Let's dive into what I have been able to gather on the Sooners 2024 OKPreps target Xadavien Sims, who is announcing on May 20th:
*** First off, I am told that Sims is 100% "a take." I know some question that fact, due to who OU has on their board, and who they are targeting, but in speaking to some sources on both sides of the deal, I am told that Sims is not only a take but a target that Todd Bates and the Sooners want to add in the class for momentum and upside.
*** Also, unless something changes in the next week or so, I like where the Sooners stand for Sims. That means I will be sticking with my Rivals Future Cast as long as I continue to be told similar things from both sides of this recruitment.
*** On the Oregon visits, it was a lot of Sims really trying to figure out things because he wanted to dial this thing back a bit and make a decision. For months, multiple sources around Sims said that Oregon was "one place Dae-Dae has to see for himself before deciding." The same sources say he really enjoyed those two trips and his mother did as well (she only took the final one a week or so ago).
That said, Sims has four siblings and his mother that he would be leaving if he left that far away from home. Those things are heavy on Sims' mind as well. Because of that, the momentum that Oregon's been building has been slowed a bit. When you add the relationship that Sooners DL coach Todd Bates has with Sims, it has put Oklahoma in a good spot heading into the final week.
*** I am not saying that Oregon won't come in and pull off a 11th hour win with the OKPreps four-star DL. However, I am saying that unless something like that takes place, or Sims just has a change of heart over the next few days, I like the Sooners here.
The former isn't out of the question, but I haven't seen or heard anything that leads me to believe it's happening just yet.
*** Obviously, I will continue to follow this and dig on things over the next week. If we get more information on things potentially changing with Sims and where things are trending, we will update accordingly. But again, it feels like it's trending the Sooners' direction from things I have heard over the last 24 hours.
Stay tuned.
*** Some RB recruiting notes on four-star Florida Preps target, a surprise RB OU is still in on, and more ***
*** Yesterday, I am told that Sooners RB coach Demarco Murray was out in Florida seeing 2024 four-star RB Tovani Mizell. That name was one that Sooners fans paid very close attention to during the winter and early parts of the spring. However, things started to change a bit with Mizell and the Sooners when the recruitments of four-star RB Caden Durham, four-star RB Taylor Tatum and three-star RB/ATH Xavier Robinson started to heat up between the latter three and Oklahoma.
*** Still, there are some decision-makers around Norman that continue to feel Mizell is a take if he was to ever commit to the Sooners. The issue will be whether Mizell has an official or if he will take one this summer or this fall. All depends on his timeline. A timeline that could hinder Mizell's chances to be in the Sooners' 2024 class if the others are closer to deciding before he gets to that point.
*** As for official visits, Mizell tells me that he will be at UNC on June 9th and then Kentucky on June 16th. I am still waiting to here to if/when he will set up an official to OU, but sources tell me that it's a bit hard to set all of that up with "the 16th being full for official visits at RB. So, right now, (OU) can't set up anymore for the ChampU BBQ."
*** For those wondering who the officials will be that day, I have been told by Caden Durham and Taylor Tatum that they will be there on June 16th. I also am checking in with 2024 Carl Albert RB Xavier Robinson to when his is scheduled. Hopefully, I will have more clarification on Robinson and Mizell, as far as official visits go, here in the near future.
*** Another name that OU feels they are in a good spot for, or are at least in the clubhouse with, is 2024 three-star Decatur (TX) RB Nathaniel Palmer.
That was a bit of a surprise when I spoke with a well-connected source about Palmer the other day, but nonetheless, the three-star is another RB target that we need to keep an eye on moving forward. I will also be trying to reach out and see where things stand with him to get some further clarification on Palmer's side of things.
*** Lastly, the well-connected source told OUinsider that they felt the Sooners were in play for a variety of RB targets. The issue is knowing what the number of takes will be. Will it be two-three or just two? The source even said that depending on how other positions do, or what they may need come NSD, is going to play a role in how many RB's the Sooners take in 2024. But that was a bit more on the less likely side of things.
The source also said that OU needed to "tread carefully with who (OU) pushes for the RB spots heading into official visits," the source added, "With how good of position (OU) is in for a few, and how up in the air they feel about others, the next month will mean a lot when talking about what targets are trending toward (OU)."
One way or another, Demarco Murray has done a fantastic job setting Oklahoma up to be in position for a variety of RB targets. Who he pushes in June or July will be very telling, but one thing is for sure, Durham, Taylor and Robinson seem to be in 'group A,' as the spring moves along. Now, the Sooners just need to close on them to sure up the RB room depth even more heading into the SEC.
*** First off, I am told that Sims is 100% "a take." I know some question that fact, due to who OU has on their board, and who they are targeting, but in speaking to some sources on both sides of the deal, I am told that Sims is not only a take but a target that Todd Bates and the Sooners want to add in the class for momentum and upside.
*** Also, unless something changes in the next week or so, I like where the Sooners stand for Sims. That means I will be sticking with my Rivals Future Cast as long as I continue to be told similar things from both sides of this recruitment.
*** On the Oregon visits, it was a lot of Sims really trying to figure out things because he wanted to dial this thing back a bit and make a decision. For months, multiple sources around Sims said that Oregon was "one place Dae-Dae has to see for himself before deciding." The same sources say he really enjoyed those two trips and his mother did as well (she only took the final one a week or so ago).
That said, Sims has four siblings and his mother that he would be leaving if he left that far away from home. Those things are heavy on Sims' mind as well. Because of that, the momentum that Oregon's been building has been slowed a bit. When you add the relationship that Sooners DL coach Todd Bates has with Sims, it has put Oklahoma in a good spot heading into the final week.
*** I am not saying that Oregon won't come in and pull off a 11th hour win with the OKPreps four-star DL. However, I am saying that unless something like that takes place, or Sims just has a change of heart over the next few days, I like the Sooners here.
The former isn't out of the question, but I haven't seen or heard anything that leads me to believe it's happening just yet.
*** Obviously, I will continue to follow this and dig on things over the next week. If we get more information on things potentially changing with Sims and where things are trending, we will update accordingly. But again, it feels like it's trending the Sooners' direction from things I have heard over the last 24 hours.
Stay tuned.
*** Some RB recruiting notes on four-star Florida Preps target, a surprise RB OU is still in on, and more ***
*** Yesterday, I am told that Sooners RB coach Demarco Murray was out in Florida seeing 2024 four-star RB Tovani Mizell. That name was one that Sooners fans paid very close attention to during the winter and early parts of the spring. However, things started to change a bit with Mizell and the Sooners when the recruitments of four-star RB Caden Durham, four-star RB Taylor Tatum and three-star RB/ATH Xavier Robinson started to heat up between the latter three and Oklahoma.
*** Still, there are some decision-makers around Norman that continue to feel Mizell is a take if he was to ever commit to the Sooners. The issue will be whether Mizell has an official or if he will take one this summer or this fall. All depends on his timeline. A timeline that could hinder Mizell's chances to be in the Sooners' 2024 class if the others are closer to deciding before he gets to that point.
*** As for official visits, Mizell tells me that he will be at UNC on June 9th and then Kentucky on June 16th. I am still waiting to here to if/when he will set up an official to OU, but sources tell me that it's a bit hard to set all of that up with "the 16th being full for official visits at RB. So, right now, (OU) can't set up anymore for the ChampU BBQ."
*** For those wondering who the officials will be that day, I have been told by Caden Durham and Taylor Tatum that they will be there on June 16th. I also am checking in with 2024 Carl Albert RB Xavier Robinson to when his is scheduled. Hopefully, I will have more clarification on Robinson and Mizell, as far as official visits go, here in the near future.
*** Another name that OU feels they are in a good spot for, or are at least in the clubhouse with, is 2024 three-star Decatur (TX) RB Nathaniel Palmer.
That was a bit of a surprise when I spoke with a well-connected source about Palmer the other day, but nonetheless, the three-star is another RB target that we need to keep an eye on moving forward. I will also be trying to reach out and see where things stand with him to get some further clarification on Palmer's side of things.
*** Lastly, the well-connected source told OUinsider that they felt the Sooners were in play for a variety of RB targets. The issue is knowing what the number of takes will be. Will it be two-three or just two? The source even said that depending on how other positions do, or what they may need come NSD, is going to play a role in how many RB's the Sooners take in 2024. But that was a bit more on the less likely side of things.
The source also said that OU needed to "tread carefully with who (OU) pushes for the RB spots heading into official visits," the source added, "With how good of position (OU) is in for a few, and how up in the air they feel about others, the next month will mean a lot when talking about what targets are trending toward (OU)."
One way or another, Demarco Murray has done a fantastic job setting Oklahoma up to be in position for a variety of RB targets. Who he pushes in June or July will be very telling, but one thing is for sure, Durham, Taylor and Robinson seem to be in 'group A,' as the spring moves along. Now, the Sooners just need to close on them to sure up the RB room depth even more heading into the SEC.
