As the Oklahoma Sooners and the rest of the nation wind down the 2022 recruiting cycle with national signing day on Feb. 2, it’s important to remember recruiting classes are seldom finished products. Progression isn’t always linear and just like NFL draft classes, the recruiting classes can rise to the occasion of their billing or they can fizzle by not providing the expected returns.
In 2019, ESPN had Oklahoma’s class ranked fourth nationally at the time of signing. Buoyed by the transfer arrival of Jalen Hurts and the commitment of the top quarterback in the class Spencer Rattler, this group has shown some promise, but hasn’t really taken over as the top players on the Oklahoma Sooners. As such, in ESPN’s re-rank of the 2019 recruiting classes (ESPN+), the Oklahoma Sooners have fallen to No. 10. The Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide flipped the top two spots and the Ohio State Buckeyes saw a huge jump from No. 16 to No. 3 in the re-ranking.
Here’s what ESPN’s Craig Haubert had to say about that Sooners’ recruiting class.
This class gets credit for time served, as many of the players who contributed have since moved on from the program. Contributing to a pair of conference titles and a playoff appearance, this top-five class didn’t quite meet expectations but certainly flashed. Transfer QB Jalen Hurts delivered, and highly touted Spencer Rattler looked to be the next superstar Sooners QB coming off a promising 2020 season. It was short-lived, as he was replaced and transferred. Five-star WR Jadon Haselwood most closely met high expectations in 2021 when he led the team in receptions, but he will be playing elsewhere (Arkansas) in 2022 as well. – Haubert, ESPN
Of the top five players in 247Sports rankings from 2019, only Theo Wease remains with the program heading into 2022. Jadon Haselwood (Arkansas), Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) and Austin Stogner (South Carolina) each transferred out since the end of the 2021 regular season. Trejan Bridges is dealing with legal troubles after an alleged armed robbery that saw him dismissed from the team in the spring.
The other significant contributor from this class (so far) was Rhamondre Stevenson, who was used as part of the rotation with Trey Sermon and Kennedy Brooks in 2019. A suspension limited his work in the 2020 season, but his return rejuvenated the Oklahoma Sooners’ offense, helping it overcome two early season losses and win the Big 12 title. Off to the NFL, he was Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded rookie running back in 2021.
There are still significant contributors on the roster with Woodi Washington arguably the top player remaining from the class. Theo Wease has been really good for the Sooners, tying for the team lead in receptions in 2020 before a knee injury kept him out of 2021. He’ll have a shot to once again be one of Oklahoma’s lead receivers in his return to the field in 2022.
Jeremiah Criddell and Marcus Stripling have shown some promise and there’s the possibility that Stripling could be the next man up at defensive end with Nik Bonitto and Isaiah Thomas headed to the NFL.
The rest of the class is still largely unproven, but with 12 starters lost via the NFL draft or the transfer portal, there are opportunities for these now-veterans of the team to make a significant impact in 2022 and beyond.
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