In all the years that I have followed OU recruiting (Crabby and then Josh), I've never seen anything like the current cycle. The Sooners are going to go into the dead period before NSD with the very real possibility of being anywhere from a Top 15 class nationally to potentially outside the Top 40 nationally and easily the worst recruiting class of the Stoops era.
As of today...
Caleb Kelly is 50/50 between OU and ND
Chris Daniels is at best 33% with UT probably being the favorite and an A&M visit still looming
Parrish Cobb remains committed BUT deciding between OU and Baylor
Mark Jackson is visiting BUT still committed to A&M and considering UT
Brandon Bowen, at Rivals 100 DE, was dropped because OU is involved with Jackson
PJ Blue does not have a committable offer because OU took two JUCO LBs and is waiting on Kelly
Jared Mayden is 75/25 to Bama over OU, so the backup plan for Cobb isn't really viable
Jauan Williams is OU's top remaining OL target despite the fact that the Sooners have never been a favorite
Josh Jacobs has gone from slam dunk backup plan to Alabama offer
Velus Jones is still a USC commit
Erik Swenson hasn't scheduled a visit because OU isn't sure they need a 4* OT
Zack Farrar is visiting but the Sooners are reticent to let him play baseball
Stephon Taylor got a LONG in-home, but favors several SEC and FSU
Juarez, Fowler, Guidry and others that were always longshots have become no shot
Simply put, OU is neither certain nor leading for anybody that they are still actively recruiting or trying to fend off challenges for.
If you look at the fact pattern, there is absolutely no reason why OU should be struggling: 1) OU is fresh off a Big XII Championship and an appearance in the CFP, 2) The Sooners offense was the most dynamic and productive in the Big XII and one of the better units nationally, 3) The OU defense was the best in the conference and amongst the Top 15 nationally in most categories despite playing in a conference where defense is essentially an afterthought, 4) the OU staff features better recruiters at almost every position than they've had in recent years, 5) the Sooner's return TWO preseason top 10 Heisman candidates at QB and RB, 6) UT is mired in protracted period of utter mediocrity that will cost Charlie Strong his job after next year, 7) A&M had their top 2 QBs transfer out after a complete meltdown in conference and Kevin Sumlin will be coaching for his job next year, 8) all of the Cali schools save for Stanford were way down last year 9) the Sooners are regarded as an early Top 5 and CFP contender for next year, 10) no team not called Alabama has had more sustained success then OU as the current crop of recruits were growing up.
What the hell is going on? There are those that say the conference is the problem but it hasn't prevented Baylor and TCU from building solid classes. Others say the problem is UT's ability to flip Texas kids late in the game. It doesn't appear that the Horns are a real threat for anyone other than Daniels. The other 3 teams in the CFP are killing it on the recruiting and OU can't even be sure of a Top 20 class. Something doesn't make sense.
As of today...
Caleb Kelly is 50/50 between OU and ND
Chris Daniels is at best 33% with UT probably being the favorite and an A&M visit still looming
Parrish Cobb remains committed BUT deciding between OU and Baylor
Mark Jackson is visiting BUT still committed to A&M and considering UT
Brandon Bowen, at Rivals 100 DE, was dropped because OU is involved with Jackson
PJ Blue does not have a committable offer because OU took two JUCO LBs and is waiting on Kelly
Jared Mayden is 75/25 to Bama over OU, so the backup plan for Cobb isn't really viable
Jauan Williams is OU's top remaining OL target despite the fact that the Sooners have never been a favorite
Josh Jacobs has gone from slam dunk backup plan to Alabama offer
Velus Jones is still a USC commit
Erik Swenson hasn't scheduled a visit because OU isn't sure they need a 4* OT
Zack Farrar is visiting but the Sooners are reticent to let him play baseball
Stephon Taylor got a LONG in-home, but favors several SEC and FSU
Juarez, Fowler, Guidry and others that were always longshots have become no shot
Simply put, OU is neither certain nor leading for anybody that they are still actively recruiting or trying to fend off challenges for.
If you look at the fact pattern, there is absolutely no reason why OU should be struggling: 1) OU is fresh off a Big XII Championship and an appearance in the CFP, 2) The Sooners offense was the most dynamic and productive in the Big XII and one of the better units nationally, 3) The OU defense was the best in the conference and amongst the Top 15 nationally in most categories despite playing in a conference where defense is essentially an afterthought, 4) the OU staff features better recruiters at almost every position than they've had in recent years, 5) the Sooner's return TWO preseason top 10 Heisman candidates at QB and RB, 6) UT is mired in protracted period of utter mediocrity that will cost Charlie Strong his job after next year, 7) A&M had their top 2 QBs transfer out after a complete meltdown in conference and Kevin Sumlin will be coaching for his job next year, 8) all of the Cali schools save for Stanford were way down last year 9) the Sooners are regarded as an early Top 5 and CFP contender for next year, 10) no team not called Alabama has had more sustained success then OU as the current crop of recruits were growing up.
What the hell is going on? There are those that say the conference is the problem but it hasn't prevented Baylor and TCU from building solid classes. Others say the problem is UT's ability to flip Texas kids late in the game. It doesn't appear that the Horns are a real threat for anyone other than Daniels. The other 3 teams in the CFP are killing it on the recruiting and OU can't even be sure of a Top 20 class. Something doesn't make sense.
