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Jay Valai Co-Defensive Coordinator / Pass Defense / Cornerbacks and Nickelbacks

Is there a reason this guy still has a job today? And whomever had serious questions about Roof upon his hire was dead on. Venables has surrounded himself with some subpar assistants.

As for Valai - per SoonerSports:
"This season [2021] he helped [what job title?] Alabama to a 13-2 record, an SEC title and an appearance in the CFP National Championship Game. ... Prior to this year, Valai served as cornerbacks coach at Texas in 2020 and Rutgers in 2019." https://soonersports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/jay-valai/706

Besides unwarranted value by being associated with Bama, he coached wretched UT and Rutgers Ds in 2020 and 2019. Clearly this was just a "get a guy associated with Bama." FAIL.

If I could see this D try to fix just one thing this week it would be DBs locating the ball in the air on bombs. All of them tackle the WR (usually before the ball is there resulting in 15 yard penalties) and have no idea where the ball is . ALL of them. Its systemic and indicates shoddy coaching. The back-up QBs just need to lob deep balls in practice all week along against this secondary, with them keeping their heads on a swivel looking for the ball. Next week maybe we can work on not letting a WR run right past you with no cover 2.

But as I've said before regarding Gabriel - if he's out, we're beyond done. As many warts as he might have (all of his balls are sailing for 4 quarters now - he needs to throw a catchable ball, or be rolled out to where his trajectory is not so high to clear the LOS) he's our only option. And Lebby needs to do a better job of mixing in the run; hell just establish the run - we have at least 3 solid RBs. And keep our D off the field. Certainly no time to go Leach on us.

New Follows for October 27


Followed by both Lebby and JJF


Followed by BV and Bates. BV also followed his high school twitter account. He’s recently picked up offers from Memphis, Maryland, USF, UCF, and GTECH

McDonald update per rivals clemson mods

While a lot has added up in Clemson's favor, and multiple contacts around McDonald have pointed in the Tigers' direction, we've referenced that almost all of his other suitors have been convinced by McDonald that they might be the leading choice.

Thus, we have also learned that at least two of the four other finalists believe McDonald will not select Clemson.

We would tell you the Tigers would be quite surprised if that were already the case. That's not the feedback received on their end.

McDonald, though, is a tough read. And we've indicated a couple times over the last month that per our intel, this was not a done deal for Clemson.

As you know, this close to an announcement we like to characterize as smokescreen season.

The question becomes who isn't getting the accurate depiction.

WOKElahoma - October 26, 2022

Well let's start at the top with the new in-state offer to Washington, Okla. 2025 tight end Nate Roberts.


Obviously this is huge news as it's Oklahoma's first 2025 offer in-state in what looks to be a very talented class inside Oklahoma's borders..

But it's also a huge moment for Roberts who is a self-admitted Oklahoma fan that says 'every open weekend I get I always go and watch the Sooners'.

Roberts, who also holds offers from Kentucky, Tennessee, North Texas, and Baylor, is extremely excited about the offer and he feels like a good fit with Joe Jon Finley.

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Sticking in the class of 2025 is the player who could be their next in-state offer, Checotah's Elijah Thomas, a two-way standout for the Wildcats and head coach Zac Ross.

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Thomas heard from the Sooners primary in-state recruiter, Brandon Hall, on Tuesday and has now set up an unofficial visit for the Sooners on Nov. 5 - a weekend that is starting to look like a good one for the Sooners with a few names being added to the list.

Thomas already holds offers from Arkansas and Oklahoma State - who offered him last week - and there feels like a real chance Oklahoma could be the next, once he makes the visit to campus.

***************

One player who did it in reverse order is 2024 wide receiver Terrance 'T.J' Moore Jr. The big-time talent is a guy I had a chance to see in person a few weeks ago for Tampa Catholic and it's not hard to imagine why the Sooners went all in with him. He's got a great frame and plenty of speed to stretch the field vertically.


And now it looks like Moore will be getting up to Norman in very short order with the likeliest moment the Nov. 5 game against Baylor. Moore doesn't have a lot of information on the Sooners at this point but is excited about where he feels he is in the hierarchy for Oklahoma at the position after his conversation with L'Damian Washington.

"He only offered 2 wide receivers in my class and that I was the second one," Moore said. "He was telling me how he respected the fact that I was humble and that I was raised well. Then he said he liked the fact that over the time we’ve been speaking I hadn’t mentioned anything about an offer once. That they’d love to get me up there to see a game and to meet the staff."

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Finally, a late note, I've been talking to multiple sources this morning and have heard considerable ground swell that while it may not be known who Kayden McDonald will choose it sounds very much like it will not be Clemson.


I'm going to keep digging but obviously that's a wild turn of events.

Commitment Visit Policy - Am I Really This Confused??

My understanding was that if you are committed, they EXPECT you to not take visits.

If you then take visits, they are no longer considering you a commitment. This meaning they are looking for guys to replace you. Obviously would still take you on signing day, etc.

Am I wrong? I didn’t think it was as simple as “you can’t take visits if you are committed”..
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Taking visits while committed?

First off, I like Brent's policy on not taking visits once you commit. What im not understanding, is it seems to depend on who exactly it is that is taking a visit and if its ok?
I completely understand not wanting to cut loose top level recruits, but if the rule is not gonna be firm, whats point of even having the expectation of no visits after
committing?

Baseball Roster/Portal Thread

OKLAHOMA COMMITS/SIGNEES

Name
Departing School
Position
Height
Weight
YOE
Notes
Mason Strong
BYU
C​
6'1​
190​
3​
Committed to Oklahoma on 7/13 - TWITTER LINK
Anthony Mackenzie
Sam Houston
INF/DH​
6'0​
195​
2​
In the OU database​
Blake Bales
Virginia
RHP​
6'4​
225​
1​
Committed to Oklahoma on 7/24 - TWITTER LINK
Kale Davis
Oklahoma State
RHP​
6'4​
225​
3​
Committed to Oklahoma on 7/6 - TWITTER LINK
Matthew DeCrona
Long Beach State
RHP​
6'2​
190​
4​
Committed to Oklahoma on 4/19 - TWITTER LINK
Braxton Douthit
Lamar
RHP​
5'11​
200​
1​
Committed to Oklahoma on 7/8 (kind of) - Trevin Micheal TWITTER
Jamie Hitt
Texas Tech
LHP​
6'0​
180​
3​
Committed to Oklahoma on 7/14 - TWITTER LINK
Gray Thomas
TCU
RHP​
6'4​
205​
3​
Committed to Oklahoma on 8/6 - TWITTER LINK


Drafted/not playing at OU:


Name
Departing School
Position
Height
Weight
YOE
Notes
Baylor
OF/INF​
6'4​
200​
2​
Committed to Oklahoma on 6/7 - IG LINK




PLAYERS TO WATCH


-




COMMITTED ELSEWHERE



Was on the P2W list


Name
Departing School
Position
Height
Weight
YOE
Committed to
Maui Ahuna
Kansas
INF/SS​
6'1​
170​
2​
Tennessee
Tre Richardson
Baylor
INF/2B​
5'10​
160​
2​
TCU
Jordan Sprinkle
Cal-Santa Barbara
INF/SS​
5'11​
180​
2​
Arkansas
Hunter Cranton
San Diego State
RHP​
6'3​
205​
3​
Kansas
Nebraska
RHP​
6'2​
210​
1​
Arkansas
Tayler Montiel
Mississippi State
LHP​
6'2​
205​
4​
Tulane
Graham Osman
Arizona State
LHP​
6'3​
185​
3​
Long Beach State
Juaron Watts-Brown
Long Beach State
RHP​
6'3​
190​
3​
Oklahoma State

SCOOPHD: Exhibition highlights vs. OCU ...

Here's some highlights from last night's 89-53 exhibition victory versus Oklahoma City University.

I realized halfway through the second half I wasn't recording with audio. So that's my bad. Hahahaha. That's why there is no audio. Regardless, it's a good look at some of the new faces.

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BV keeping OU’s ship steady

Nobody wanted 4-3, but BV proving to be the guy up to the task of keeping it together.

“I think it was dang-near everything,” linebacker DaShaun White said. “I don’t think any of us have ever been down three straight – especially with an organization like this. It was one of those things where we needed a big-time leader to bring us out of that.

“Coach Venables never flinched – not once – at any moment. I feel like that did a lot for us. I feel like if we had lost seven straight, it would have been the same from him. I think that’s just who he is. Really grateful to have a leader like him.”

Wednesday Notes...(UPDATE: 1:10p)

UPDATE: 1:10p - OK, I won't say that I have the full story but have spoken to a few people in regard to the Anthony Evans situation and can clarify a few things.

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First of all it does sound like Oklahoma was aware of this trip upcoming and my initial impression is that no one is overly concerned about it at this point. Evans has always remained in good contact with Oklahoma's staff and has built a good bond with not only L'Damian Washington but Jeff Lebby, Jay Valai, and Brent Venables.

I also do not get the feeling that they are going to simply walk away from him or anything like that. They are in his recruitment and are going to fight but obviously they have to keep other wide receiver options open and available.

The thing to remember with this is is Evans, who is a military kid that has moved around a bit, has some strong connections to Georgia and it sounds like he just would like to get back and see a game.

I know this isn't going to put everyone's worries to bed or anything but just want to provide a bit more context for the situation. And yes, I'll keep searching for more.

ORIGINAL: Guys have spoken to a few sources and keep hearing the same thing in regard to sophomore safety Billy Bowman - it's going to be about practice this week. Obviously we all know he's out there practicing with the team but it's just going to be how he reacts to it and how his body responds. If it goes well, hitting the field this week is very possible.

What was made clear is that he has impressed everyone with how quickly he has come back but there's concern, as Brent Venables put some voice to yesterday during his meeting with the media, that he may be coming back too soon as I think Baylor on Nov. 5 was the initial expectation.

Just kind of wanted to pass along what I'm hearing at this point.
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