Now that the Oklahoma Sooners have broken the ice with commitments from [autotag]Jeremiah Newcombe[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag], the Sooners can turn their attention to a few of the top prospects in the [autotag]2024 recruiting cycle[/autotag].
[autotag]David Stone[/autotag], [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag], and [autotag]Bryant Wesco[/autotag] are three of the top players in the Sooners 2024 recruiting pursuits. Each player saw significant movement in the latest ESPN 300 update (ESPN+).
Stone moved up from No. 14 in ESPN’s previous rankings to No. 5 overall, earning his fifth star from ESPN.
Stone got a slight bump up the rankings, earning a fifth star. He is a stout big man with impressive raw tools and a competitive spirit. He is a disruptive force in the trenches with an explosive first step.
For a player of his size (6-foot-5, 285 pounds), Stone possesses fluid movement with the ability to quickly redirect, enabling him to be a factor at the line of scrimmage. Stone can still refine his hand usage and focus at times, but he showed increased physical and technical developmental when scouted at the UCReport Pro Day at IMG Academy.
He also improved all testing times, including a 4.7 shuttle. Stone is choosing between Oklahoma, Michigan State, Miami, LSU, Texas A&M and Florida. – Haubert and Luginbill, ESPN
Stone is an Oklahoma native but has received interest from across the country. All the typical players are involved, but Oklahoma has long been seen as the favorite. Nothing is certain, however, so the Sooners need to keep their recruiting pitch going all the way to national signing day.
Williams Nwaneri jumped from No. 30 overall to No. 10 in their rankings and earned five-star status as well.
Nwaneri was a promising prospect with untapped ability based on his sophomore evaluation. Since then, he has vastly improved his agility and explosiveness, and he heads into his senior season having established himself as one of the top defenders in the 2024 class.
At 6-foot-6 with an over 80-inch wingspan, he has the desired length and frame to develop with naturally good bend. Among Lee’s Summit North High School’s (Missouri) leading tacklers this past season, including 12 sacks, he can be tough to contain with his initial quickness off the snap and his ability to turn speed to power.
The new five-star will take on and defeat smaller blockers and run past heavier linemen. A well-rounded defender with a ceiling for first-round NFL measurables, Nwaneri’s top schools are Tennessee, Oklahoma, Missouri, Oregon and Georgia. – Haubert and Luginbill, ESPN
The Sooners have been trending in a positive direction for some time on Nwaneri, the composite five-star player out of the Kansas City area. But like Stone, he’ll get the full-court press from top programs across the country. The Sooners should feel good about where they are in his recruitment, but they need to seal the deal.
Another notable riser in the ESPN 300 is a player that’s seen his status skyrocket this offseason, wide receiver Bryant Wesco. Wesco earned his fifth star in the Top 247 by 247Sports and shot up to No. 9 overall. In the ESPN 300, he jumped up 169 spots to No. 23 overall.
It’s difficult to fully figure out Wesco’s speed. He hasn’t posted great track times but plays fast and impressed us with his tape, evidenced by his 21.2 mph on-field max speed this past fall — which is comparable to Jaylen Waddle, the former Alabama wideout who has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
Wesco is quicker than he is fast, however his route-running ability and knack for separation make him dangerous because he knows how to set up defensive backs so he can get open. He’s a confident pass-catcher whose productivity has helped him climb tremendously up the ranks. Wesco’s top schools include Oklahoma, TCU, Clemson and LSU. – Haubert and Luginbill, ESPN
Wesco is another player the Sooners have been trending positively with for some time. His blend of size, speed, and ability to create yards after the catch make him a perfect fit for Jeff Lebby’s offense.
The Sooners are in a good spot for three of the top prospects in the 2024 recruiting class. There’s a good chance Oklahoma could land all three players. With what they did in the 2023 cycle, the Sooners have proven they can recruit with the best programs in the country.
For the Sooners to get back to national title contender status, they have to stack another top five recruiting class on top of their 2023 success. Bringing in Wesco, Nwaneri, and Stone would be significant pieces in that effort.
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