*So we're finally here, the day of Camar Wheaton's expected announcement.
And with that I was making calls yesterday to try and check on just where the situation is.
What I can say is that it DOES NOT sound like Camar Wheaton signed with anyone last week.
I can say he did not sign with Oklahoma, I'm told he did not sign with Alabama, and the dark horse I've been watching for a while, SMU, doesn't think he'll choose them - whenever he may choose.
Now did he perhaps sign with someone completely out of the blue? Maybe, but it's sure hard to believe a surprise like that from one of the nation's elite talents would be able to kept quiet for a week now.
Which leads me into the next possibility, the chatter that he may not even commit today. If he didn't sign, Wheaton isn't bound to much of anything even with a commitment and there is some chatter that he may decide to delay his announcement.
So Wheaton remains a bit of a mystery but those trying to convince themselves Oklahoma is out, or he has already signed with Alabama, take a breath. Similarly even if he picks Oklahoma today, I'd prepare myself for more rumors and chaos in the month and a half to come.
All this said, I'm still picking Oklahoma - basically because I've heard nothing that would change my mind.
**On Monday Rivals100 defensive lineman Tyson Ford announced that he was focusing on a Final 4...
Interestingly Georgia, who'd offered him just four days earlier, made the cut. Often that is an indication of the group being a bit closer to a final decision and, as you all know, Ford has already set his announcement date for less than a month from now - Jan. 18.
I'd actually heard that Notre Dame was trying to make a run at Ford and checked around with a few sources earlier this week and it sounds like Oklahoma remains confident in their pursuit of him.
His, and his mother's, relationship with Calvin Thibodeaux has been a large part of this recruitment to date and Ford himself speaks glowingly of Oklahoma and the chance to go see the program.
Again, if you can put him together with just about any collection of Gabe Dindy, Bear Alexander, and Omari Abor then you are really onto something.
***It's always fun to look to the future and in this case I'm asking you to look wayyyyy out in the future but it seems that the state of Oklahoma could be ready to produce its next great defensive lineman. And he may very well come in the form of Del City, Okla. 2024 (yes, you read that right) defensive tackle David Stone.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect was a kid I had a chance to see in person back during my summer tour and at the time the staff at Del City told me 'if he gets aimed in the right direction, he can be special' and it sounds like as the year went on he turned that light on for the Eagles.
He's got excellent length, a nice first step, and while it looks a bit awkward at times, try and remember you're watching a freshman. As one Del City source told me, one who has been around elite prospects in his time, 'he's a 100 guy in the future'. Add in that Jaedon Foreman is a strong contender for sophomore of the year and Del City's future and Oklahoma's could be intertwined.
I'll be going over more and more tape over the next few weeks as I work toward my first 2022 rankings as well as getting watch lists together for 2023 and 2024.
And with that I was making calls yesterday to try and check on just where the situation is.
What I can say is that it DOES NOT sound like Camar Wheaton signed with anyone last week.
I can say he did not sign with Oklahoma, I'm told he did not sign with Alabama, and the dark horse I've been watching for a while, SMU, doesn't think he'll choose them - whenever he may choose.
Now did he perhaps sign with someone completely out of the blue? Maybe, but it's sure hard to believe a surprise like that from one of the nation's elite talents would be able to kept quiet for a week now.
Which leads me into the next possibility, the chatter that he may not even commit today. If he didn't sign, Wheaton isn't bound to much of anything even with a commitment and there is some chatter that he may decide to delay his announcement.
So Wheaton remains a bit of a mystery but those trying to convince themselves Oklahoma is out, or he has already signed with Alabama, take a breath. Similarly even if he picks Oklahoma today, I'd prepare myself for more rumors and chaos in the month and a half to come.
All this said, I'm still picking Oklahoma - basically because I've heard nothing that would change my mind.
**On Monday Rivals100 defensive lineman Tyson Ford announced that he was focusing on a Final 4...
Interestingly Georgia, who'd offered him just four days earlier, made the cut. Often that is an indication of the group being a bit closer to a final decision and, as you all know, Ford has already set his announcement date for less than a month from now - Jan. 18.
I'd actually heard that Notre Dame was trying to make a run at Ford and checked around with a few sources earlier this week and it sounds like Oklahoma remains confident in their pursuit of him.
His, and his mother's, relationship with Calvin Thibodeaux has been a large part of this recruitment to date and Ford himself speaks glowingly of Oklahoma and the chance to go see the program.
Again, if you can put him together with just about any collection of Gabe Dindy, Bear Alexander, and Omari Abor then you are really onto something.
***It's always fun to look to the future and in this case I'm asking you to look wayyyyy out in the future but it seems that the state of Oklahoma could be ready to produce its next great defensive lineman. And he may very well come in the form of Del City, Okla. 2024 (yes, you read that right) defensive tackle David Stone.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect was a kid I had a chance to see in person back during my summer tour and at the time the staff at Del City told me 'if he gets aimed in the right direction, he can be special' and it sounds like as the year went on he turned that light on for the Eagles.
He's got excellent length, a nice first step, and while it looks a bit awkward at times, try and remember you're watching a freshman. As one Del City source told me, one who has been around elite prospects in his time, 'he's a 100 guy in the future'. Add in that Jaedon Foreman is a strong contender for sophomore of the year and Del City's future and Oklahoma's could be intertwined.
I'll be going over more and more tape over the next few weeks as I work toward my first 2022 rankings as well as getting watch lists together for 2023 and 2024.
