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The recruiting roll the Oklahoma Sooners and Lincoln Riley have been on lately continues. On Friday, OU added its fifth pledge of the 2023 recruiting class. Though early in the cycle, the Sooners hold the No. 1 class in the nation.
On Friday, offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh received his first commitment to the 2023 class: Joshua Bates of Durango, Colorado. Bates doesn’t have a composite grade, but both 247Sports and Rivals have him listed as a three-star center.
With uncertainty surrounding the center position, this was a key commitment in the class. Currently, the team is using Andrew Raym at center with two transfers as the backups. The Sooners also have a commitment in the 2022 class from Demetrius Hunter, a four-star center from Orange, Texas.
Oklahoma is well on its way to an historic class with the work it has put in this offseason.
Joshua Bates’ Recruiting Profile
Rating
| Stars | Overall | State | Position | |
| 247 | 3 | – | 3 | 33 |
| Rivals | 3 | – | – | – |
| ESPN | – | – | – | – |
| 247 Composite | – | – | – | – |
Vitals
| Hometown | Durango, Colorado |
| Projected Position | Center |
| Height | 6-3 |
| Weight | 280 |
Recruitment
- Offered on June 22, 2021
- No visit scheduled
- Committed on Aug. 13, 2021
Film
✝️COMMITTED! DREAM➡️REALITY #ChampU #Boomer #AGTG #DungeonFamily @OU_CoachB @LincolnRiley @SixZeroAcademy @JB6303 Film Cred: @TheChelsCreativ pic.twitter.com/DdGYAdYKRM
— Joshua Bates (@JoshuaBates64) August 13, 2021
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