same job if you want, but we aren’t going to reward an underachieving position room”. Again, those decisions are not mine to make and Brent and Seth Littrell felt like that was their move to make.
Now…why the media and a large portion of the fan base are not calling for his job…well…people defended the former interior defensive line coach to the end. Why was that? Likely because he was a nice guy and a former Sooner. Much the same as JJF. Now you have Todd Bates coaching the interior defensive line…anyone wishing they had the former guy still? The media and the fan base tend to be a lot more lenient on coaches when they are former Sooners.
My position is and has always been, this is the University of Oklahoma. The players, donors, and fans deserve the best coaches out there. Just because they are former Sooner players does not necessarily make them the best coaches for the job. Nobody batted an eye when Kerry Cooks or Jay Norvell were fired for underachieving, but they were not former Sooner players. Calvin Thibodeaux had rooms that consistently underachieved yet he milked that job until Riley left and Brent came in…he was never going to be ‘fired’. Imagine trying to get rid of DeMarco Murray if things play out this year like they did last year with the running back room? Yikes.
@Tony B
Do you see the 24′ year as a stepping stone to what looks like a big year in 25′ or do you think this 24′ team with an inexperienced QB and OL have what it takes to make the jump the first year in the SEC to make a playoff run?
This is another good question because a lot of people are taking the stance of “Wait until Jackson Arnold has a year under his belt. OU will be in a better position for the ‘25 season”.
I say…not so fast my friend.
After the ‘24 season, OU is perhaps going to send one of their largest classes ever to the NFL. Downs, RMT, Damonic, DaJon, Danny, Gentry, Woodi, Billy, Burks, Sawchuk, Sexton, Tarquin, Nwaiwu, Sharp, Farooq, Anderson…I mean I know I have missed some names…are all guys who could be heading to the NFL after the ‘24 season. Thats 8 defensive starters and 7 potential offensive starters who could head to the league.
I hope they make a playoff run this year because they are going to have a lot of holes to fill for ‘25. Jackson Arnold may have a career that is defined as a victim of circumstance while in Norman.
@ItsMeWolfie
Why is Alexander Shieldnight in this class?
6-2 220….no real position. Pretty much zero chance hes a LB in this scheme… So he needs to add 45lbs and play DE?
I like to use the mailbag to be able to provide complete answers.
So, in response to your question, here is the most complete answer that I can come up with:
“I don’t know.”
Shieldnight is a guy that I liken to a poor man’s Ethan Downs. Downs was a guy who came to Norman positionless and a tweener, but an excellent athlete at the same time. I still say Downs is an interior defensive lineman in a fullback body. But he has carved out a nice role for himself and has been a nice contributor on and off the field for OU.
Maybe OU thinks Shieldnight is just a “football player” and he will carve out a role somewhere. But yeah…I don’t know.
@ZachGivens
To any of the writers, why is there a perception that Texas as a football program is “SEC ready” compared to Oklahoma when each team is making the transition into a new conference? Is it based on one team’s head coach being at his university an additional year longer compared to the other?
The University of Texas is a cash cow for so many people, TV networks and college football sites are two of the biggest benefactors of Texas football.
When Texas is bad, every year it is THE year that they will be back. Every year.
When Texas has any success, it is proof that they are back (this is where we are right now).
Sark is 71-49 as a head coach. Which means he averages going 7-5 as a head coach throughout his career.
The storm that is lining up perfectly for Texas is that they have one of the easiest schedules in the SEC this year, while OU has the most difficult SEC schedule. So they get an easier path to a better record while their chief rival faces a very real possibility of having a rather pedestrian-looking record which will help further the narrative.
But the perception of Texas does not change from year to year. They are always back, and the reason they are always back is because it generates money. Lots and lots of money.
DEs Need a Big Year
– Super K – Posted on: May 14, 2024
To follow up on the Max Granville note from earlier I want to mention a few things…
***Chavis needs a big year from his DEs. It will be critical for the Sooners ability to field an excellent defense. If you can’t get pressure and you can’t pin the edges then you’re in trouble.
*** I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Brent may have tied his fate to Chavis’ ability to get his guys ready.
***But it is also critical from a recruiting perspective. What recruits see is what we see, a very talented and athletic room. That can look like a log jam…
***Unless you start putting those guys in the NFL or they at least look like they’re on their way there by picking up national recognition.
***The worst situation you can have is one where recruits see a crowded room that is clearly talented (more competition) with minimal production (little development).
***We aren’t the only ones who see how physically gifted guys like Adebawore and Okoye and others are. The recruits see that, as well. And if a transfer keeps coming in and starting, that can also spook people.
***This isn’t a freak-out post. It’s just a post to say that the Sooners need their talented DEs to be a strength of this defense this year. It will have a massive impact on the team play and will verify to recruits that the Sooners can handle the A+ talented they are being charged with caring for and developing.
News From the Portal | The Latest on IDL
– Charlie S – Posted on: May 15, 2024
***As the Sooners continue to turn over rocks in the portal while looking for the right fit at interior defensive line, the Brandon Lane (Stephen F Austin) train is still stuck in the station as there is no visit set to OU at this point. As I have continued to report, this feels like a case where if that visit comes off, OU will have their guy, but right now, OU has not moved to set that visit up. I will be in touch with him and will pass along any noteworthy updates.
***A name who is rumored to be visiting today is University of Louisiana Monroe interior DL Adin Huntington. I cannot confirm he is visiting today right now, but I did have a source tell me that they expect him to visit in the very near future. Today could be the day, but right now, as I said, I cannot confirm that to be the case. Huntington is listed at 6’0 280 so he is a different body type than Jermayne Lole.
Huntington played 3 seasons at Kent State and had a monster year at ULM in ’23 where he put 28 solo tackles and 8.5 sacks on the stat sheet. In the OU defense, in my opinion, he would project as a 3 or 5 as opposed to an every-down interior guy.
’25 Linebacker Big Board | Update
– Charlie S – Posted on: May 16, 2024
The Sooners have one linebacker committed in the ’25 class in Marcus James.
After that, you can take the old big board found here and pretty much rip it up and focus on the five names below for the time being.
***Kamar Archie – As I noted on the original big board post, Archie is set to visit Norman officially this summer.
***Mark Iheanachor – Iheanachor was recently offered and he has already set up an official visit to Norman for June 18th.
***Ty Jackson – Ty Jackson is a guy OU is still working on, but right now, I don’t know that I see him visiting.
***Elijah Melendez – Elijah Melendez is from Florida and he is committed to Miami, but the Sooners continue to work in the shadows here and I would not be surprised to see an official take place.
***Zaydrius Rainey-Sale – Zaydrius Rainey-Sale was another recent offer but he wasted no time in setting up his official to OU, also for June 18.
With Dawson Merritt announcing he is down to Nebraska and Alabama, the Sooners missed out on the majority of their early priorities…some by their own choice, and some by just losing out on a recruitment.
OU has continued to stay in hot pursuit of Archie as they were out in Jersey to see him earlier this spring, so with his official coming up, they may turn the heat up even more.
I would expect additional offers to come about. but right now, these are the guys I would focus on.
Floyd Boucard | Update | is OU for Real?
– Super K – Posted on: May 16, 2024
Short, answer, yes, OU is for real in this one.
As you know, the Sooners will be hosting 2025 DL, Floyd Boucard for an official in June. Boucard has a strong relationship with Bates and the Sooners staff.
The Sooners have made him a priority from pretty early on and you can see why. Rest assured, he will not be a “3 star” for very long. Should end up a 4 or possibly 5 star.
I’m told the Sooners have a real shot in this one. I was told they’re actually currently in the top two. And, because Boucard is originally Canadian, distance isn’t going to be much of a factor.
Not ready to trend this one yet but this is certainly one to continue to watch, especially given how talented Boucard is and how hard the Sooners are pushing here.
