Alright everyone, in talking to some recruits, sources, etc. and much like last year I'm starting to hear some common themes from recruits.
There's a lot of talk that I'd say basically boils down to sincerity and just how engaging this staff is, led by, not surprisingly, Brent Venables. Beyond that was also the SOUL mission really wowing a lot of these guys and a clear indicator in the staff's concern for their players beyond just the coach speak that is so often used.
*The one guy that I was frankly surprised made the trip was Jasper, Texas linebacker TyAnthony Smith. The super-athletic linebacker has blown up since late in the season and watching his tape it's not hard to see why.
Smith seemed like a guy thinking of staying south of Dallas but I'd say this trip to Norman has turned his head to a considerable degree. He spoke about both the SOUL mission and his discussions with Venables being real standout points of his visit.
"He could tell my personality real quick and his personality stood out to me," Smith said before saying he was already thinking of a return trip and that he'd 'definitely' be back.
**A guy who has been to Norman a lot and you'd almost think he'd have the full knowledge base for what's going on in Norman is Lindale, Texas offensive lineman Casey Poe.
The big man loved his latest trip to Norman and raved about the support system in Norman.
"It went great! Having a really good time. Enjoying being able to learn the in’s and outs of this program, and how much they care about person over player," Poe said.
Poe who has taken numerous trips around the country says that the Sooners presentation of their treatment of players is something he's not often seen.
"They're unique in the way that they do it. They have the SOUL mission set up, which coach V brought in, specifically to have 5 people to do nothing but care about players," he continued. "Everything from schooling to mental health to life 60 years from now is focused on by someone on the OU staff.
"It's special."
***One of the most highly regarded guys on campus was Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy Rivals100 linebacker Payton Pierce who came away feeling more confident about his role with the Sooners and his feelings toward the staff itself - including one new coaching staff member.
"It was a great day! I really like the feel of how all the coaches are connected. They really seem to care about the players and seem very open and honest. Just great people," Pierce said.
Though Pierce has been to Oklahoma a whole mess of times he can still find ways where the trips are telling and help further his relationships.
"I mean I think it’s more about building relationships and understanding what is real and what is just the recruiting show," he explained. "The more you go the more you trust each other and are comfortable.
"I did get to see new plans for facilities, a presentation on coach (Jerry) Schmidt's program and Coach V, coach (Ted) Roof and Coach (James) Skalski were great!"
****A guy that I thought might pull the trigger this weekend was Forney, Texas Rivals250 defensive back Aaron Flowers. The big and long athlete raved about his trip.
"That visit was (fire)," Flowers explained. "We toured more of the campus and saw all the facilities (than my other trips)."
No commitment happened - he had said coming in that he wasn't quite there yet - but I think it's safe to say the Sooners are at the head of the pack at the moment, enough so that I went ahead and put in a forecast.
*****My final note of the night (more to come tomorrow, not to worry!) is a guy that I wasn't sure where Oklahoma might stand on - Missouri City (Texas) Ft. Bend Hightower four-star wide receiver Zion Kearney.
"Coach V is all about the fam for real. Everyone there has been there for awhile. Either played there or worked there, has roots at Oklahoma," Kearney said.
"(He is) committed to the community, people and program. Even Coach V coming back is huge - I saw that," he said. "The junior day was definitely focused on players they want. There wasn’t a bunch of recruits there. It was different for sure."
Kearney met Oklahoma's new receivers coach Emmett Jones while he was in Lubbock last year but says that Jones, Venables, and co. all were very clear in their message to him. He also said Jones is very comfortable in his new home.
"Those guys know exactly what they want from me - on and off the field. They understand football isn’t always the end goal," he said.
"Coach Jones loves it there."
There's a lot of talk that I'd say basically boils down to sincerity and just how engaging this staff is, led by, not surprisingly, Brent Venables. Beyond that was also the SOUL mission really wowing a lot of these guys and a clear indicator in the staff's concern for their players beyond just the coach speak that is so often used.
*The one guy that I was frankly surprised made the trip was Jasper, Texas linebacker TyAnthony Smith. The super-athletic linebacker has blown up since late in the season and watching his tape it's not hard to see why.
Smith seemed like a guy thinking of staying south of Dallas but I'd say this trip to Norman has turned his head to a considerable degree. He spoke about both the SOUL mission and his discussions with Venables being real standout points of his visit.
"He could tell my personality real quick and his personality stood out to me," Smith said before saying he was already thinking of a return trip and that he'd 'definitely' be back.
**A guy who has been to Norman a lot and you'd almost think he'd have the full knowledge base for what's going on in Norman is Lindale, Texas offensive lineman Casey Poe.
The big man loved his latest trip to Norman and raved about the support system in Norman.
"It went great! Having a really good time. Enjoying being able to learn the in’s and outs of this program, and how much they care about person over player," Poe said.
Poe who has taken numerous trips around the country says that the Sooners presentation of their treatment of players is something he's not often seen.
"They're unique in the way that they do it. They have the SOUL mission set up, which coach V brought in, specifically to have 5 people to do nothing but care about players," he continued. "Everything from schooling to mental health to life 60 years from now is focused on by someone on the OU staff.
"It's special."
***One of the most highly regarded guys on campus was Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy Rivals100 linebacker Payton Pierce who came away feeling more confident about his role with the Sooners and his feelings toward the staff itself - including one new coaching staff member.
"It was a great day! I really like the feel of how all the coaches are connected. They really seem to care about the players and seem very open and honest. Just great people," Pierce said.
Though Pierce has been to Oklahoma a whole mess of times he can still find ways where the trips are telling and help further his relationships.
"I mean I think it’s more about building relationships and understanding what is real and what is just the recruiting show," he explained. "The more you go the more you trust each other and are comfortable.
"I did get to see new plans for facilities, a presentation on coach (Jerry) Schmidt's program and Coach V, coach (Ted) Roof and Coach (James) Skalski were great!"
****A guy that I thought might pull the trigger this weekend was Forney, Texas Rivals250 defensive back Aaron Flowers. The big and long athlete raved about his trip.
"That visit was (fire)," Flowers explained. "We toured more of the campus and saw all the facilities (than my other trips)."
No commitment happened - he had said coming in that he wasn't quite there yet - but I think it's safe to say the Sooners are at the head of the pack at the moment, enough so that I went ahead and put in a forecast.
*****My final note of the night (more to come tomorrow, not to worry!) is a guy that I wasn't sure where Oklahoma might stand on - Missouri City (Texas) Ft. Bend Hightower four-star wide receiver Zion Kearney.
"Coach V is all about the fam for real. Everyone there has been there for awhile. Either played there or worked there, has roots at Oklahoma," Kearney said.
"(He is) committed to the community, people and program. Even Coach V coming back is huge - I saw that," he said. "The junior day was definitely focused on players they want. There wasn’t a bunch of recruits there. It was different for sure."
Kearney met Oklahoma's new receivers coach Emmett Jones while he was in Lubbock last year but says that Jones, Venables, and co. all were very clear in their message to him. He also said Jones is very comfortable in his new home.
"Those guys know exactly what they want from me - on and off the field. They understand football isn’t always the end goal," he said.
"Coach Jones loves it there."
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