The 2022 class has had a few splashes here and there, but we probably won’t have a good grasp on the impact of this group until 2024. A few years since the arrival of the 2020 recruiting class, what kind of impact is this group having for the Oklahoma Sooners?
In their third season in Norman, the 2020 recruiting class is playing a huge role for the Sooners this year. Marvin Mims is one of the best receivers in the country and Anton Harrison is playing like a player that could be taken in the top 50 of the 2023 NFL draft. Andrew Raym has developed into a solid starter at center helping anchor a fast-paced Oklahoma offensive attack.
In ESPN’s look at the 2020 recruiting class, the Sooners improved from the No. 10 class at the time to No. 7 in their re-rank.
How this class finishes under new head coach Brent Venables remains to be seen as the Sooners navigate a rough patch. Several signees are no longer with the program. Under previous head coach Lincoln Riley, with whom they signed, this group has offered some really good production. Pieces of this class helped generate more than 20 wins, a conference title their freshmen season and a pair of bowl wins. WR Marvin Mims was a key target on that Big 12 title team and remains a top receiver for the Sooners. DL Perrion Winfrey was the top junior college DL and was a disruptive starter while with the program. Top signee Reggie Grimes has developed into a good defender, leading the team in sacks. The Sooners signed several four-star OLs with in-state ESPN 300 Andrew Raym and Anton Harrison developing into solid starters. – Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill, ESPN
The addition of Perrion Winfrey from the junior college ranks was the highlight on the defensive side. Though a bit up and down for the Sooners, Winfrey provided an interior pass rush and was taken in the
Reggie Grimes has been a good player, but hasn’t been the best player in the recruiting class. There’s still another level that he can go to.
Aaryn Parks and Nate Anderson have provided depth along the offensive line and Justin Harrington has become a rotational Cheetah player for the OU defense. D.J. Graham had some good moments at cornerback, but recently made the switch to wide receiver.
Chandler Morris won the starting quarterback job at TCU before suffering an injury in the season opener. Max Duggan’s played so well that Morris hasn’t been able to reclaim the starting quarterback job.
The biggest disappointments in this class were Seth McGowan and Mikey Henderson. Both players had promising starts to their Sooners careers in 2020 before being dismissed during the 2021 offseason amid assault allegations.
If we were re-ranking the players in the 2020 class, Marvin Mims or Anton Harrison would vie for the top player. Both have been among the best at their position in the Big 12 and have received some first round buzz in early mock drafts for the 2023 NFL draft.
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