UPDATE: 8:16p - Guys we'd mentioned earlier this week that there was some chatter that Patrick Hudson would be taking an official visit to Norman midweek next week after visiting Georgia this weekend and then Arkansas the final weekend. He has confirmed that visit with a Rivals.com reporter so I've got reason to think it will actually go through it.
The Silsbee, Texas Rivals100 offensive guard has been committed to Baylor since July of 2014 so anything other than Bears would be a big surprise but obviously for Oklahoma to get this visit is a big thing for them.
And though Rivals has him listed as a guard I'm told that Hudson is seen as a tackle by the Sooners.
UPDATE: 1:43p - Had a chance to talk with Chris Daniels's father and definitely got some surprising impressions.
First, contrary to my opinion this morning, I don't think Oklahoma is out of this thing, though I definitely think Texas is the clear betting favorite.
As I said this morning, I don't think that Arkansas and Tennessee are real contenders at all, I think it's Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M quite possibly in that order.
It sounds like the Daniels family may favor Oklahoma somewhat but it's clear that Texas really turned his head personally and I think that's why Texas is out in front. This decision will be his, though he isn't going to ignore input from his family.
I expect each of the trio to do another in-home visit and perhaps some of the shininess of Texas can wear off.
But the bottom line is that Oklahoma is still in pursuit and has a chance.
UPDATE: 10:20a - Talked to four-star outside linebacker offer Mark Jackson a bit about his Twitter page and he kind of played it off as not a big deal. What I did find funny?
As we were joking around about his life in a few weeks after all this is over and not everyone is hanging on his every word...
"As of right now I'm still committed. But I'm looking deeply into OU," Jackson said.
It kind of came out of nowhere and backs up what I continue to hear that Oklahoma could be in a very good spot for a steal.
UPDATE: 8:25a - Oklahoma looks likely to host Montgomery (Ala.) Park Crossing outside linebacker P.J. Blue this weekend.
For those unaware, he committed to Louisville on Dec. 1 over offers from Kentucky, Nebraska, and several others. I'm still trying to check to get more information but this weekend is becoming linebacker central.
ORIGINAL: Alright guys, let's get this thing started today...
***After yesterday's gathering of news between five-star linebacker Caleb Kelly rumors and the Sooners confirming an offer to Scranton (Pa.) Lackawanna C.C. outside linebacker Emmanuel Beal I wanted to go over any implied connection.
My impression is that there is no connection between the two. Oklahoma has two, I'll say it again, two outside linebackers on the roster this spring. They desperately need help and need guys who can play early on. I think Kelly can be one of those guys but to me he isn't a guy that walks on campus and takes a starting spot without question.
I think he can get there but I think patience would be needed.
With Beal and Doucet Oklahoma has guys who can, in ways, help more quickly after facing better comp, etc.
What I did expect some connection between? Kelly and New Orleans McDonogh 35 outside linebacker Clifford Chattman and talking to Chattman the Sooners have not been by since the opening of the contact period. That being said, he tells me they are coming by next week - though he did not know who would be visiting, which is an unusual thing for a prospect not to know on a set up in-home visit.
For those needing clarity on that comment it feels like Oklahoma has given him some indication they could come by but probably haven't committed to it from their end.
This could definitely be a decision to watch, particularly if that visit happens following two expected commitments this weekend from Doucet and Beal. If the visit, is in fact planned, and is canceled it would seem a very positive bit of news for Kelly in my eyes.
***After the Chris Daniels news last night the question became whether Oklahoma was still in with him or not. It's my impression that he won't publicly rule Oklahoma out and I think Oklahoma might even do another in-home visit.
But the reality from most I've talked to is that this is going to come down to Texas and Texas A&M with Tennessee and Arkansas not really being factors in the decision.
Perhaps Oklahoma can turn things around as it's almost hard to realize that a day after tweet this...
...that he has now decommitted from Oklahoma. But still this doesn't feel like a situation that the Sooners will return to the forefront of.
***I spoke with Oklahoma wide receiver commitment Ryan Parker briefly this week and he confirmed what most of us have heard for a while, his grades are still somewhat in flux but it sounds like he knows it and feels confident he'll get things done this semester.
I don't have a ton more on him but am hoping to speak with him in the next day or two and have more of a complete picture. To me it was just the first time that he has acknowledged he still has a ways to go academically before he is ready to arrive in June.
But in my experience? Those guys are generally the ones who find a way to get the work done. The ones who keep telling me 'I'm all good' are the ones either too far in the hole to come out of it or too unaware of how bad their situation is.
***ICYMI both our scholarship chart update and this tweet last night it seems that Kyler Murray is now in Norman.
The Silsbee, Texas Rivals100 offensive guard has been committed to Baylor since July of 2014 so anything other than Bears would be a big surprise but obviously for Oklahoma to get this visit is a big thing for them.
And though Rivals has him listed as a guard I'm told that Hudson is seen as a tackle by the Sooners.
UPDATE: 1:43p - Had a chance to talk with Chris Daniels's father and definitely got some surprising impressions.
First, contrary to my opinion this morning, I don't think Oklahoma is out of this thing, though I definitely think Texas is the clear betting favorite.
As I said this morning, I don't think that Arkansas and Tennessee are real contenders at all, I think it's Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M quite possibly in that order.
It sounds like the Daniels family may favor Oklahoma somewhat but it's clear that Texas really turned his head personally and I think that's why Texas is out in front. This decision will be his, though he isn't going to ignore input from his family.
I expect each of the trio to do another in-home visit and perhaps some of the shininess of Texas can wear off.
But the bottom line is that Oklahoma is still in pursuit and has a chance.
UPDATE: 10:20a - Talked to four-star outside linebacker offer Mark Jackson a bit about his Twitter page and he kind of played it off as not a big deal. What I did find funny?
As we were joking around about his life in a few weeks after all this is over and not everyone is hanging on his every word...
"As of right now I'm still committed. But I'm looking deeply into OU," Jackson said.
It kind of came out of nowhere and backs up what I continue to hear that Oklahoma could be in a very good spot for a steal.
UPDATE: 8:25a - Oklahoma looks likely to host Montgomery (Ala.) Park Crossing outside linebacker P.J. Blue this weekend.
For those unaware, he committed to Louisville on Dec. 1 over offers from Kentucky, Nebraska, and several others. I'm still trying to check to get more information but this weekend is becoming linebacker central.
ORIGINAL: Alright guys, let's get this thing started today...
***After yesterday's gathering of news between five-star linebacker Caleb Kelly rumors and the Sooners confirming an offer to Scranton (Pa.) Lackawanna C.C. outside linebacker Emmanuel Beal I wanted to go over any implied connection.
My impression is that there is no connection between the two. Oklahoma has two, I'll say it again, two outside linebackers on the roster this spring. They desperately need help and need guys who can play early on. I think Kelly can be one of those guys but to me he isn't a guy that walks on campus and takes a starting spot without question.
I think he can get there but I think patience would be needed.
With Beal and Doucet Oklahoma has guys who can, in ways, help more quickly after facing better comp, etc.
What I did expect some connection between? Kelly and New Orleans McDonogh 35 outside linebacker Clifford Chattman and talking to Chattman the Sooners have not been by since the opening of the contact period. That being said, he tells me they are coming by next week - though he did not know who would be visiting, which is an unusual thing for a prospect not to know on a set up in-home visit.
For those needing clarity on that comment it feels like Oklahoma has given him some indication they could come by but probably haven't committed to it from their end.
This could definitely be a decision to watch, particularly if that visit happens following two expected commitments this weekend from Doucet and Beal. If the visit, is in fact planned, and is canceled it would seem a very positive bit of news for Kelly in my eyes.
***After the Chris Daniels news last night the question became whether Oklahoma was still in with him or not. It's my impression that he won't publicly rule Oklahoma out and I think Oklahoma might even do another in-home visit.
But the reality from most I've talked to is that this is going to come down to Texas and Texas A&M with Tennessee and Arkansas not really being factors in the decision.
Perhaps Oklahoma can turn things around as it's almost hard to realize that a day after tweet this...
...that he has now decommitted from Oklahoma. But still this doesn't feel like a situation that the Sooners will return to the forefront of.
***I spoke with Oklahoma wide receiver commitment Ryan Parker briefly this week and he confirmed what most of us have heard for a while, his grades are still somewhat in flux but it sounds like he knows it and feels confident he'll get things done this semester.
I don't have a ton more on him but am hoping to speak with him in the next day or two and have more of a complete picture. To me it was just the first time that he has acknowledged he still has a ways to go academically before he is ready to arrive in June.
But in my experience? Those guys are generally the ones who find a way to get the work done. The ones who keep telling me 'I'm all good' are the ones either too far in the hole to come out of it or too unaware of how bad their situation is.
***ICYMI both our scholarship chart update and this tweet last night it seems that Kyler Murray is now in Norman.
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