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Let's start with Christian Thatcher, who has been a solid Oklahoma lean for months. He and his family were somewhat blindsided by Ted Roof's departure from Oklahoma, as they had developed an outstanding relationship with Roof. However, despite the initial disappointment, Thatcher is still a heavy OU lean and the only real question here is whether Oklahoma has the room to take him. Several sources have given me the initial indication that the 2025 class will be a bit lighter than 2023 and 2024, and the Sooners did land a joint commitment from
Trynae Washington and
Marcus James a couple of months back. I am of the opinion that Thatcher is the type of player you don't turn down, and I don't think the Sooners will, but figured I would at least acknowledge that the numbers conversation is beginning to come into play.
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Though it's Oklahoma and Oregon that continue to pace the field for Isaiah Mozee, I'm also told Tennessee and Missouri have found a foothold in the race. The comfort level with Emmett Jones is very high for Mozee and his family, but now the question becomes whether the Sooners pick up a fourth pledge at WR before Mozee is ready to make his decision. His recruitment is in its final days, and a commitment before the spring is likely. But Emmett has myriad options.
Andrew Marsh is high on Oklahoma, as is
Ja'Kayden Ferguson, and Jones gave
Emmanuel Choice his very first offer last summer before the Lancaster (Texas) product truly blew up. I'm keeping a particular eye on Choice, who is set to visit Norman later this month for a junior day. Timeline could be a major variable as far as Mozee and the Sooners are concerned, but I'm content with my FutureCast to OU until I hear otherwise.
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Texas has continued to make Maliek Hawkins a major priority. "It's the weirdest thing," one source said to me of the Longhorns' continued pursuit. Many other schools have been reticent to offer the Frisco (Texas) Emerson corner, because they see it as a given that he'll follow his brother Michael to Norman. I am certainly of that belief, as are numerous others across the recruiting industry. But Texas has taken nothing for granted, and I've been told there are people of influence in the Hawkins' circle that are pushing Texas as the best business decision for Maliek. That said, I'm going to have to see the younger Hawkins brother turn down Oklahoma before I believe it'll happen, especially because the Sooners offered him several months before Texas.
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The Sooners will get Jonah Williams, the nation's No. 8 overall player in the 2025 cycle, back on campus this month for a junior day visit. The battle for his services will not be won with ease, but I think Brandon Hall and Oklahoma are at least in a legitimate position to pull this off. He's been a regular visitor in Norman over the last year and has the opportunity to play both football and baseball, which is no doubt something that the Sooners will tout heavily now that
Taylor Tatum and
James Nesta are signed. Williams is one of the most coveted prospects in the nation. This is not a recruitment about which to get overly optimistic this early in the process, because he'll have his pick of the litter and there will be big money thrown his way. But I like the Sooners just as much as anyone in this race for the moment. He and
Michael Fasusi (also visiting again this month, by the way) are the two five-stars that I think Oklahoma has the best chance with.
