It's Nebraska week. S/O @Mr.Macintosh 
Back again for another edition.
Let's roll.
Mini-redemption for Whitter & Washington
Is that going a bit too far? Maybe, considering the opponent. However, it was a big Saturday for 2020 class members Shane Whitter at linebacker and Bryson Washington at safety. Just four days before kickoff, we heard Alex Grinch flat-out say Whitter needs to be more accountable. And the fact that we had heard absolutely nothing on Washington throughout camp was telling in its own right.
However, Saturday was their day. Whitter had three tackles and was back at linebacker instead of just special teams. He had a .5 tackle for loss and the fumble recovery in his 28 snaps.
Washington, of course, was even better. He had three tackles, recovered a fumble and and had a 37-yard interception return. In 21 snaps, PFF gave him a resounding 91.3 grade.
Alex Grinch... take it away:
"In both cases, there has a been a level of frustration for me and I think the whole defensive coaches about what we haven’t gotten out of those two individuals in particular. That was an interesting class a year ago. It was a strange 2020 for everybody, but really for a college freshman and it’s your first time out. I don’t think we got enough out of that class a year ago. I was really disappointed, chiefly, in our inability to get it out of them, but also their inability to rise to the occasion last year. It continued into the spring and it continued into fall camp.
"The message to these guys is if you prepare the right way and do the things you’re coached to do and do so with high level of effort, we want you in the game. We tell these guys we don’t bring you to Oklahoma to watch football. You can watch us on your couch each Saturday. We want you to play. In Shane’s case, I’ve been frustrated. He can run. He has a lot of the skill set we look for in a linebacker. He can use speed and be elite that way. Same thing with Bryson. He’s one of the fastest guys on our team. They have to practice that way and ultimately play that way. It’s trending in the right direction, but it’s nothing that is fixed. It’s certainly the right steps."
Interesting hearing the 2020 class talk because I guess just never think about it that way. Never think that even though they were the group that dealt with COVID-19, that it would affect them in a negative way. Figure they're all like Marvin Mims and just handle everything with poise and class.
I can see Whitter becoming a bigger part of the inside linebacker picture, but I'm not sure about Washington. Sure would be nice for Bryson to step up. We all remember his Eye emoji moment being when the whole staff was at a Texas Rangers game. It felt huge, but it really hasn't been so far. See if that changes.
Here was Riley this afternoon about Bryson:
"Bryson's gotten a lot better. Bryson had a strong camp. I think he's starting to learn the consistency that you have to have, play with, prepare with every single day. He's really improved in that regard and with that, his performances have gotten more steady. Bryson's a really good athlete. He's got length. He can really jump, can really run. Because he's not making very many mental mistakes and he's in the right place and he's more focused and prepared, he's able to use that athleticism. I think the other night can be a good confidence builder.
"It was great to get some of the results, but I think most importantly, when you're doing everything you're supposed to do and earning the trust of your coaches and teammates, you're gonna get more opportunities. And then you get opportunities to go make plays like he did. Yeah certainly hope it will be a confidence booster and he'll continue to do all the things right that he's doing right now and continue to improve and get more opportunities."
***
(One of the few times Rowe actually even touched somebody. Hard watching big-time CB recruits, never get anything their way. Sigh.)
Jayden Rowe looks good, all I can confirm
Oh man, what a disappointment. The game itself Jenks-Union was OK, 22-0 total domination by the Trojans. That's fine. But to never ever see Union defensive back and OU commitment Jayden Rowe do anything of substance was a real bummer.
Just geez. Not one pass went into his general direction. His two tackles were him pushing people out of bounds. And there were a number of plays where there wasn't even a wide receiver lined up on Rowe's side. Dang.
Physically? Oh, I get it. Rowe looks like a dude, no question. The size is legit. The speed looks real. But I can't vouch anything on ability from this performance. Maybe another day.
For the game, I just really like 2023 Jenks ATH Jalyn Stanford. I did last year in the state championship game vs. Santa Fe, and he's just a bigger part of the program now.
Where he fits? Oh, I don't know. He started the game with a big-time tackle for loss to set the tone.
He almost had a touchdown reception, down at the 1 yard line on a nice run after catch. He almost had an interception, but another defender and Stanford actually collided. He did, however, put the game on ice with this touchdown pass on a trick play to start the fourth quarter.
Has an offer from Iowa State. Don't know if he'll ever get a look from OU if he stays the size he is, but Stanford can play #justsayin.
***
Moser musings
A couple of basketball updates here.
OU definitely feels good about the work it did with Denzel Aberdeen. As said last week here and last Friday, it's just about getting that first recruit to make the call for Porter Moser.
Still haven't heard much feedback about Milos Uzan. Obviously the Vegas connection made Jalen Hill the prime candidate to be Uzan's host, but nothing concrete just yet.
Lon Kruger and staff had such a narrow focus that you really paid attention whenever there was an official visit. Still trying to figure out Moser and staff's philosophy of who gets an official visit and why/why not.
After looking like the clear-cut leader for 2023 Bixby guard Parker Friedrichsen for last couple of months, source said Purdue blew him away last week. OU is expected to check in with Parker this week and work a lot with 2023 in-state kids, but they're going to need to if this is gonna turn out in OU's favor.
All eyes go toward Nick Smith and an incredible battle it's gonna be. OU made him a priority for in-home visits, and now they're bringing him to campus for an official visit for Nebraska weekend. OU made the initial eight, see where it goes from here.
Bonus
Just one more of Rowe, so you can get a feel of what he looks like in pads... and to make it feel like me and Eddie didn't waste a trip to Tulsa, half joking.
This week? Mustang at Norman and a chance to check out 2023 OU offer Jacobe Johnson once again. Johnson still not evaluated by Rivals just yet. Heard a lot of good things about Jacobe's development from what I deemed an uneven sophomore season so excited to see it in person Friday.
Back again for another edition.
Let's roll.
Mini-redemption for Whitter & Washington
Is that going a bit too far? Maybe, considering the opponent. However, it was a big Saturday for 2020 class members Shane Whitter at linebacker and Bryson Washington at safety. Just four days before kickoff, we heard Alex Grinch flat-out say Whitter needs to be more accountable. And the fact that we had heard absolutely nothing on Washington throughout camp was telling in its own right.
However, Saturday was their day. Whitter had three tackles and was back at linebacker instead of just special teams. He had a .5 tackle for loss and the fumble recovery in his 28 snaps.
Washington, of course, was even better. He had three tackles, recovered a fumble and and had a 37-yard interception return. In 21 snaps, PFF gave him a resounding 91.3 grade.
Alex Grinch... take it away:
"In both cases, there has a been a level of frustration for me and I think the whole defensive coaches about what we haven’t gotten out of those two individuals in particular. That was an interesting class a year ago. It was a strange 2020 for everybody, but really for a college freshman and it’s your first time out. I don’t think we got enough out of that class a year ago. I was really disappointed, chiefly, in our inability to get it out of them, but also their inability to rise to the occasion last year. It continued into the spring and it continued into fall camp.
"The message to these guys is if you prepare the right way and do the things you’re coached to do and do so with high level of effort, we want you in the game. We tell these guys we don’t bring you to Oklahoma to watch football. You can watch us on your couch each Saturday. We want you to play. In Shane’s case, I’ve been frustrated. He can run. He has a lot of the skill set we look for in a linebacker. He can use speed and be elite that way. Same thing with Bryson. He’s one of the fastest guys on our team. They have to practice that way and ultimately play that way. It’s trending in the right direction, but it’s nothing that is fixed. It’s certainly the right steps."
Interesting hearing the 2020 class talk because I guess just never think about it that way. Never think that even though they were the group that dealt with COVID-19, that it would affect them in a negative way. Figure they're all like Marvin Mims and just handle everything with poise and class.
I can see Whitter becoming a bigger part of the inside linebacker picture, but I'm not sure about Washington. Sure would be nice for Bryson to step up. We all remember his Eye emoji moment being when the whole staff was at a Texas Rangers game. It felt huge, but it really hasn't been so far. See if that changes.
Here was Riley this afternoon about Bryson:
"Bryson's gotten a lot better. Bryson had a strong camp. I think he's starting to learn the consistency that you have to have, play with, prepare with every single day. He's really improved in that regard and with that, his performances have gotten more steady. Bryson's a really good athlete. He's got length. He can really jump, can really run. Because he's not making very many mental mistakes and he's in the right place and he's more focused and prepared, he's able to use that athleticism. I think the other night can be a good confidence builder.
"It was great to get some of the results, but I think most importantly, when you're doing everything you're supposed to do and earning the trust of your coaches and teammates, you're gonna get more opportunities. And then you get opportunities to go make plays like he did. Yeah certainly hope it will be a confidence booster and he'll continue to do all the things right that he's doing right now and continue to improve and get more opportunities."
***
(One of the few times Rowe actually even touched somebody. Hard watching big-time CB recruits, never get anything their way. Sigh.)
Jayden Rowe looks good, all I can confirm
Oh man, what a disappointment. The game itself Jenks-Union was OK, 22-0 total domination by the Trojans. That's fine. But to never ever see Union defensive back and OU commitment Jayden Rowe do anything of substance was a real bummer.
Just geez. Not one pass went into his general direction. His two tackles were him pushing people out of bounds. And there were a number of plays where there wasn't even a wide receiver lined up on Rowe's side. Dang.
Physically? Oh, I get it. Rowe looks like a dude, no question. The size is legit. The speed looks real. But I can't vouch anything on ability from this performance. Maybe another day.
For the game, I just really like 2023 Jenks ATH Jalyn Stanford. I did last year in the state championship game vs. Santa Fe, and he's just a bigger part of the program now.
Where he fits? Oh, I don't know. He started the game with a big-time tackle for loss to set the tone.
He almost had a touchdown reception, down at the 1 yard line on a nice run after catch. He almost had an interception, but another defender and Stanford actually collided. He did, however, put the game on ice with this touchdown pass on a trick play to start the fourth quarter.
Has an offer from Iowa State. Don't know if he'll ever get a look from OU if he stays the size he is, but Stanford can play #justsayin.
***
Moser musings
A couple of basketball updates here.
OU definitely feels good about the work it did with Denzel Aberdeen. As said last week here and last Friday, it's just about getting that first recruit to make the call for Porter Moser.
Still haven't heard much feedback about Milos Uzan. Obviously the Vegas connection made Jalen Hill the prime candidate to be Uzan's host, but nothing concrete just yet.
Lon Kruger and staff had such a narrow focus that you really paid attention whenever there was an official visit. Still trying to figure out Moser and staff's philosophy of who gets an official visit and why/why not.
After looking like the clear-cut leader for 2023 Bixby guard Parker Friedrichsen for last couple of months, source said Purdue blew him away last week. OU is expected to check in with Parker this week and work a lot with 2023 in-state kids, but they're going to need to if this is gonna turn out in OU's favor.
All eyes go toward Nick Smith and an incredible battle it's gonna be. OU made him a priority for in-home visits, and now they're bringing him to campus for an official visit for Nebraska weekend. OU made the initial eight, see where it goes from here.
Bonus
Just one more of Rowe, so you can get a feel of what he looks like in pads... and to make it feel like me and Eddie didn't waste a trip to Tulsa, half joking.
This week? Mustang at Norman and a chance to check out 2023 OU offer Jacobe Johnson once again. Johnson still not evaluated by Rivals just yet. Heard a lot of good things about Jacobe's development from what I deemed an uneven sophomore season so excited to see it in person Friday.
