UPDATE: 5:04p - A guy I've known a long time, David Smoak of ESPN 1660 (Central Texas), had Parrish Cobb on his show today to talk about his recruitment process and it sounds like it's down to Baylor and Oklahoma and that Texas is not a concern.
To me this is a good possibility for Oklahoma as he has already chosen Oklahoma over Baylor once, no reason to think this will change. And as I talked about in the podcast I'd been given the impression before that there was some desire for him to get out of Waco.
I think Oklahoma will be fine here.
And to hear the interview:
Here You Go.
UPDATE: 2:06p - Oklahoma has offered the nation's No. 4 player, linebacker Dylan Moses who recently transferred to Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy.
UPDATE: 2:01p - Earlier this morning I spoke with the father of Euless (Texas) Trinity defensive tackle Chris Daniels about his son's impending decision.
And again I'll repeat I think Oklahoma is a very real contender here, perhaps even more so than I would allow for last week.
Because I've been given the impression many times that the parents of the Rivals250 prospect had a soft spot for Oklahoma but it was the first time he had come out and said that both he and his wife preferred Oklahoma as his son's choice. Though he mused on whether the parental favoring might hurt Oklahoma somewhat (and yes, I think he for the most part meant it jokingly).
Diron Reynolds still has an in-home visit to make this weekend, though that day had not been set at the time we spoke.
I really think Oklahoma might be nudging just ahead again but there are 9 days left and there is much that can still change and an official visit to Texas A&M still left to go.
UPDATE: 1:36p - I can confirm that Manor, Texas five-star linebacker Erick Fowler will not be taking his official visit to Oklahoma this weekend.
This doesn't come as a huge surprise but it is a visit he had mentioned as a possibility.
UPDATE: 12:14p - I've been talking with Tulsa McLain star Joshua Jacobs, who I'm told Oklahoma is recruiting strictly as an athlete about his visit today with Lincoln Riley, Jay Boulware, and Bob Stoops.
The visit went quite well and Jacobs said "it went great Coach Stoops is a really cool dude."
He also confirmed that the Sooners aren't done with him this week.
"There coming to my basketball practice. They want me to play running back, slot, and some return," Jacobs explained.
And though the Oklahoma trio did not make a scholarship offer on hand, it was all but extended during the conversation.
"Yeah they did (invite me for an official) he said if I'm committed to going there I have a spot on their team," he explained.
And though I fully expect Jacobs to become one of Oklahoma's Jan. 29 official visitors he says it's not a certainty because he understands what it means.
"I'm still deciding (because) wherever I go for the 29th is most likely where I'm going to school."
UPDATE: 11:51a - Bob Stoops goes by Tulsa Victory Christian (more on his Tulsa trip momentarily) to see Jon-Michael Terry.
UPDATE: 11:28a - I've been told that the planned visit of Briston Guidry is off as the Sooners and Guidry just didn't see eye to eye on what the visit was. Guidry wanted it clear he was going for fun and Oklahoma wasn't interested in that storyline.
So it would seem that story is done.
ORIGINAL: ***Alright we'll start with the news of Jared Mayden and Oklahoma making his top two along with Alabama. Though I feel like the visit went very well I don't have the impression that the Sooners are the likely choice here. Coming in I had the impression that Alabama had a sizeable lead and I'm just not sure that's going to be overcome.
It's a reality that I have an impression that Oklahoma picked up on and is prepared for, which makes me think that Chip Viney's tweet was a more general thing than about Mayden (as he is the last real defensive back target, unless something changes with Parrish Cobb).
It's not out of the question that he ends up at Oklahoma but I really don't expect it to go that way.
***On the flip side of things I continue to hear nothing but positives in regard to Rivals100 defensive end Brandon Bowen following his official visit to Norman last weekend.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound pass rusher came in with many thinking that Baylor, where he is committed, had a near insurmountable lead. But talking to a few people it sounds like the Sooners really surprised him on his trip with the players, the program, and all of the changes that are coming.
What is interesting is that Bob Stoops has not done his in-home yet and will get it in this week. That has to be thought of as a huge bullet in the chamber for Oklahoma as they try and pull off one of the bigger surprises in Texas this year.
Again, I'd probably bet on Baylor right now as players can get caught up in the moment but if this momentum can continue to build the Sooners could be ready to, again, surprise most everyone.
***I know last night's news that Oklahoma might be hosting Michael Onwenu, the Rivals250 offensive guard committed to Michigan, got a lot of people excited but I've heard that visit is probably, at best, a 50-percent chance of happening.
From what I've heard, it's not that Oklahoma isn't interested in Onwenu or that he doesn't want to take the trip it's that Oklahoma feels they may have needs that are more pressing and want to use that visit, and scholarship, elsewhere.
Again, it hasn't been decided but it's definitely possible the visit is moved in the direction of somewhere else.
***Yesterday's offer to Zach Farrar of Southlake (Texas) Carroll was one that Farrar seemed to have felt was coming for quite some time. In talking to some people I think Oklahoma is going to take an approach of gauging his temperature about his Mississippi State commitment and see how things go moving forward. I'm not certain he'll take a trip this weekend and am interested to see if it even comes to that.
***Another interesting note in the 'Lamb Chop' version of 'interesting' is that Oklahoma spoke with Velus Jones on Sunday.
I know in yesterday's notes I said that Jones and Oklahoma were done and though this literally says that's not the case it's not my impression that the contact was all that serious. That being said, should the Sooners want to try and make another run Jones is still taking their calls.
But in the end, to me it's time wasted as long as some around Jones are still in his ear.
***A name to keep an eye on at wide receiver? Daingerfield, Texas wide receiver Denzel Mims. The Baylor commitment has been with the Bears since committing last June but there are some signs that he is receptive to Oklahoma.
This will be a story to watch through the week.
***And again for those that missed it Jay Boulware and Lincoln Riley will be at Tulsa McLain this morning to see star running back Joshua Jacobs. I'm not certain an offer happens, thought if it does I think it may be primarily as a running back.
To me this is a good possibility for Oklahoma as he has already chosen Oklahoma over Baylor once, no reason to think this will change. And as I talked about in the podcast I'd been given the impression before that there was some desire for him to get out of Waco.
I think Oklahoma will be fine here.
And to hear the interview:
Here You Go.
UPDATE: 2:06p - Oklahoma has offered the nation's No. 4 player, linebacker Dylan Moses who recently transferred to Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy.
UPDATE: 2:01p - Earlier this morning I spoke with the father of Euless (Texas) Trinity defensive tackle Chris Daniels about his son's impending decision.
And again I'll repeat I think Oklahoma is a very real contender here, perhaps even more so than I would allow for last week.
Because I've been given the impression many times that the parents of the Rivals250 prospect had a soft spot for Oklahoma but it was the first time he had come out and said that both he and his wife preferred Oklahoma as his son's choice. Though he mused on whether the parental favoring might hurt Oklahoma somewhat (and yes, I think he for the most part meant it jokingly).
Diron Reynolds still has an in-home visit to make this weekend, though that day had not been set at the time we spoke.
I really think Oklahoma might be nudging just ahead again but there are 9 days left and there is much that can still change and an official visit to Texas A&M still left to go.
UPDATE: 1:36p - I can confirm that Manor, Texas five-star linebacker Erick Fowler will not be taking his official visit to Oklahoma this weekend.
This doesn't come as a huge surprise but it is a visit he had mentioned as a possibility.
UPDATE: 12:14p - I've been talking with Tulsa McLain star Joshua Jacobs, who I'm told Oklahoma is recruiting strictly as an athlete about his visit today with Lincoln Riley, Jay Boulware, and Bob Stoops.
The visit went quite well and Jacobs said "it went great Coach Stoops is a really cool dude."
He also confirmed that the Sooners aren't done with him this week.
"There coming to my basketball practice. They want me to play running back, slot, and some return," Jacobs explained.
And though the Oklahoma trio did not make a scholarship offer on hand, it was all but extended during the conversation.
"Yeah they did (invite me for an official) he said if I'm committed to going there I have a spot on their team," he explained.
And though I fully expect Jacobs to become one of Oklahoma's Jan. 29 official visitors he says it's not a certainty because he understands what it means.
"I'm still deciding (because) wherever I go for the 29th is most likely where I'm going to school."
UPDATE: 11:51a - Bob Stoops goes by Tulsa Victory Christian (more on his Tulsa trip momentarily) to see Jon-Michael Terry.
UPDATE: 11:28a - I've been told that the planned visit of Briston Guidry is off as the Sooners and Guidry just didn't see eye to eye on what the visit was. Guidry wanted it clear he was going for fun and Oklahoma wasn't interested in that storyline.
So it would seem that story is done.
ORIGINAL: ***Alright we'll start with the news of Jared Mayden and Oklahoma making his top two along with Alabama. Though I feel like the visit went very well I don't have the impression that the Sooners are the likely choice here. Coming in I had the impression that Alabama had a sizeable lead and I'm just not sure that's going to be overcome.
It's a reality that I have an impression that Oklahoma picked up on and is prepared for, which makes me think that Chip Viney's tweet was a more general thing than about Mayden (as he is the last real defensive back target, unless something changes with Parrish Cobb).
It's not out of the question that he ends up at Oklahoma but I really don't expect it to go that way.
***On the flip side of things I continue to hear nothing but positives in regard to Rivals100 defensive end Brandon Bowen following his official visit to Norman last weekend.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound pass rusher came in with many thinking that Baylor, where he is committed, had a near insurmountable lead. But talking to a few people it sounds like the Sooners really surprised him on his trip with the players, the program, and all of the changes that are coming.
What is interesting is that Bob Stoops has not done his in-home yet and will get it in this week. That has to be thought of as a huge bullet in the chamber for Oklahoma as they try and pull off one of the bigger surprises in Texas this year.
Again, I'd probably bet on Baylor right now as players can get caught up in the moment but if this momentum can continue to build the Sooners could be ready to, again, surprise most everyone.
***I know last night's news that Oklahoma might be hosting Michael Onwenu, the Rivals250 offensive guard committed to Michigan, got a lot of people excited but I've heard that visit is probably, at best, a 50-percent chance of happening.
From what I've heard, it's not that Oklahoma isn't interested in Onwenu or that he doesn't want to take the trip it's that Oklahoma feels they may have needs that are more pressing and want to use that visit, and scholarship, elsewhere.
Again, it hasn't been decided but it's definitely possible the visit is moved in the direction of somewhere else.
***Yesterday's offer to Zach Farrar of Southlake (Texas) Carroll was one that Farrar seemed to have felt was coming for quite some time. In talking to some people I think Oklahoma is going to take an approach of gauging his temperature about his Mississippi State commitment and see how things go moving forward. I'm not certain he'll take a trip this weekend and am interested to see if it even comes to that.
***Another interesting note in the 'Lamb Chop' version of 'interesting' is that Oklahoma spoke with Velus Jones on Sunday.
I know in yesterday's notes I said that Jones and Oklahoma were done and though this literally says that's not the case it's not my impression that the contact was all that serious. That being said, should the Sooners want to try and make another run Jones is still taking their calls.
But in the end, to me it's time wasted as long as some around Jones are still in his ear.
***A name to keep an eye on at wide receiver? Daingerfield, Texas wide receiver Denzel Mims. The Baylor commitment has been with the Bears since committing last June but there are some signs that he is receptive to Oklahoma.
This will be a story to watch through the week.
***And again for those that missed it Jay Boulware and Lincoln Riley will be at Tulsa McLain this morning to see star running back Joshua Jacobs. I'm not certain an offer happens, thought if it does I think it may be primarily as a running back.
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