The first big recruiting weekend for the Sooners has come to a close.
In the last 24 hours, a pair of predictions from Rivals’ OUInsiders Brandon Drumm and Parker Thune were submitted in favor of the Sooners for wide receiver [autotag]Zion Ragins[/autotag] from Georgia.
Ragins is a composite four-star and the No. 117 player in the nation. He’s smaller in stature, standing at 5 feet, 9 inches and 150 pounds. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for with elite speed. According to 247Sports, he runs a 10.47 100-meter dash.
247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins had this to say about the receiver,
A lightning-fast playmaker with some of the better track times in the 2024 cycle,” Ivins said. “Took gold at the GHSA 5A track meet in the 100-meter dash as both a freshman and sophomore and owns a personal-best 10.37 in the race, which happens to be a Peach State record for a 9th grader. Obviously, can turn on the afterburners, but isn’t exactly the biggest skill player as an in-person evaluation suggests that he’s under 5-foot-9, 160 pounds. Still, has averaged 11.3 yards per offensive touch the past two years and has found the end zone 17 different times, including once via a kickoff return. At his best when he gets the ball in space and can find a crease in a defense. However, can get deep on post routes and produce some big gains that way, as well. Should be viewed as a potential gadget player that offensive coordinators can get creative with at the next level. Has some wiggle with the ball in his hands, but must eventually add some body armor to a rather slender frame if he hopes to survive on Saturdays. Will also need to keep evolving as a route runner if he wants to play more than just a complementary role. Likely to add plenty of special teams value as he can hit the home run. – Ivins, 247Sports
He’s a player that reminds of former Sooner great Marquis Brown, displaying elite speed and big-play ability. Now, that’s a tall task to expect him to have the career Brown had, but if he can, that would help the Sooner offense go to another level.
The Sooners have two wide receivers committed to the 2024 recruiting class: Zion Kearney and KJ Daniels pledged to the class. Still, Emmett Jones and Jeff Lebby are hoping to continue to add speed to the Sooners’ offense with Ragins.
The Sooners have put an emphasis on speed at wide receiver this offseason, adding Jaquaize Pettaway and Brenen Thompson for 2023 and their pursuit of Daniels and Ragins in the 2024 cycle. If Oklahoma adds Ragins to its wide receiver corps, it will have several guys that can threaten teams deep in the passing game or wide in the jet sweep, wide receiver screen game.
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