*** First, I will start with Sooners CB coach and Co-DC Jay Valai.
Valai has been out to see 2025 Houston (TX) North Shore five-star DB Devin Sanchez. I am told that the Sooners are in a decent spot here and that they expect Sanchez back in Norman for his third or fourth trip later this summer. Most likely for the 'Party in the Palace' in late July.
Valai has also been out in Florida and hit up St Thomas Aquinas, Miami Central, American Heritage Plantation and more.
*** Coach Bill Bedenbaugh has made his rounds to see Casey Poe in the last 10 or so days, along with Frisco Reedy this week to see four-star OL offer (and younger brother to Nate Anderson), Max Anderson. I am told that Bedenbaugh also stopped by all the Frisco schools, and made several other stops to see 2025 four-star Lewisville (TX) OL Michael Fasusi.
Also, sources tell me that Bedenbaugh was up in Iowa seeing 2024 four-star Logan (IA) Logan Magnolia Community OL Grant Brix. He's one that the Sooners feel they have a good shot at but know they are battling the two instate programs (Iowas and ISU), among others for his services.
*** Sooners safety coach Brandon Hall has been in the Florida panhandle seeing new Texas A&M commit Jordan Pride. Coach Hall will also be in the Houston metro this week to see 2025 four-star safety/ATH Jonah Williams, and also will be by to see 2024 fast-rising ATH Joshua Lair.
Lair is a name to watch, as the Sooners look to make a run there at safety. I have even been told by some sources that taking three safeties is "very realistic if it's the right ones."
What has made it "realistic" with Lair is his strong friendship with Sooners four-star WR commit Zion Kearney. Essentially, peer-to-peer recruiting has helped OU and Coach Hall here, but until Lair actually gets up for a visit it is just talk. That said, Hall is in Houston and has stopped by to see his trainer tonight and will be by to see Lair practice tomorrow, according to sources that are close to Lair's recruitment.
*** Sooners WR coach Emmett Jones has recently been by to see 2025 four-star WR commit Gracen Harris in Ennis (TX). Jones was also by Midlothian (TX) seeing five-star WR Bryant Wesco, and also was down in Missouri City seeing Sooners' commit Zion Kearney, too.
Wesco is the one that most fans are focused on here, but I don't think we will see much movement until he officially visits a few programs. Oklahoma fully expects to host him in June, but I am working to confirm the exact date.
Also, I am told Jones made the rounds to a lot of DFW schools and hit his area up this past week.
*** Another spot or two that Sooners safety coach Brandon Hall stopped by to see Oregon Ducks commitment Aaron Flowers. Oklahoma hasn't stopped swinging there, and I am told that Flowers has continued to be open to communicate with the Sooners' staff. Where that goes from here on out is going to be something we watch closely.
*** Sooners RB coach Demarco Murray has also been making the rounds. I am told that he has been by Longview in the last 10 days to see four-star RB Taylor Tatum, and has also been by to see Carl Albert RB target Xavier Robinson this past Monday. Another target that Murray has been by to see is 2024 three-star Decatur (TX) RB, Nathanial Palmer. A name a lot of Sooners fans aren't aware of, but I will explain in an upcoming note on RB recruiting in a few days (potentially early next week).
Still, to hold you over, it seems he is a take and the interest between the two parties has grown over the last month or two, I am told.
Oklahoma RB coach Demarco Murray was also out to see elite 2025 Metairie (LA) St Martins Episcopal RB Harlem Berry in the last week. I don't know where the Sooners stand here, but I know the Coach Murray really likes the number two overall RB in the 2025 class, and Coach Murray and the Sooners have been recruiting him pretty aggressively. That is something we will work to have more on so that we can deep-dive into his recruitment in the near future.
Side Note: I know some are asking why I didn't mention Murray and four-star RB Caden Durham. Reason is because that is Emmett Jones territory and he has been by Duncanville on several occasions. I have been told that Murray has attended with Jones, previously, but for the most part, Duncanville, South Oak Cliff and several others are Jones' territory with his longstanding connections at those high schools and in that area.
*** I am told that OU will be back by IMG Academy next week, with Bill Bedenbaugh and Todd Bates hitting up the elite program, and seeing OL and DL targets like five-star DL David Stone, and 2024 four-star NT Jayden Jackson.
As we reported earlier, there are a lot of people that feel Stone and the Sooners are in as good of a spot as they have been in quite some time. However, that is prior to official visits.
Still, if the Sooners can land four-star DL Xadavien Sims and then pull in four-star DL Joseph Jonah-Ajone, that will help Bates and company out, due to their relationship with the five-star DL.
As for Jackson, he is a NT that Bates is working to get on campus, and there is some buzz that some numbers could be moved around if Bates could get the four-star NT in for an official visit and potentially in the class. For now, it's just talk, and most, including myself, would consider Jackson a long shot. Even with him being a long shot, Coach Bates isn't done trying to land Jackson. So that means we have to at least watch that recruitment out of the corner of eye... Just in case.
*** Sooners DE coach Miguel Chavis has been in Kansas City area earlier this week, and I am told he was by to see 2024 five-star DE/DL target Williams Nwaneri. He also stopped by several schools to check-in around his area. Another player of interest, during his rounds in KC area, was 2024 four-star EDGE Jayshawn Ross.
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/williams-nwaneri-284260?view=pv
Parker just updated you all Williams Nwaneri this past week, so if you want to check it out, go ahead and go HERE.
Regarding Ross' recruitment, it's a bit of a head scratcher. On one hand, he really likes the Sooners. On another, he just is in no hurry to get his recruitment over or narrow things down. Both lead me to believe there is just a small chance that Ross will be in the Sooners' 24K class come NSD.
Basically, unless he starts to really focus and hone in on his recruitment, I would expect Chavis and the Sooners to look elsewhere.
Finally, OU was out at a few JUCO's to touch base there and see a few potential targets. I will add more to that when I can.
Valai has been out to see 2025 Houston (TX) North Shore five-star DB Devin Sanchez. I am told that the Sooners are in a decent spot here and that they expect Sanchez back in Norman for his third or fourth trip later this summer. Most likely for the 'Party in the Palace' in late July.
Valai has also been out in Florida and hit up St Thomas Aquinas, Miami Central, American Heritage Plantation and more.
*** Coach Bill Bedenbaugh has made his rounds to see Casey Poe in the last 10 or so days, along with Frisco Reedy this week to see four-star OL offer (and younger brother to Nate Anderson), Max Anderson. I am told that Bedenbaugh also stopped by all the Frisco schools, and made several other stops to see 2025 four-star Lewisville (TX) OL Michael Fasusi.
Also, sources tell me that Bedenbaugh was up in Iowa seeing 2024 four-star Logan (IA) Logan Magnolia Community OL Grant Brix. He's one that the Sooners feel they have a good shot at but know they are battling the two instate programs (Iowas and ISU), among others for his services.
*** Sooners safety coach Brandon Hall has been in the Florida panhandle seeing new Texas A&M commit Jordan Pride. Coach Hall will also be in the Houston metro this week to see 2025 four-star safety/ATH Jonah Williams, and also will be by to see 2024 fast-rising ATH Joshua Lair.
Lair is a name to watch, as the Sooners look to make a run there at safety. I have even been told by some sources that taking three safeties is "very realistic if it's the right ones."
What has made it "realistic" with Lair is his strong friendship with Sooners four-star WR commit Zion Kearney. Essentially, peer-to-peer recruiting has helped OU and Coach Hall here, but until Lair actually gets up for a visit it is just talk. That said, Hall is in Houston and has stopped by to see his trainer tonight and will be by to see Lair practice tomorrow, according to sources that are close to Lair's recruitment.
*** Sooners WR coach Emmett Jones has recently been by to see 2025 four-star WR commit Gracen Harris in Ennis (TX). Jones was also by Midlothian (TX) seeing five-star WR Bryant Wesco, and also was down in Missouri City seeing Sooners' commit Zion Kearney, too.
Wesco is the one that most fans are focused on here, but I don't think we will see much movement until he officially visits a few programs. Oklahoma fully expects to host him in June, but I am working to confirm the exact date.
Also, I am told Jones made the rounds to a lot of DFW schools and hit his area up this past week.
*** Another spot or two that Sooners safety coach Brandon Hall stopped by to see Oregon Ducks commitment Aaron Flowers. Oklahoma hasn't stopped swinging there, and I am told that Flowers has continued to be open to communicate with the Sooners' staff. Where that goes from here on out is going to be something we watch closely.
*** Sooners RB coach Demarco Murray has also been making the rounds. I am told that he has been by Longview in the last 10 days to see four-star RB Taylor Tatum, and has also been by to see Carl Albert RB target Xavier Robinson this past Monday. Another target that Murray has been by to see is 2024 three-star Decatur (TX) RB, Nathanial Palmer. A name a lot of Sooners fans aren't aware of, but I will explain in an upcoming note on RB recruiting in a few days (potentially early next week).
Still, to hold you over, it seems he is a take and the interest between the two parties has grown over the last month or two, I am told.
Oklahoma RB coach Demarco Murray was also out to see elite 2025 Metairie (LA) St Martins Episcopal RB Harlem Berry in the last week. I don't know where the Sooners stand here, but I know the Coach Murray really likes the number two overall RB in the 2025 class, and Coach Murray and the Sooners have been recruiting him pretty aggressively. That is something we will work to have more on so that we can deep-dive into his recruitment in the near future.
Side Note: I know some are asking why I didn't mention Murray and four-star RB Caden Durham. Reason is because that is Emmett Jones territory and he has been by Duncanville on several occasions. I have been told that Murray has attended with Jones, previously, but for the most part, Duncanville, South Oak Cliff and several others are Jones' territory with his longstanding connections at those high schools and in that area.
*** I am told that OU will be back by IMG Academy next week, with Bill Bedenbaugh and Todd Bates hitting up the elite program, and seeing OL and DL targets like five-star DL David Stone, and 2024 four-star NT Jayden Jackson.
As we reported earlier, there are a lot of people that feel Stone and the Sooners are in as good of a spot as they have been in quite some time. However, that is prior to official visits.
Still, if the Sooners can land four-star DL Xadavien Sims and then pull in four-star DL Joseph Jonah-Ajone, that will help Bates and company out, due to their relationship with the five-star DL.
As for Jackson, he is a NT that Bates is working to get on campus, and there is some buzz that some numbers could be moved around if Bates could get the four-star NT in for an official visit and potentially in the class. For now, it's just talk, and most, including myself, would consider Jackson a long shot. Even with him being a long shot, Coach Bates isn't done trying to land Jackson. So that means we have to at least watch that recruitment out of the corner of eye... Just in case.
*** Sooners DE coach Miguel Chavis has been in Kansas City area earlier this week, and I am told he was by to see 2024 five-star DE/DL target Williams Nwaneri. He also stopped by several schools to check-in around his area. Another player of interest, during his rounds in KC area, was 2024 four-star EDGE Jayshawn Ross.
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/williams-nwaneri-284260?view=pv
Parker just updated you all Williams Nwaneri this past week, so if you want to check it out, go ahead and go HERE.
Regarding Ross' recruitment, it's a bit of a head scratcher. On one hand, he really likes the Sooners. On another, he just is in no hurry to get his recruitment over or narrow things down. Both lead me to believe there is just a small chance that Ross will be in the Sooners' 24K class come NSD.
Basically, unless he starts to really focus and hone in on his recruitment, I would expect Chavis and the Sooners to look elsewhere.
Finally, OU was out at a few JUCO's to touch base there and see a few potential targets. I will add more to that when I can.
