*** One, we are aware and have heard the Missouri buzz. I reported as much on Friday in my "LIVE from IMG" notes:
oklahoma.forums.rivals.com
"Not IMG related, but there are, of course, several well-connected people here so I have been asking around on five-star DE Williams Nwaneri as well. One source told me that it's gone "back and forth" between Mizzou and OU over the last week. One source even told me that UGA feels, and a few others feel it is Mizzou, but they went on to say, "I don't know what to think because OU always seems to be in the conversation and is also who everyone compares Mizzou or UGA with in the end, so this is one that feels like you're going to see some major movement in the last 48 hours or so."
No one and I mean NO ONE, will make a final pick on Nwaneri when talking to sources. As for me, I am ride or dying with my OU pick. I am not overly confident either way because no matter what I hear from the OU side, I continue to hear conflicting reports on the other side of things.
I know Parker is 80/20 OU with Nwaneri, as recently as yesterday. I would say that I would go with PT on that because he has been more glued in on that than anyone, but I do want to make sure I pass on what I hear regarding the elite 2024 DE."
*** I still am standing by the "ride or die with my OU pick." At this point, I have to go down with the ship, I guess.
As noted above, the buzz was and has been a back and forth deal. It's one of the reasons I have bailed out on reporting a lot of what I hear on the five-star DE. It's been OU one minute and Mizzou the next. Obviously, as of late, it's been Mizzou.... BUT I refuse to say "I'll take the field in this recruitment" or "It could be one of either three or two." To me -- and if anyone has reported that it's not a knock at them, I am just making a general statement for point here -- I just think we are doing you all no service if we do that. You all know that recruiting is up and down and back and forth. So pick a side and ride with it.
*** Also, have spoken to sources tonight on about Nwaneri and where the Sooners stand. What I can tell you is that the Sooners have talked with with Nwaneri. As a matter of fact, I am told that all three of Brent Venables, Miguel Chavis and Todd Bates spoke with him and have been in contact with his parents tonight. Sources also tell me that no word has been given to anyone on a decision, and one source told OUinsider, "I can promise you one thing, Coach [Miguel] Chavis isn't going to give up and neither with Coach [Brent] Venables," the source said. "They are going to go down swinging and fighting if that is what is going to happen (Nwaneri potentially picking Mizzou)."
*** Another source made it abundantly clear that IF Nwaneri chose the Tigers, there would be no waving of the white flag from the Sooners staff. That same source also said that because OU isn't going to give up, the reaction from the OU fan base could play a big role in the Sooners' efforts recruiting Nwaneri throughout the fall, saying, "This is one recruitment I wouldn't ever place a bet because I think a lot can happen in the next 24 hours," a well-connected source told OUinsider. "And let's say (Williams Nwaneri) chooses Mizzou. The kid will be in Tulsa this weekend for a scrimmage and I can tell there will be no funeral reception in the Switzer Center. It will be a 'we lost the battle, so how do we win the war' type of mindset from that point forward. (OU) is too deep with Will, with LSN, with his teammates committed or at OU already. The relationship with him is deeper than most know (with OU). So there will be no moving on like it was with some others this spring or summer. Just hope the fans keep it civil if (OU) does lose out on the decision."
The source also made it clear that no one has been told either way and that more discussions will be had with Nwaneri and his family throughout the next 20 hours or so (note was started at 6 pm, but had multiple calls to get through while typing to make sure information was accurate as possible).
*** That brings us to the feeling I got from sources:
So far, it's been up in the air as we get closer. However, it does seem that some of the Sooners commits that I have spoken with feel as if things are moving in a decent direction for OU. But I will be honest, I don't know that Nwaneri is tipping his hand there either. What I do know is that the 2024 class has been on him throughout by texting and communicating with the five-star as we get closer and closer to a decision.
Also, there was some weird calmness from sources and those around the Switzer Center. Almost to the point that they felt regardless of what happens tomorrow, there is a feeling that OU will still be very much in consideration come NSD. After all, and as a source bluntly put it, "That's when it will matter the most is December 20th."
At the end of the day, I don't know what to think about all of this, but I do know Sooners DE coach Miguel Chavis has been very proficient in landing elite guys at the DE position, so I have no reason to feel that Oklahoma can't continue to make progress with Nwaneri IF... IF... they do end up losing out on him tomorrow to Missouri. Again, they WILL NOT be waving the white the flag and I don't think either side will feel this battle is over until the five-star signs on the dotted line come NSD.
*** Lastly, and this is where it gets even more interesting, there is some that continue to feel the payments that could begin to Nwaneri -- via Mizzou collectives on September 1st, and due to a Missouri state law -- would be "up for debate whether legal or not due to a player not being able to sign an financial aid before NSD." However, in speaking to people that I feel understand that law a bit, and have done some extensive research on it all, I am told that the wording of the law allows other "signed documents or OTHER agreements" to be a viable loophole to pay Nwaneri.
Now, will that be enough to sway the five-star in end? I am told as of 9 pm tonight that neither side has been told anything definitive, and was also told that same thing three hours ago as well.
Also, Parker has been the one with most of information on this, but I have a few very connected sources on this as well, and those sources are ones I have leaned on throughout this recruitment on my end. Those same sources told me it wasn't UGA and never was, and they also told me in July that Missouri was the team that was doing the best in the recruitment outside of the Sooners themselves. All that being said, no one has a clue where this thing is headed, but trending buzz has been on the Tigers' side of things.
Still, the Sooners haven't given up and are trying all they can to make sure they are pick at 3 pm tomorrow.
Until then, we wait.
LIVE from IMG Academy
*** Spoke a bit with five-star DL David Stone. He is ready for his recruitment to be over with, so he is a bit more close to the vest than normal right now, but at every turn, he is with fellow Sooners four-star DL commit Jayden Jackson. Whether on the DL or even walking from practice, the two...
oklahoma.forums.rivals.com
"Not IMG related, but there are, of course, several well-connected people here so I have been asking around on five-star DE Williams Nwaneri as well. One source told me that it's gone "back and forth" between Mizzou and OU over the last week. One source even told me that UGA feels, and a few others feel it is Mizzou, but they went on to say, "I don't know what to think because OU always seems to be in the conversation and is also who everyone compares Mizzou or UGA with in the end, so this is one that feels like you're going to see some major movement in the last 48 hours or so."
No one and I mean NO ONE, will make a final pick on Nwaneri when talking to sources. As for me, I am ride or dying with my OU pick. I am not overly confident either way because no matter what I hear from the OU side, I continue to hear conflicting reports on the other side of things.
I know Parker is 80/20 OU with Nwaneri, as recently as yesterday. I would say that I would go with PT on that because he has been more glued in on that than anyone, but I do want to make sure I pass on what I hear regarding the elite 2024 DE."
*** I still am standing by the "ride or die with my OU pick." At this point, I have to go down with the ship, I guess.
As noted above, the buzz was and has been a back and forth deal. It's one of the reasons I have bailed out on reporting a lot of what I hear on the five-star DE. It's been OU one minute and Mizzou the next. Obviously, as of late, it's been Mizzou.... BUT I refuse to say "I'll take the field in this recruitment" or "It could be one of either three or two." To me -- and if anyone has reported that it's not a knock at them, I am just making a general statement for point here -- I just think we are doing you all no service if we do that. You all know that recruiting is up and down and back and forth. So pick a side and ride with it.
*** Also, have spoken to sources tonight on about Nwaneri and where the Sooners stand. What I can tell you is that the Sooners have talked with with Nwaneri. As a matter of fact, I am told that all three of Brent Venables, Miguel Chavis and Todd Bates spoke with him and have been in contact with his parents tonight. Sources also tell me that no word has been given to anyone on a decision, and one source told OUinsider, "I can promise you one thing, Coach [Miguel] Chavis isn't going to give up and neither with Coach [Brent] Venables," the source said. "They are going to go down swinging and fighting if that is what is going to happen (Nwaneri potentially picking Mizzou)."
*** Another source made it abundantly clear that IF Nwaneri chose the Tigers, there would be no waving of the white flag from the Sooners staff. That same source also said that because OU isn't going to give up, the reaction from the OU fan base could play a big role in the Sooners' efforts recruiting Nwaneri throughout the fall, saying, "This is one recruitment I wouldn't ever place a bet because I think a lot can happen in the next 24 hours," a well-connected source told OUinsider. "And let's say (Williams Nwaneri) chooses Mizzou. The kid will be in Tulsa this weekend for a scrimmage and I can tell there will be no funeral reception in the Switzer Center. It will be a 'we lost the battle, so how do we win the war' type of mindset from that point forward. (OU) is too deep with Will, with LSN, with his teammates committed or at OU already. The relationship with him is deeper than most know (with OU). So there will be no moving on like it was with some others this spring or summer. Just hope the fans keep it civil if (OU) does lose out on the decision."
The source also made it clear that no one has been told either way and that more discussions will be had with Nwaneri and his family throughout the next 20 hours or so (note was started at 6 pm, but had multiple calls to get through while typing to make sure information was accurate as possible).
*** That brings us to the feeling I got from sources:
So far, it's been up in the air as we get closer. However, it does seem that some of the Sooners commits that I have spoken with feel as if things are moving in a decent direction for OU. But I will be honest, I don't know that Nwaneri is tipping his hand there either. What I do know is that the 2024 class has been on him throughout by texting and communicating with the five-star as we get closer and closer to a decision.
Also, there was some weird calmness from sources and those around the Switzer Center. Almost to the point that they felt regardless of what happens tomorrow, there is a feeling that OU will still be very much in consideration come NSD. After all, and as a source bluntly put it, "That's when it will matter the most is December 20th."
At the end of the day, I don't know what to think about all of this, but I do know Sooners DE coach Miguel Chavis has been very proficient in landing elite guys at the DE position, so I have no reason to feel that Oklahoma can't continue to make progress with Nwaneri IF... IF... they do end up losing out on him tomorrow to Missouri. Again, they WILL NOT be waving the white the flag and I don't think either side will feel this battle is over until the five-star signs on the dotted line come NSD.
*** Lastly, and this is where it gets even more interesting, there is some that continue to feel the payments that could begin to Nwaneri -- via Mizzou collectives on September 1st, and due to a Missouri state law -- would be "up for debate whether legal or not due to a player not being able to sign an financial aid before NSD." However, in speaking to people that I feel understand that law a bit, and have done some extensive research on it all, I am told that the wording of the law allows other "signed documents or OTHER agreements" to be a viable loophole to pay Nwaneri.
Now, will that be enough to sway the five-star in end? I am told as of 9 pm tonight that neither side has been told anything definitive, and was also told that same thing three hours ago as well.
Also, Parker has been the one with most of information on this, but I have a few very connected sources on this as well, and those sources are ones I have leaned on throughout this recruitment on my end. Those same sources told me it wasn't UGA and never was, and they also told me in July that Missouri was the team that was doing the best in the recruitment outside of the Sooners themselves. All that being said, no one has a clue where this thing is headed, but trending buzz has been on the Tigers' side of things.
Still, the Sooners haven't given up and are trying all they can to make sure they are pick at 3 pm tomorrow.
Until then, we wait.
