Early Bird/Worm Syndrome?
- Thread starter Senior Sooner
- Start date
A big fish got away in 4* RB Joshua Jacobs. And to 'Bama no less.
2700+ rushing yards and 36 TD's in 2015!
Do we need to wake up to our own state talent?
Boomer Sooner
2700+ rushing yards and 36 TD's in 2015!
Do we need to wake up to our own state talent?
Boomer Sooner
Plaino has said for years that the talent level in OK HS FB is substandard.
Now we appear to have lost out super early on an elite home grown prospect to an out-of-state power. With the potential early losses at RB of Perine and Mixon to the 2017 NFL draft, one would figure a super in-state talent at a needed position would be heavily pursued (and as far as I know, he may've been).
Seems someone is asleep at the wheel.
Boomer Sooner
Now we appear to have lost out super early on an elite home grown prospect to an out-of-state power. With the potential early losses at RB of Perine and Mixon to the 2017 NFL draft, one would figure a super in-state talent at a needed position would be heavily pursued (and as far as I know, he may've been).
Seems someone is asleep at the wheel.
Boomer Sooner
I don't recall the term "substandard" ever being used to describe Oklahoma's school boys, but the state certainly has a limited number of highly rated star power most years. To your point, I agree with you that OU let a really good one get away. I don't know what Bama's running back situation is going to next year, but can't imagine there being a better opportunity to play there in 2017 as there may be here then.
On the pay board he was never wanting to stay in the state. Which was supposed to be why we didn't offer early. I can't affirm that, just that it was claimed.
Maybe not "substandard" specifically but you can pick your own synonym. The intended point was the same.
Bama has a 2017 commit from the best rated player in the nation (Harris) who is a RB. They also are the front runner for the #2 rated prospect in the nation who is also a RB.
Bama simply reloads no matter their current situation. Quite surprised they went after a 4* in Jacobs unless they intend to either gray shirt him or convert him to another position. Perhaps, he's really that good.
Boomer Sooner
That would certainly be an unfortunate explanation. Thanks for the info.
An offer from OU, however, would still make sense in the overall scheme of things. It would show OU's intent within the state and would also provide a local landing spot should "Bama become an untenable option down the road for Jacobs.
Boomer Sooner
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Considering Oklahoma's population and geographic location, the Sooner State usually does a decent job in producing high school talent....some years better than other years, but okay nevertheless. Most sources rank Oklahoma somewhere between 15th-18th in the country....about equal to states like Arizona, Missouri, New Jersey, South Carolina and Tennessee, which isn't bad at all.
OU landed two Oklahoma players in 2016 in Terry (LB) and Roberson (OG, a 2-star player). I believe that 2017 will be a different story for OU as far as Texas and Oklahoma talent goes, based on the early commitment list of 5 players by OU that include 4 Texans and an Oklahoman, who may be the state's best player.
Jacobs evidently decided early to leave the state and I can't blame any player for gravitating to Alabama. Tramonda Moore has potential academic issues that scared OU off. Calvin Bundage is a good player, but was not a priority by OU coaches and was replaced by a very good group of linebackers, with one more in Youngquist (a 4-star) still on the bubble pending personal issues.
The 2017 crop of Oklahoma talent looks deeper and OU already has a commitment from the state's top player in LB Levi Draper.
I want to see OU getting more Texas talent and getting at least 3-4 top instate players and I believe that is in the works.
OU landed two Oklahoma players in 2016 in Terry (LB) and Roberson (OG, a 2-star player). I believe that 2017 will be a different story for OU as far as Texas and Oklahoma talent goes, based on the early commitment list of 5 players by OU that include 4 Texans and an Oklahoman, who may be the state's best player.
Jacobs evidently decided early to leave the state and I can't blame any player for gravitating to Alabama. Tramonda Moore has potential academic issues that scared OU off. Calvin Bundage is a good player, but was not a priority by OU coaches and was replaced by a very good group of linebackers, with one more in Youngquist (a 4-star) still on the bubble pending personal issues.
The 2017 crop of Oklahoma talent looks deeper and OU already has a commitment from the state's top player in LB Levi Draper.
I want to see OU getting more Texas talent and getting at least 3-4 top instate players and I believe that is in the works.
It was probably different when OU built a team with unlimited scholarships. There were always kids from Sayre, Hollis, Mangum Cherokee, Wilson, Perry, Hooker, Skiatook, Thomas, and a lot of other little towns around the state. But, there were little towns around the state with students in them, and a lot of those kids had worked in hay fields or with hogs, the precursors of the modern weight room.
When you are limited to twenty-five, can you scout Class A ball unless a coach really steps up and makes you aware of a kid. The thing I got out of the kid who went to Bama is that his highschool coach did a lousy job of getting a kid some exposure.
When you are limited to twenty-five, can you scout Class A ball unless a coach really steps up and makes you aware of a kid. The thing I got out of the kid who went to Bama is that his highschool coach did a lousy job of getting a kid some exposure.
Sybarite just made a good posting.
Jacobs' time at Alabama will be interesting to watch. I do not blame OU for not getting in on him earlier and reeling him in, especially given the fact that Abdul Adams had committed last November and with Rodney Anderson being redshirted.
To my recollection, QB David Cornwell, another Oklahoman (from Norman) who Alabama recruited two years ago, has yet to make a splash. Articles I have read indicate he has struggled to impress coaches there....just as Justice Hansen, the other instate QB in the same class of 2014, apparently did in his short time at OU.
I realize recruiting is hit and miss and that coaches, like the recruiting services and "gurus", can fail to gauge a player's ultimate worth. I also know that each college team, even Alabama, cannot get every player it targets and that high school players can have a last minute change of heart. It's just the reality of recruiting.
Jacobs' time at Alabama will be interesting to watch. I do not blame OU for not getting in on him earlier and reeling him in, especially given the fact that Abdul Adams had committed last November and with Rodney Anderson being redshirted.
To my recollection, QB David Cornwell, another Oklahoman (from Norman) who Alabama recruited two years ago, has yet to make a splash. Articles I have read indicate he has struggled to impress coaches there....just as Justice Hansen, the other instate QB in the same class of 2014, apparently did in his short time at OU.
I realize recruiting is hit and miss and that coaches, like the recruiting services and "gurus", can fail to gauge a player's ultimate worth. I also know that each college team, even Alabama, cannot get every player it targets and that high school players can have a last minute change of heart. It's just the reality of recruiting.
'Connections' with former players help...When one knows how to get the ear of someone in 'The Good Ol' Boy Network', the name of a good prospect can be passed along, and be heard. My husband let Barry know that there was a outstanding lineman on our local HS team. Next thing we knew, Barry flew out to our little airport, we picked him up, had lunch, went to school, spoke with coaches, viewed film, and Barry signed the kid, and was back in Norman in a couple of hours. That scenario is 'oversimplified, but in similar ways, it was repeated in many other locations and it was a well-known fact that Sooner Alums had credibility...They were an important part of Recruiting, back in the day...
The greatest brothers in the history of the program are examples of that. The story was that since the family had no mule, that the boys took turns pulling the plow. They were from Eufala.
Joshua Jacobs was not even recruited by OU (at least heavily) until the end of the recruiting season after losing out on other out of state prospects. I'm on a premium recruiting board and his name was not on the list of prospects until late. For whatever reason we have stopped recruiting Oklahoma and Texas heavily (only 3 signees from Texas) and that is a big mistake letting top Texas talent (that Texas does not want) end up at Baylor, TCU, and Houston. IMO
Based on the early returns from the 2017 commitment list, I believe OU may be targeting Texas talent with more effort. It would help recruiting if OU can build upward from its 2015 success, especially with Houston and Ohio State in the first 3 games....and beating a soon-to-be-formidable Texas would be huge.
Cherry picking nationally is always a good idea for OU, but not at the expense of losing its Texas recruiting foundation and not adopting a coast-to-coast "shopping spree" in lieu of Texas talent. That's not saying all 25 recruits need to come from Texas, but at least 10-12 Texans every year would be good.
Some might argue with you on that, considering the Burris brothers were pretty good.
We were fortunate to have Several OUtstanding Brother Acts on board, over the years...The Burris Boys were definitely among them... 5 ***** Players, IMO...
