Alright guys, another holiday weekend but there's plenty to cover including commitment predictions at the end.
We'll start off with the buzz around the lone five-star that Oklahoma is still in on, Arlington (Texas) Bowie guard Devon Campbell.
Talking to multiple sources there's no denying that Texas is the perceived leader here but no one I spoke with gave me any impression that Oklahoma was out of the race or that he had secretly signed with Texas.
What's also interesting is the varied stories, Campbell told several reporters that he would not be taking any more visits. However, a few recruits I spoke with told me that he will be visiting Norman and Austin again. So we'll see where that goes but again there's a sense that Oklahoma has a chance here built somewhat on Texas already having a massive offensive line class and Campbell knowing how vital he could be to Oklahoma's efforts.
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The other popular story around the sidelines in Orlando, Fla. the past few days has been a coach that the Sooners may be making a real push for in hopes of fulling their vacant defensive line job. That coach? Bengals defensive line coach and former Clemson co-defensive coordinator Marion Hobby.
Hobby was on the Tigers staff with Brent Venables from 2011-2016 and coached eleven (ELEVEN) NFL draft picks in that time including first rounders Vic Beasley and Shaq Lawson.
As an evaluator and developer of talent he is one of the most respected defensive line coaches in the game and as a recruiter helped Clemson land both Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins. Those were both led by Venables but Hobby did have a role in both recruitments.
As for the merit of the rumors?
Let's just say that the buzz is making it's way around certain NFL circles.
************************************
We'll have full interviews up with Jayden Gibson, Robert Spears-Jennings, and Jovantae Barnes in the coming days. But one interview that had some interesting notes for you all was that of Spears-Jennings who talked a lot about all of the 'locks' and things flying around.
"So what goes into that," I asked.
"It's when a guy tells us he is locked in with us," Spears-Jennings replied.
So if they are set on Oklahoma, why don't they just announce (or something like that)?
"They want to make their trip first."
So again, the Sooners recruits are doing impressive work but there are still some hills to climb for a few of the prospects Oklahoma is involved with.
************************************
OK, it’s time for Josh’s latest crack at the class of 2022. For those unfamiliar every year on the first Friday of each month, I (Josh) invade Scoop’s personal space and take my guesses at just what players could fill out the remaining spots in Oklahoma’s currently ongoing recruiting class.
Right now Oklahoma has 69 players on scholarship, under the guidelines of this year’s unique scholarship breakdown. On top of that the Sooners have 15 commitments for 2022 and has 18 seniors who would normally be expected to leave, with Brayden Willis, Marquis Hayes, and Mike Woods – to one degree or another – saying they were likely departing at various points over the past few weeks. On top of that Tyrese Robinson is assumed to be done following the completion of the bowl game.
In the past I've always anticipated at least four departures either via NFL draft, transfer, or any of 1,000 other possibilities. However, I think we can all see this is not the norm any longer with the transfer portal being part of our known language. Let's assume seven in any given year and that may be subject to more and more change going forward. That said, Oklahoma shouldn't have many departures remaining at this point.
Which would mean Oklahoma has roughly five more departures to go along with the 29 openings already in place. With that in mind, along with other bits of information with where the new staff plans to go, Scoop and I are working under the thought of the Sooners signing somewhere around 22 total in the 2022 class so I’ll plan accordingly.
The number always Is tricky to guess but In this year thanks to the ‘Covid year’ allowance, and a late coaching change it’s been nearly impossible. It has moved up and down throughout the year and that may continue even next month when we go to weekly predictions. So, thanks to my mathematical education it would seem the Sooners have a near unreachable number of spots available
Additionally, a level of confidence will be listed with each of the selections and finally a prediction of who will be the next Sooner pledge. Finally the numbers next to each position are how many I expect OU to sign at each position - though that's still a work in progress with the portal and the staff still sorting itself out.
Now you can guarantee this list won’t be what it looks like in February as Oklahoma is still offering players they didn't know of just a few weeks ago so how could I know their level of interest?
And, yes my excuses have already begun…
Players on Last Month’s List Who Aren’t There This Week:
Players I Got Right Last Week:
Players I Got Wrong Last Week:
Quarterback (1)
Nick Evers – SIGNED
Running Back (2)
Jovantae Barnes – Level of Confidence: 90% - NEXT COMMIT
Barnes’ steadfast belief in Demarco Murray came out since the departure of Lincoln Riley. Oklahoma has done an outstanding job steadying the ground with him and I think there is real cause for hope that Oklahoma can land his commitment at the Under Armour All-American Game next week.
Gavin Sawchuk – SIGNED
Wide Receiver (3)
Nicholas Anderson – SIGNED
Gavin Freeman - Level of Confidence: 40%
So this one is a bit of a flier but I just can't help thinking of what a fit he is for the duo of primary decision makers here - Brent Venables and Cale Gundy. I mean talk about a player whose attitude, demeanor, and general toughness fits beautifully? It's Freeman.
Jayden Gibson – SIGNED
Tight End/Hback (2)
Kaden Helms - SIGNED
Jason Llewellyn - SIGNED
Offensive Line (3)
Jacob Sexton – SIGNED
Jake Taylor - SIGNED
Defensive Tackle (2)
Ahmad Moten – Level of Confidence: 45%
At this moment Moten feels like a near certainty for the Sooners but there's just no denying the draw of the 'U' under Mario Cristobal and there's a real chance that the Hurricanes make Moten a focal idea of starting to close up the ranks in the city in Cristobal's first class. We'll see where it goes but as of right now Oklahoma has done a great job with Moten.
Cedric Roberts – SIGNED
Alton Tarber - SIGNED
Defensive End (2)
R Mason Thomas – Level of Confidence: 50%
The story here is not so different from Moten though in Thomas' case he has a bit of an added benefit of already developing a relationship with his would-be position coach, Miguel Chavis. The Sooners have done a very good job with Thomas and the bond is real, that should hold up.
Linebacker (3)
Jaren Kanak – Level of Confidence: 95%
It feels like this one is pretty well known at this point and the Sooners seem in line to land a commitment from one of the most athletic linebackers to hit Norman in years - and Brent Venables has been in Norman for less than three weeks.
Kip Lewis - SIGNED
Kobie McKinzie – SIGNED
Cornerback (2)
Gentry Williams – COMMITTED
Safety (2)
Jayden Rowe – SIGNED
Robert Spears-Jennings – SIGNED
Athlete (0)
N/A
Special Teams (0)
N/A
We'll start off with the buzz around the lone five-star that Oklahoma is still in on, Arlington (Texas) Bowie guard Devon Campbell.
Talking to multiple sources there's no denying that Texas is the perceived leader here but no one I spoke with gave me any impression that Oklahoma was out of the race or that he had secretly signed with Texas.
What's also interesting is the varied stories, Campbell told several reporters that he would not be taking any more visits. However, a few recruits I spoke with told me that he will be visiting Norman and Austin again. So we'll see where that goes but again there's a sense that Oklahoma has a chance here built somewhat on Texas already having a massive offensive line class and Campbell knowing how vital he could be to Oklahoma's efforts.
************************************
The other popular story around the sidelines in Orlando, Fla. the past few days has been a coach that the Sooners may be making a real push for in hopes of fulling their vacant defensive line job. That coach? Bengals defensive line coach and former Clemson co-defensive coordinator Marion Hobby.
Hobby was on the Tigers staff with Brent Venables from 2011-2016 and coached eleven (ELEVEN) NFL draft picks in that time including first rounders Vic Beasley and Shaq Lawson.
As an evaluator and developer of talent he is one of the most respected defensive line coaches in the game and as a recruiter helped Clemson land both Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins. Those were both led by Venables but Hobby did have a role in both recruitments.
As for the merit of the rumors?
Let's just say that the buzz is making it's way around certain NFL circles.
************************************
We'll have full interviews up with Jayden Gibson, Robert Spears-Jennings, and Jovantae Barnes in the coming days. But one interview that had some interesting notes for you all was that of Spears-Jennings who talked a lot about all of the 'locks' and things flying around.
"So what goes into that," I asked.
"It's when a guy tells us he is locked in with us," Spears-Jennings replied.
So if they are set on Oklahoma, why don't they just announce (or something like that)?
"They want to make their trip first."
So again, the Sooners recruits are doing impressive work but there are still some hills to climb for a few of the prospects Oklahoma is involved with.
************************************
OK, it’s time for Josh’s latest crack at the class of 2022. For those unfamiliar every year on the first Friday of each month, I (Josh) invade Scoop’s personal space and take my guesses at just what players could fill out the remaining spots in Oklahoma’s currently ongoing recruiting class.
Right now Oklahoma has 69 players on scholarship, under the guidelines of this year’s unique scholarship breakdown. On top of that the Sooners have 15 commitments for 2022 and has 18 seniors who would normally be expected to leave, with Brayden Willis, Marquis Hayes, and Mike Woods – to one degree or another – saying they were likely departing at various points over the past few weeks. On top of that Tyrese Robinson is assumed to be done following the completion of the bowl game.
In the past I've always anticipated at least four departures either via NFL draft, transfer, or any of 1,000 other possibilities. However, I think we can all see this is not the norm any longer with the transfer portal being part of our known language. Let's assume seven in any given year and that may be subject to more and more change going forward. That said, Oklahoma shouldn't have many departures remaining at this point.
Which would mean Oklahoma has roughly five more departures to go along with the 29 openings already in place. With that in mind, along with other bits of information with where the new staff plans to go, Scoop and I are working under the thought of the Sooners signing somewhere around 22 total in the 2022 class so I’ll plan accordingly.
The number always Is tricky to guess but In this year thanks to the ‘Covid year’ allowance, and a late coaching change it’s been nearly impossible. It has moved up and down throughout the year and that may continue even next month when we go to weekly predictions. So, thanks to my mathematical education it would seem the Sooners have a near unreachable number of spots available
Additionally, a level of confidence will be listed with each of the selections and finally a prediction of who will be the next Sooner pledge. Finally the numbers next to each position are how many I expect OU to sign at each position - though that's still a work in progress with the portal and the staff still sorting itself out.
Now you can guarantee this list won’t be what it looks like in February as Oklahoma is still offering players they didn't know of just a few weeks ago so how could I know their level of interest?
And, yes my excuses have already begun…
Players on Last Month’s List Who Aren’t There This Week:
Players I Got Right Last Week:
Players I Got Wrong Last Week:
Quarterback (1)
Nick Evers – SIGNED
Running Back (2)
Jovantae Barnes – Level of Confidence: 90% - NEXT COMMIT
Barnes’ steadfast belief in Demarco Murray came out since the departure of Lincoln Riley. Oklahoma has done an outstanding job steadying the ground with him and I think there is real cause for hope that Oklahoma can land his commitment at the Under Armour All-American Game next week.
Gavin Sawchuk – SIGNED
Wide Receiver (3)
Nicholas Anderson – SIGNED
Gavin Freeman - Level of Confidence: 40%
So this one is a bit of a flier but I just can't help thinking of what a fit he is for the duo of primary decision makers here - Brent Venables and Cale Gundy. I mean talk about a player whose attitude, demeanor, and general toughness fits beautifully? It's Freeman.
Jayden Gibson – SIGNED
Tight End/Hback (2)
Kaden Helms - SIGNED
Jason Llewellyn - SIGNED
Offensive Line (3)
Jacob Sexton – SIGNED
Jake Taylor - SIGNED
Defensive Tackle (2)
Ahmad Moten – Level of Confidence: 45%
At this moment Moten feels like a near certainty for the Sooners but there's just no denying the draw of the 'U' under Mario Cristobal and there's a real chance that the Hurricanes make Moten a focal idea of starting to close up the ranks in the city in Cristobal's first class. We'll see where it goes but as of right now Oklahoma has done a great job with Moten.
Cedric Roberts – SIGNED
Alton Tarber - SIGNED
Defensive End (2)
R Mason Thomas – Level of Confidence: 50%
The story here is not so different from Moten though in Thomas' case he has a bit of an added benefit of already developing a relationship with his would-be position coach, Miguel Chavis. The Sooners have done a very good job with Thomas and the bond is real, that should hold up.
Linebacker (3)
Jaren Kanak – Level of Confidence: 95%
It feels like this one is pretty well known at this point and the Sooners seem in line to land a commitment from one of the most athletic linebackers to hit Norman in years - and Brent Venables has been in Norman for less than three weeks.
Kip Lewis - SIGNED
Kobie McKinzie – SIGNED
Cornerback (2)
Gentry Williams – COMMITTED
Safety (2)
Jayden Rowe – SIGNED
Robert Spears-Jennings – SIGNED
Athlete (0)
N/A
Special Teams (0)
N/A
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