Tag: 2021 recruiting class

WATCH: Senior highlight reel for Sooners early enrollee Billy Bowman

One of the top guys that the Oklahoma Sooners were able to sign was former Texas commit Billy Bowman. Check out his highlights.

One of the top signees for the Oklahoma Sooners No. 11 ranked recruiting class was four-star athlete Billy Bowman. Lincoln Riley and company were able to flip him from their long-standing rivals, the Texas Longhorns. Bowman was one of the key players for the Denton-Ryan Raiders this past season as they marched towards the Texas 5A state championship.

Bowman was like a swiss army knife for the Raiders team. He played slot wide receiver, defensive back, and return specialist. It is a bit unclear ahead of spring football just how Riley will use the athlete. He could play offense as another option at receiver. Alex Grinch could also use him on the defensive side of the ball. That likely won’t be figured out until they get on the field for spring football.

Check out the highlight reel from Bowman’s senior season:

https://youtu.be/UaPThXvrysM

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Oklahoma among five teams that stood out on National Signing Day

Paul Myerberg recapped National Signing Day with his five schools that stood out on the final signing period of the 2021 recruiting cycle.

It was a relatively quiet day on the recruiting front for the Oklahoma Sooners. All 16 of their signees were inked back in the early signing period that happened in Dec. When the second signing day period approached, the Sooners didn’t send out a single National Letter of Intent. That was confirmed by head coach Lincoln Riley during his media availability on Wednesday morning.

Despite the fact that the Sooners added a total of 21 players, none of which happened on Wednesday, Oklahoma stood out in the 2021 recruiting cycle. They were led by Caleb Williams, the class’s top recruit to sign his NLI to play for Riley. USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg identified the Sooners as one of the five schools that stood out.

The Alabama Crimson Tide put together the best class ever based on their 247Sports composite rankings. Among the other schools mentioned along with Oklahoma were the Southern California Trojans, Oregon Ducks, and the Michigan State Spartans.

OU provides the best example of the early signing period’s impact on how programs approach recruiting and roster management. OU’s top-heavy class counts one five star, top-ranked quarterback Caleb Williams, and 12 four stars among its 16 recruits, with all 16 signing in December.

Since the season ended, the Sooners have also signed five Power Five transfers, three from the cratered mess that is Tennessee: running back Eric Gray, offensive tackle Wanya Morris and safety Key Lawrence. Rather than devote scholarships to high school prospects, Lincoln Riley and OU have gone with the sort of experienced additions who can spark the Sooners’ push for the 2021 national championship. –Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports on the Sooners

Despite not adding a single player on Wednesday, Oklahoma finished with the top-rated class in the Big 12 Conference and the No. 11 recruiting class overall based on the composite rankings from 247Sports.

The Sooners are gearing up for a run at their seventh-straight conference championship and that elusive first win in the College Football Playoffs. With their additions, players returning from COVID-19 opt-outs, and the returning production, OU could very well be among the four teams in the playoff.

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Where Texas finished in 247Sports composite rankings for the class of 2021

Take a look at where Texas falls in the 247Sports composite rankings for the class of 2021.

It was a rather lackluster recruiting cycle for Texas in terms of the 2021 class. Continue reading “Where Texas finished in 247Sports composite rankings for the class of 2021”

Texas Football Recruiting: Three reasons the 2021 class was a disaster

Texas’ 2021 recruiting class was not one Longhorn fans are used to seeing. Here are three reasons it turned out to be such a disaster.

Texas’ 2021 recruiting class was not one Longhorn fans are used to seeing. Continue reading “Texas Football Recruiting: Three reasons the 2021 class was a disaster”

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Oklahoma leads the Big 12 Conference’s 2021 recruiting rankings

With the 2021 recruiting cycle coming to a close on Wednesday, Sooners Wire takes a look at where Oklahoma finished among their peers.

The Oklahoma Sooners finished out their 2021 recruiting class with 16 signees. Each of which signed back in December during the early signing period. The team would also add five players through the transfer portal. Due to the activity in the portal, head coach Lincoln Riley stated that they didn’t send any National Letters of Intent to prospective recruits to sign.

After the early signing period started in December, along with the additions they made through the transfer portal, the Sooners didn’t feel a need to add any more scholarship high school players today. – Josh Callaway’s five takeaways from the Riley Press Conference

The Sooners ended the 2021 cycle with a total of 21 players added through high school recruiting and the portal. I guess you could say it really was LincUpXXI.

Oklahoma has the No. 11 class according to 247Sports composite team rankings. They finish with the No. 1 class in the Big 12 Conference. Using the 247Sports rankings, Sooners Wire lists the rankings for each Big 12 member. We start with Oklahoma.

Texas Football: Meet the full 2021 recruiting class

Stay up to date with this tracker of each signee in Texas’ 2021 recruiting class.

As national signing day comes to a close, we’ve created a tracker to meet the new members of Texas’ 2021 recruiting class. Continue reading “Texas Football: Meet the full 2021 recruiting class”

Lincoln Riley expects Oklahoma to start spring camp in late March

Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley said he expects the football team to kick off spring camp in March.

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During the offseason ahead of the 2020 college football season, the spring football schedule was interrupted by the coronavirus. All spring sports, basketball tournaments and spring football were canceled. After dealing with COVID-19 throughout the football season, it feels as if some programs have a better handle on how to proceed with football activities.

On Wednesday morning, Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley met with the media and tackled a variety of topics. One such topic surrounded the football team’s plan for spring football.

“Looking forward here, like I said, to several weeks of offseason, Riley stated. “Our plan is to start spring ball in late March. Have a spring game in late April. And then, obviously, see where we’re at from there. That’s certainly our plans right now other than the recruiting piece which is still up in the air. Our plans are to get to work and have a good full offseason and good full spring ball.”

The expectation is camp will kick off in late March and have a spring game in April. The Sooners then would break camp and reconvene in the summer ahead of the 2021 college football season. That seems to be the consensus around the Big 12 Conference. Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman stated the same when he spoke during the Wildcat’s media session.

This will be huge for the 10 early enrollees already on campus in Norman. With the five players who are transferring into the program, this is key in picking up their assignments as they prepare for their first year in Norman. Riley spoke about the new additions to the team on his Zoom call on Wednesday morning.

Riley stated the group is eager, confident and they look good on the hoof. Heading into spring ball, the Sooners are viewed as the favorites in the Big 12 Conference — as they should. Oklahoma is aiming for a seventh straight conference championship in 2021. The question remains about the Sooners returning to the College Football Playoffs after a one-year hiatus in 2020.

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Michigan State Football lands commitment from two-sport athlete, 4-star WR Keon Coleman

The Spartans have landed a commitment from a talented two-sport athlete from Louisiana.

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Michigan State Football has finally landed a player they have been chasing for over a year now. On National Signing Day, 2021 4-star wide receiver Keon Coleman signed his commitment letter to the Spartans.

Coleman isn’t just a wide receiver, but is a talented two-sport athlete who will likely spend time with the basketball team in hopes of playing both sports.

Coleman had originally bummed a lot of MSU fans out when he committed to Kansas in 2020, but he de-committed in the fall and the Spartans immediately jumped to the top of his list.

Coleman, who plays for Opelousas Catholic in Louisiana, is the No. 42 ranked wide receiver in the 2021 class by the 247Sports rankings and their No. 378 ranked player overall. He also averaged 26 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals per game for Opelousas last season on the hardwood.

Looking at every committed player in the Michigan State Football 2021 recruiting class

Coleman joins MSU’s 2021 class as their No. 3 highest ranked recruit.

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Four-star cornerback Ishmael Ibraheem signs with Texas

After off-the-field issues delayed the recruiting process, four-star cornerback Ishmael Ibraheem is now officially a Longhorn.

Four-star cornerback Ishmael Ibraheem was one of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s top priorities on national signing day. Continue reading “Four-star cornerback Ishmael Ibraheem signs with Texas”

Meet the 2021 Oklahoma Sooners recruiting class

The 2021 Oklahoma Sooners recruiting class with up to date signings. This is the full listing for Lincoln Riley’s fifth class.

The time has finally come for the final signing day of the 2021 recruiting cycle. The Oklahoma Sooners added 16 signees during the early signing period back in December. Of the 16, 10 enrolled early to get started on their life as a student-athlete in Norman.

The class is led by the No. 1 quarterback in the class, Caleb Williams. With Tanner Mordecai and Chandler Morris both transferring out of the program, the five-star composite signee will be the primary backup to another former No. 1 quarterback recruit in Spencer Rattler. He was the biggest addition in the class and another recruiter for the program. Much of the reason that the Sooners have a top 10 class.

The top defensive recruit of the class is Clayton Smith. The weakside defensive end that the Sooners were able to snag away from their rivals the Texas Longhorns. Another top Texas talent that will play his college football in Norman for Oklahoma.

A full look at the 2021 recruiting class. This will be continuously updated as prospects sign their letter of intent.