There is becoming something about Tuesday's, rumors seem to run wild as every Wednesday morning i've got a lot of weird ground to cover.
*Let's start with all of the talk on
Rivals100 linebacker, and long-time LSU commitment,
Marcel Brooks.
First, let's go back a bit in time. Most notably how many times Oklahoma and Brooks have seemed close to making something happen.
Back in the early spring Brooks was all but considered an Oklahoma commitment by some near the South End of Owen Field, then, in a pattern you'll see emerge throughout this conversation, things cooled off for a variety of reasons. Some of which were Brooks taking a step back and some were Oklahoma - numbers, character concerns, etc.
Then he committed to LSU in late April and things seem to go away. Then in the late summer things rekindled and a lot of these
same rumors emerged heading into the BBQ on July 28. Then at the last second Brooks backed out of taking his trip, again, for several reasons.
During the season the talk has flared a few times but it never felt meaningful and then in the last 24 hours Brooks tweets this and the world goes nuts.
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"I'm not saying Brooks wouldn't make that jump but I am saying he likes to play the game a bit," a source said.
"I do know he likes OU a lot though," another source said.
I'll admit it, if Brooks committed - as some are speculating - yesterday, it's news to me. But it's also not completely out of left field. We'll see what happens and my money is that he signs with LSU - I think he tends to flirt but won't actually 'make a date' so to speak - but that being said this isn't something I'm going to completely write off.
**Speaking of big defensive news, I know you also want to talk about Oklahoma's Southern California in-home visits with star defensive backs
Jeremiah Criddell and
Chris Steele.
I spoke with Criddell for a bit last night after
Kerry Cooks and
Lincoln Riley left; it's clear that the visit went very well for him but he also is trying to be patient with things.
"It was a great visit, but no big decisions yet," Criddell said.
Speaking to some sources there was a similar take that Oklahoma feels very good about where they are but no one seems certain of anything until he signs. Especially considering, as we've said all along, there are folks around him who are very bullish about him heading to Oregon.
There is reason to be confident about Criddell but there is a long way to go yet.
Also, he remains open about the idea of whether he will sign early though I've heard some 'Nik Bonitito' situation talk with Criddell set to play in the Under Armour All-American Game next month.
In the case of Steele, Oklahoma had a really strong visit but the Sooners remain little more than a puncher's chance in this race with Florid having built a commanding lead and if he needs a backup, it feels a lot like USC or Oregon will be that choice.
Oklahoma has run a good race but this feels like
Marvin Wilson of a few years ago, they got close a few times but it just couldn't ever
quite come together.
A small note? While at Bosco,
Lincoln Riley also did some checking on the Nation's No. 1 prospect in 2020,
D.J. Uiagalelei. The door hasn't been closed but Clemson's lead is becoming formidable.
***I know that many of you are excited about the possibility of
Rivals250 running back
Tyrion Davis visiting and from what I have gathered, that trip is still on.
What I've also been learning is that while you're never going to blame a staff for shooting their shot, especially when they have a backup option like
Rhamondre Stevenson, but the reality is it's going to be tough to turn Davis away from LSU.
The visit feels like a coin flip, we'll see if he makes it and if he does, crazy things can happen but pulling an LSU offer out of Louisiana is near impossible, doing it for a kid
FROM Baton Rouge? It's tough to envision.
****It's a week before National Signing Day so let's give you a little something extra.
Something you all will like on a guy that I was kind of beginning to write off for Oklahoma...
"Mom wants him at Oklahoma," said one source on the mother of 4-star EDGE
David Ugwoegbu.
On further good news it sounds like Oklahoma and
Marcus Stripling remain in great, great shape together.
