As per the request of a few members, here's a brief, all-inclusive summary of where things stand right now between OU and their remaining targets in the 2024 class. Obviously, this does not include every single offer outstanding to players in the 2024 class, but these are the ones that the Sooners are pursuing most diligently.
I will have more on this one tomorrow once I touch base with a couple good sources tonight. Despite a hard charge from Missouri, our intel still favors Oklahoma in what's become a mano-a-mano battle. Sources have indicated Georgia, Tennessee and Oregon are all but out of the race as the finish line fast approaches. Decision: August 14
Oklahoma has long been considered the favorite in the race for the five-star defensive lineman. That hasn't changed as of late, and the Sooners are still best positioned to pick up his commitment later this month. Decision: August 26
This recruitment has been a tough one to source, as McKinley is a quiet kid whose mother is heavily involved in his recruiting process. If there's one thing that has become apparent, it's that LSU, Texas and Oklahoma are the three finalists down the stretch. The Sooners have a steady confidence about their standing with McKinley, but so too do Texas and LSU. McKinley has stated that he isn't far off from a final decision, and when three programs are confident, that's generally a good indication that nobody should feel too secure. Decision: Mid-to-late August?
Kansas State and Nebraska haven't gone down quietly, but program sources in Norman are quite confident that they'll hold off the Wildcats and Huskers in a slow-burn recruitment that is winding down. Brix visited all three programs at the end of July and hasn't announced an exact date for his decision, but has said he'd like to lock in his pledge before the start of his senior season. Oklahoma remains the favorite for the dominant offensive tackle from Iowa. Decision: Mid-to-late August?
Durham has had every reason and every opportunity to join Oklahoma's class for quite some time, and he's been more than flirtatious with the Sooners and their fanbase. However, just days from his commitment, our intel suggests LSU has supplanted OU as the leader for the dynamic back from the Lone Star State. The Tigers seized the advantage on Durham's most recent visit to the Boot in late July and are on the inside track to landing him. Barring some seismic last-minute shift, don't expect this one to go Oklahoma's way. Decision: August 10
The Sooners' top uncommitted target at safety has taken his sweet time with a decision, and that's understandable considering that there are some complex layers to the process. Boganowski plays his high school ball in Junction City (Kan.), which is no more than 20 minutes from Bill Snyder Family Stadium at Kansas State University. Add to that the fact that K-State linebackers coach Steve Stanard recruited Boganowski's father to New Mexico State nearly three decades ago, and it's plain to see why the four-star athlete has had some reticence to commit to OU over KSU. Originally, an announcement was to take place in July, but the Sooners and Wildcats are still locked in a stalemate some six weeks after Boganowski's official visits wrapped up. This process could just as well come to an end abruptly as it could last several more weeks. Decision: September?
Sources in Norman have never been particularly concerned about where Oklahoma stands in Smith's recruitment. He's just over a month away from a decision and there’s admittedly some time for the sands to shift, but OU has been the leader in the clubhouse for over a year at this point. There's a reason every prediction across the industry favors OU for Smith. Decision: September 8
It's down to OU and Texas for Bowen, the younger brother of former five-star recruit and current Oklahoma safety Peyton Bowen. Eli has long been an Oklahoma lean, but the Longhorns haven't ever conceded that he'd follow his brother to Norman. Texas has continued to work the angles in this recruitment and it's kept them alive, but the general consensus is that Eli's familiarity with Norman and the opportunity to play with Peyton will tip the scales in OU's favor. Decision: Late August to early September?
The four-star defensive back has kept very quiet about his recruitment as of late and maintained a low profile. What was once shaping up to be an OU-TCU battle has now seen a third contender charge into the fray, and that would be Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide. Sources in Norman have always expressed a degree of confidence about Oklahoma's chances to land the in-state blue-chipper, but don't count it a given that Jordan ends up in Oklahoma's class... at least not yet. Decision: September?
It's a two-team race between Oklahoma and Oregon for the talented linebacker from Yelm (Wash.), but he plans to commit in early September and likely won't have the opportunity to return to Norman before doing so. If he'd made it down to the Sooner State at the end of July, this might be a completely different conversation. However, the safe money is on the Ducks in this battle, especially with a huge advantage in proximity. Decision: September 4
Four months ago, Oklahoma and Okoye were hardly an item. But over the summer, the Sooners managed to charge back into the race for the four-star defensive end from Tulsa, and they'll host him on an official visit this fall as he narrows things down and arrives at a decision. There's really no way of knowing when Okoye will commit, as he's always been content to approach this process at his own pace. However, the Sooners have as good a shot as anyone for the moment, which is as much as could be asked of Miguel Chavis in recruiting a kid who comes from a pro-Oklahoma State family. Texas, Tennessee and Alabama are also involved. Decision: October?
Umeozulu's older brother Neto, a former blue-chip offensive line recruit, chose Texas over Oklahoma late in the 2022 cycle. Nevertheless, sources have continually indicated to OUInsider that Zina is no mortal lock to team up with his brother in college. As such, he's shown great reciprocal interest to Oklahoma and Texas A&M, and it looks like a three-team battle between the Sooners, Longhorns and Aggies for the gifted edge rusher from Allen (Texas). If his recruitment mirrors that of his older brother, there's no telling how long it'll last. But the Sooners are fighting tooth and nail to get him in the class. Decision: NSD?
The intel has favored the Sooners for the massive offensive lineman from London, but given his status as a late riser, one of our concerns was what might happen if another storied football program got involved in the process. Enter Miami, which offered Akinkunmi yesterday. He's already eyeing an official visit to Coral Gables, and Georgia Tech and Ole Miss remain in the mix as well. Oklahoma will host Akinkunmi on an official visit in early September, but it isn't a slam dunk yet that he ends up in the class. Decision: Late September to early October
When the Sooners offered the versatile in-state athlete back in June, it was admittedly tough to foresee a path that led to Norman. Bass owns several other P5 offers, and Oklahoma wanted him at running back despite the fact that the program was quickly trending toward commitments from Xavier Robinson, Caden Durham and Taylor Tatum. The Sooners had also offered Bass as a preferred walk-on, promising him that his tuition and fees would be recouped via NIL. None of it added up to a picture that could make Bass feel like a priority, but that began to change in July as Durham's love affair with LSU deepened. The Sooners ramped up their pursuit of Bass, and when he released his top 3 in late July, it wasn't hard to figure that — sans Durham — Oklahoma stood a better chance of landing Bass than Syracuse or Kansas State. While Durham can be expected to pick LSU this week, it now seems apparent that Bass has the elbow room and the willingness to jump on board with OU. Decision: August 24
I will have more on this one tomorrow once I touch base with a couple good sources tonight. Despite a hard charge from Missouri, our intel still favors Oklahoma in what's become a mano-a-mano battle. Sources have indicated Georgia, Tennessee and Oregon are all but out of the race as the finish line fast approaches. Decision: August 14
Oklahoma has long been considered the favorite in the race for the five-star defensive lineman. That hasn't changed as of late, and the Sooners are still best positioned to pick up his commitment later this month. Decision: August 26
This recruitment has been a tough one to source, as McKinley is a quiet kid whose mother is heavily involved in his recruiting process. If there's one thing that has become apparent, it's that LSU, Texas and Oklahoma are the three finalists down the stretch. The Sooners have a steady confidence about their standing with McKinley, but so too do Texas and LSU. McKinley has stated that he isn't far off from a final decision, and when three programs are confident, that's generally a good indication that nobody should feel too secure. Decision: Mid-to-late August?
Kansas State and Nebraska haven't gone down quietly, but program sources in Norman are quite confident that they'll hold off the Wildcats and Huskers in a slow-burn recruitment that is winding down. Brix visited all three programs at the end of July and hasn't announced an exact date for his decision, but has said he'd like to lock in his pledge before the start of his senior season. Oklahoma remains the favorite for the dominant offensive tackle from Iowa. Decision: Mid-to-late August?
Durham has had every reason and every opportunity to join Oklahoma's class for quite some time, and he's been more than flirtatious with the Sooners and their fanbase. However, just days from his commitment, our intel suggests LSU has supplanted OU as the leader for the dynamic back from the Lone Star State. The Tigers seized the advantage on Durham's most recent visit to the Boot in late July and are on the inside track to landing him. Barring some seismic last-minute shift, don't expect this one to go Oklahoma's way. Decision: August 10
The Sooners' top uncommitted target at safety has taken his sweet time with a decision, and that's understandable considering that there are some complex layers to the process. Boganowski plays his high school ball in Junction City (Kan.), which is no more than 20 minutes from Bill Snyder Family Stadium at Kansas State University. Add to that the fact that K-State linebackers coach Steve Stanard recruited Boganowski's father to New Mexico State nearly three decades ago, and it's plain to see why the four-star athlete has had some reticence to commit to OU over KSU. Originally, an announcement was to take place in July, but the Sooners and Wildcats are still locked in a stalemate some six weeks after Boganowski's official visits wrapped up. This process could just as well come to an end abruptly as it could last several more weeks. Decision: September?
Sources in Norman have never been particularly concerned about where Oklahoma stands in Smith's recruitment. He's just over a month away from a decision and there’s admittedly some time for the sands to shift, but OU has been the leader in the clubhouse for over a year at this point. There's a reason every prediction across the industry favors OU for Smith. Decision: September 8
It's down to OU and Texas for Bowen, the younger brother of former five-star recruit and current Oklahoma safety Peyton Bowen. Eli has long been an Oklahoma lean, but the Longhorns haven't ever conceded that he'd follow his brother to Norman. Texas has continued to work the angles in this recruitment and it's kept them alive, but the general consensus is that Eli's familiarity with Norman and the opportunity to play with Peyton will tip the scales in OU's favor. Decision: Late August to early September?
The four-star defensive back has kept very quiet about his recruitment as of late and maintained a low profile. What was once shaping up to be an OU-TCU battle has now seen a third contender charge into the fray, and that would be Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide. Sources in Norman have always expressed a degree of confidence about Oklahoma's chances to land the in-state blue-chipper, but don't count it a given that Jordan ends up in Oklahoma's class... at least not yet. Decision: September?
It's a two-team race between Oklahoma and Oregon for the talented linebacker from Yelm (Wash.), but he plans to commit in early September and likely won't have the opportunity to return to Norman before doing so. If he'd made it down to the Sooner State at the end of July, this might be a completely different conversation. However, the safe money is on the Ducks in this battle, especially with a huge advantage in proximity. Decision: September 4
Four months ago, Oklahoma and Okoye were hardly an item. But over the summer, the Sooners managed to charge back into the race for the four-star defensive end from Tulsa, and they'll host him on an official visit this fall as he narrows things down and arrives at a decision. There's really no way of knowing when Okoye will commit, as he's always been content to approach this process at his own pace. However, the Sooners have as good a shot as anyone for the moment, which is as much as could be asked of Miguel Chavis in recruiting a kid who comes from a pro-Oklahoma State family. Texas, Tennessee and Alabama are also involved. Decision: October?
Umeozulu's older brother Neto, a former blue-chip offensive line recruit, chose Texas over Oklahoma late in the 2022 cycle. Nevertheless, sources have continually indicated to OUInsider that Zina is no mortal lock to team up with his brother in college. As such, he's shown great reciprocal interest to Oklahoma and Texas A&M, and it looks like a three-team battle between the Sooners, Longhorns and Aggies for the gifted edge rusher from Allen (Texas). If his recruitment mirrors that of his older brother, there's no telling how long it'll last. But the Sooners are fighting tooth and nail to get him in the class. Decision: NSD?
Daniel Akinkunmi 2024 Offensive Guard Oklahoma
Daniel Akinkunmi - 3 Star Offensive guard for Oklahoma on OUInsider
n.rivals.com
The intel has favored the Sooners for the massive offensive lineman from London, but given his status as a late riser, one of our concerns was what might happen if another storied football program got involved in the process. Enter Miami, which offered Akinkunmi yesterday. He's already eyeing an official visit to Coral Gables, and Georgia Tech and Ole Miss remain in the mix as well. Oklahoma will host Akinkunmi on an official visit in early September, but it isn't a slam dunk yet that he ends up in the class. Decision: Late September to early October
Andy Bass 2024 Athlete Oklahoma
Andy Bass - 2024 3 Star Athlete for Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City, OK) on Rivals.com
n.rivals.com
When the Sooners offered the versatile in-state athlete back in June, it was admittedly tough to foresee a path that led to Norman. Bass owns several other P5 offers, and Oklahoma wanted him at running back despite the fact that the program was quickly trending toward commitments from Xavier Robinson, Caden Durham and Taylor Tatum. The Sooners had also offered Bass as a preferred walk-on, promising him that his tuition and fees would be recouped via NIL. None of it added up to a picture that could make Bass feel like a priority, but that began to change in July as Durham's love affair with LSU deepened. The Sooners ramped up their pursuit of Bass, and when he released his top 3 in late July, it wasn't hard to figure that — sans Durham — Oklahoma stood a better chance of landing Bass than Syracuse or Kansas State. While Durham can be expected to pick LSU this week, it now seems apparent that Bass has the elbow room and the willingness to jump on board with OU. Decision: August 24
