Oklahoma’s journey into the SEC is complete, and in less than two months, the Sooners will take the field as SEC members. To prepare for the challenges ahead, Oklahoma had to become a better defensive unit. The most important part of this process was improving how they recruited along the offensive and defensive lines.
Brent Venables and his defensive line coach, Todd Bates, have entirely different views of what their defensive lines need to look like, and their view matched up with the defensive lines you see littered across the SEC.
You need size up the middle at the point of attack so you can disrupt teams from running the ball and sitting there in the pocket to pick you apart in the passing game.
The Sooners continue to recruit the types of defensive linemen necessary, and it makes perfect sense why the Sooners pursued and ultimately earned a commitment from Rivals four-star defensive lineman Floyd Boucard.
BREAKING: Class of 2025 DL Floyd Boucard has Committed to Oklahoma, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’4 315 DL from Montreal, QC chose the Sooners over Miami, USC, & Alabama
“Ready to take over.”https://t.co/4MVaLdL0GZ pic.twitter.com/qAJoAvHIZL
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 20, 2024
Boucard originally hails from Canada but played his junior season at Mobile Christian in Alabama, where he registered 85 tackles, 27 tackles-for-loss, and 11 sacks. He plans to play for Miami Central High School in Florida for his senior year.
He has a non-stop motor and moves very well for someone who checks in at 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds. He has terrific burst off the snap, and he could ultimately be a difference maker lined up as a nose tackle, defensive tackle and even has the ability to play some defensive end in three-man alignments.
His recruitment has seen a number of twists and turns, with USC, Alabama, and Miami all being leaders at one point or another. Ultimately, Todd Bates and the Oklahoma Sooners get the last laugh.
In the lead-up to his commitment, Boucard shared his favorite parts of being recruited by the Sooners. “The coaching staff has shown much love,” Boucard said. “I also like how they want to use me in their scheme.”
With his commitment, the Sooners have 22 commits for the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] and remain steady at number eight in the class rankings.