Spoke at length yesterday with four-star SDE and priority Oklahoma target Will Nwaneri. Since late January, his recruitment has primarily been a battle between OU, Tennessee, Oregon and Missouri, but there are a couple new contenders trying to sneak into the mix as OV's draw near. Here's the skinny on where things sit in Nwaneri's process.
— Again, the four aforementioned programs have long been in line to receive officials from Nwaneri. I'd reported as early as February that he intended to take those four trips when OV's came around. However, his fifth OV destination had been somewhat up in the air, and it wasn't even clear whether he'd even use the fifth official. Georgia is a school that I'd begun to tout last month as the likely No. 5 option. And indeed, Nwaneri confirmed to me that he intends to take an official to Athens on June 2. In speaking with Nwaneri about his experience on his first unofficial to Georgia, he expressed that "it's just different" with the back-to-back national champions. UGA's practice regimen and overall intensity certainly captured his attention. Though they entered the picture rather late, Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs have done a nice job of positioning themselves among the top group.
— This is where things get a little dicey. Oregon and Missouri are on tap for the final two weekends of June, but Tennessee and OU both want to host Nwaneri on June 16. Naturally, that falls on OU's ChampU BBQ weekend. He has yet to decide which trip he'll schedule for the 16th, but he'll stop on the 9th at whichever school doesn't get him on campus that weekend. With Michael Hawkins, David Stone, Bryant Wesco, Nigel Smith and a couple dozen other targets set to visit for the ChampU BBQ, the Sooners would obviously far prefer to get Nwaneri to Norman on the 16th as opposed to the 9th. Tennessee is pushing just as hard to get Nwaneri in Knoxville on the 16th, perhaps as much to keep him away from the ChampU BBQ as to make a compelling pitch of their own. That current dilemma is something of which I'll stay abreast as Nwaneri finalizes his schedule.
— Ole Miss got the 6-foot-5, 250-pound edge talent on campus for an unofficial visit at the very end of April, and they impressed him enough that he's considering a sixth OV with the Rebels at the end of July. However, Nwaneri did tell me that he intends to commit before his senior season, one way or another. Thus, the timeline won't be drastically affected if he does add that sixth official.
— As for where he leans at the moment, Nwaneri said that his best relationships are at Oklahoma, but that he sees himself fitting into the culture at Tennessee quite nicely. Sources around Lee's Summit North remain confident that OU has the inside track, which isn't terribly shocking. Nwaneri has always been the type of kid for whom relationships will likely win out in the long run. Provided the Sooners maintain their diligence in their pursuit of Nwaneri, Miguel Chavis is in line to lock down a nationally acclaimed edge rusher out of Kansas City for the second consecutive class. It's far from over and the Tennessee buzz is real, but I still like Oklahoma here. Tier 1 is the Sooners and Vols; tier 2 is Oregon and Georgia; tier 3 is Missouri and Ole Miss.
— Again, the four aforementioned programs have long been in line to receive officials from Nwaneri. I'd reported as early as February that he intended to take those four trips when OV's came around. However, his fifth OV destination had been somewhat up in the air, and it wasn't even clear whether he'd even use the fifth official. Georgia is a school that I'd begun to tout last month as the likely No. 5 option. And indeed, Nwaneri confirmed to me that he intends to take an official to Athens on June 2. In speaking with Nwaneri about his experience on his first unofficial to Georgia, he expressed that "it's just different" with the back-to-back national champions. UGA's practice regimen and overall intensity certainly captured his attention. Though they entered the picture rather late, Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs have done a nice job of positioning themselves among the top group.
— This is where things get a little dicey. Oregon and Missouri are on tap for the final two weekends of June, but Tennessee and OU both want to host Nwaneri on June 16. Naturally, that falls on OU's ChampU BBQ weekend. He has yet to decide which trip he'll schedule for the 16th, but he'll stop on the 9th at whichever school doesn't get him on campus that weekend. With Michael Hawkins, David Stone, Bryant Wesco, Nigel Smith and a couple dozen other targets set to visit for the ChampU BBQ, the Sooners would obviously far prefer to get Nwaneri to Norman on the 16th as opposed to the 9th. Tennessee is pushing just as hard to get Nwaneri in Knoxville on the 16th, perhaps as much to keep him away from the ChampU BBQ as to make a compelling pitch of their own. That current dilemma is something of which I'll stay abreast as Nwaneri finalizes his schedule.
— Ole Miss got the 6-foot-5, 250-pound edge talent on campus for an unofficial visit at the very end of April, and they impressed him enough that he's considering a sixth OV with the Rebels at the end of July. However, Nwaneri did tell me that he intends to commit before his senior season, one way or another. Thus, the timeline won't be drastically affected if he does add that sixth official.
— As for where he leans at the moment, Nwaneri said that his best relationships are at Oklahoma, but that he sees himself fitting into the culture at Tennessee quite nicely. Sources around Lee's Summit North remain confident that OU has the inside track, which isn't terribly shocking. Nwaneri has always been the type of kid for whom relationships will likely win out in the long run. Provided the Sooners maintain their diligence in their pursuit of Nwaneri, Miguel Chavis is in line to lock down a nationally acclaimed edge rusher out of Kansas City for the second consecutive class. It's far from over and the Tennessee buzz is real, but I still like Oklahoma here. Tier 1 is the Sooners and Vols; tier 2 is Oregon and Georgia; tier 3 is Missouri and Ole Miss.
