Tag: 2022 recruiting class

College Football expert says it all starts up front for Oklahoma’s offense

On3’s J.D. PicKell says the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line is the key to the 2024 season.

It’s been an offseason of transition for the Oklahoma Sooners. A new quarterback, new coordinators, and a new conference have highlighted much of the change that is being experienced in Norman.

But at no spot is turnover more deeply felt than along the offensive line. Gone are [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag], [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag], [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag], and [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag], who are preparing for their first NFL training camps. Gone is [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag], who transferred to Missouri.

Those five players played an average of 762.2 snaps for the Sooners last season. Raym, Mettauer, and Rouse led the way for the Sooners offense in snap counts, according to Pro Football Focus.

It’s no small task to replace that much experience. And with a unit like offensive line where so much depends on the chemistry, communication, and continuity of the unit, the turnover is significant.

Oklahoma did a lot over the offseason to help replace the lost experience. They added [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag], [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag], [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag], and [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] through the transfer portal. That group of five brings a lot of snaps at the collegiate level to combine with Bill Bedenbaugh’s blue-chip recruits that he’s been developing the last couple of years.

Tarquin, Hatchett, Hickman, and Nwaiwu each figure to compete for a role or will start for the Sooners week one against Temple. Mix in ascending players like [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag] and [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag], four-star offensive tackles in the [autotag]2022 recruiting class[/autotag], and four-star interior offensive linemen from the 2023 recruiting class [autotag]Heath Ozaeta[/autotag] and [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag], and the Sooners have options along the offensive line.

If there’s any position group that will determine how much success the Sooners have this season, it’s the offensive line. But On3’s J.D. PicKell argues that if the Sooners get good offensive line play, all of the other pieces are there for OU to be dynamic on offense once again.

“If you give him time to throw the football, they’re gonna have a chance to make some real noise and kind of rattle the cage in the SEC a little bit their first year out there because they replace pretty much the whole offensive line that’s been well documented.”

PicKell goes on to say, “But if they can make that mechanism work the way that it needs to give him time to get through his reads and progress and get comfortable. They got more than enough firepower that wide receiver room to make some shake.”

The talent that Oklahoma has at wide receiver, quarterback, and running back is impressive. Led by quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], the Sooners have the players capable of creating another explosive offense. But Arnold will need time to throw and Sawchuk will need lanes to run through.

There is enough talent and experience in Norman for offensive line wizard [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] to put another strong unit together once again. We’ve seen him do it before and when fall camp gets underway, competition will provide the answers up front to help lead this team into the SEC.

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Notre Dame football: Jayden Bellamy

Meet new Notre Dame cornerback Jordan Bellamy

Notre Dame wasn’t able to hold onto every 2022 recruiting class commitment after the sudden departure of Brian Kelly from the program a few short weeks ago, but the Irish held onto the majority as the early signing period began on Wednesday.

Notre Dame’s advanced media team knocked it out of the park with its videos of each player this year. Cameos are made from former Notre Dame star football players, professional wrestlers, reality TV personalities and plenty more before Marcus Freeman ultimately delivers the good news for Irish fans.

Here are some fast-facts about cornerback Jayden Bellamy, who was the third Notre Dame player to send his national letter of intent in on Wednesday:

Name: Jayden Bellamy
Position: Cornerback
High School: Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey)
Size:  5-11, 175 pounds
Stars: 3-stars on both 247Sports and Rivals
Original Commitment Date: July 3, 2022

Related:  Notre Dame football 2022 recruiting class tracker

Aggies safety Bryce Anderson’s comments on recent football departures proves that this team is locked in for 2023

The Aggies’ recent football departures don’t seem to faze safety Bryce Anderson, who believes this team’s culture is committed to meeting the expectations placed on them, which is winning a national championship.

With Texas A&M entering a vital 2023 college football season in the coming months, there has been an abundance of headlines focusing on the struggles of last year. The players themselves have surely heard the noise, and based on what we’ve seen through spring ball and what we’ve heard in the postgame, this year’s group is ready to put the past behind them.

Following Saturday’s Maroon and White game that put a bow on the Aggies spring football program, safety Bryce Anderson spoke with the media about the difference between this year’s squad versus last year’s group, which notably stumbled to a 5-7 record (2-6 SEC):

“Cause I feel like that this team is committed… like last year some of the young guys were kind of like ‘loose in the head’ they weren’t really focused. But I feel this year, we coming out, everybody’s ready to practice, everybody wants to practice like it’s a whole different mindset this year.”

The larger goal at hand is what pushes this year’s group to meet the high expectations placed on them this season. And for the sophomore safety, those expectations equate to a national title:

“I want to win. I’m coming here to win, I’m coming here to win a national championship, so I’m coming here to change things.”

Anderson was a four-star recruit out of Beaumont and hails from the Aggies’ vaunted 2022 recruiting class that was ranked best in the country. But since then, A&M’s football program has seen a number of departures from that class via the transfer portal, most notably in the secondary.

Without naming names, it seems like Anderson isn’t too fazed by some of the roster changes and departures. And his words about some of the younger guys being ‘loose in the head’ last season are what stick out from his postgame comments. Growing pains are to be expected from young players, especially when thrust into the fire of SEC competition. But if questions remain about a player’s passion or desire for the game, then the reality is that it must be addressed.

Losing players to the transfer portal stings no matter how you look at it, but if those changes ensure that the individuals remaining in the locker room are committed to the goal at hand, then that’s all matters and should matter, to this football team.

This squad has heard enough of last year’s trials, and in order for them to cultivate a resounding bounce-back season it starts with leaders embodying the right mindset. From the looks of it, Anderson is more than ready to take on that mantle.

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Walker Howard believes he is the best quarterback on the roster, per Brian Kelly

Kelly said the freshman quarterback has no shortage of confidence.

[autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag] was a four-star top-100 quarterback in the class of 2022 from St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was one of the most prized recruits of Brian Kelly’s first recruiting class at LSU.

Coming into his freshman year, he knew there was a lot he would have to compete for a starting spot. At that time, LSU had three other quarterbacks ahead of him on the roster: [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag] and [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag].

Brennan then retired from football, and the job came down to Daniels or Nussmeier. Daniels won the job, but if you ask Howard, he thinks he is the best quarterback on the roster, according to Kelly.

“I’d say every day that he’s with us, there’s more knowledge,” said Kelly. “I’m in the meetings with the quarterbacks, and he’s got great football knowledge. He’s mentally strong, and he believes he’s better than every quarterback we have, which is awesome. I love that.

“Now, I don’t mean that in any way other than he just has that kind of makeup, which is what you want. And he respects everybody in the room. But yeah, he continues to develop, and we have a good feeling about him.”

LSU hopes Howard represents the quarterback of the future.

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Joe Foucha excited to return to the field after suspension

Foucha is set to make his LSU debut on Saturday against Auburn.

[autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag] was one of the top-rated players in the transfer portal last season.

In 2021 at Arkansas, Foucha played in 13 games and totaled 75 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble. He was rated as a four-star transfer by 247Sports, and he was brought in as a part of Brian Kelly’s No. 8 overall 2022 recruiting class.

Foucha was brought in to help solidify the Tigers’ secondary, which was heavily depleted by the transfer portal and graduates. He was unable to play at the start of the season due to academic ineligibility, but going into Auburn, he is a free man.

On Wednesday, Foucha met with the media to share his thoughts

“It feels great. The four weeks I was out, I was still preparing every day like a game,” Foucha said. “Now that I finally have the opportunity to practice and prepare, now that I get to play Saturday, I’m just ready to go.

“For anyone, it’s pretty hard (watching from the sideline). My teammates, coaches, kept me going, and me just having the want-to, it kept me going as well. I went to scout team day in and day out preparing hard for this moment.

“It’s an SEC game so I’m definitely excited. It’s going to be a big game Saturday and it’s definitely going to be a big game for me since it’s my debut.”

Foucha is likely to immediately slide into a starting role as the Tigers will be without safety [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] for 3-6 weeks as he recovers from a neck injury.

LSU will head to Auburn to take on another Tiger team this Saturday at 6 p.m. CT. Both teams enter the game 3-1, but with a win, one could vault themselves to the higher portion of SEC West standings.

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5 Oklahoma freshmen we look forward to watching vs. UTEP

With the Sooners set to take on the UTEP Miners, here are five freshmen we’re looking forward to seeing on Saturday.

Brent Venables and his coaching staff did a tremendous job finishing the 2022 cycle with the No. 8 recruiting class. There’s a lot of talent in this group. Notably 15 true freshmen cracked the game one depth chart released earlier this week.

Those freshmen came right in and got to work. The mid-year enrollees spent the winter and spring reshaping their bodies and learning the ins and outs of the playbooks.

With so many true freshmen on the depth chart and a game against an opponent that Oklahoma should beat comfortably, we could see quite a few of these freshmen getting game action this weekend. We took the liberty of tossing out the five freshmen to we’re looking forward to watching.

LOOK: Many of Texas’ 2022 signees arrive on campus

The arrival of the fifth-ranked signing class breeds lots of excitement around the program.

The remaining members of Texas’ 2022 class are beginning to make their way to campus for summer workouts.

Last season, Texas watched wide receiver Xavier Worthy and defensive lineman Byron Murphy see significant playing time as true freshmen. The new group is expected to have many competing to make an early impact this fall.

Texas put an emphasis on strengthening the trenches on both sides of the ball in the 2022 cycle.

Five-stars Devon Campbell and Kelvin Banks highlight Texas’ uber-talented offensive line group coming in.

Four-star edge rusher J’Mond Tapp is quick off the line and could help Texas at a major position of need. He joins early enrollees Justice Finkley and Jaray Bledsoe on the defensive front.

The arrival of the fifth-ranked signing class breeds a great deal of excitement around the program. Players were all smiles moving into their long-awaited new homes.

Four Longhorns mentioned on 247Sports’ true freshmen who matter in 2022

247Sports recently listed the top freshmen who matter this upcoming season.

It’s no secret that Texas will be relying on several true freshmen to step up this upcoming season. Continue reading “Four Longhorns mentioned on 247Sports’ true freshmen who matter in 2022”

LSU basketball picks up another blue-chip commitment for 2022

McMahon has now added the fourth high school recruit to the 2022 class as part of his quick turnaround.

Much has been said about the pace at which Tigers coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] has rebuilt the roster in Baton Rouge.

He salvaged what appeared to be one of the worst situations in the Power Five in just a matter of weeks, and the future looks fairly bright all of the sudden. Things look even brighter now, as McMahon has picked up his fourth commit in the 2022 cycle in [autotag]Shawn Phillips Jr.[/autotag]

The 6-foot-10 center from Dream City Christian in Glendale, Arizona, was previously committed to North Carolina State, signing back in November. But he was released from his letter of intent after the departure of assistant Mike Summey, and he reopened his recruitment.

He took an official visit to Baton Rouge on May 7 after listing LSU among a top five which also included Georgetown, Kansas State, Miami and Overtime Elite.

He’s a four-star recruit and the No. 111 player (and No. 20 center) in the 2022 recruiting class. After the Tigers saw each of their commits in the class depart following the firing of Will Wade, McMahon has put together a class that ranked No. 17 before Phillips’ addition and is sure to jump even more now.

Phillips is the third blue-chip addition to that group, joining top-100 prospects in [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Reed[/autotag].

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Matt McMahon is rebuilding LSU basketball at lightning speed

McMahon has turned the program around in a very short amount of time.

Two months ago, LSU basketball was in shambles. Every scholarship player had entered the transfer portal, and the rebuild ahead looked as messy as any in recent memory.

There was speculation that some big names wouldn’t even accept the job because of the position the program was in. Not only had every player left, but NCAA sanctions were looming (and they still are).

LSU is a big-time athletics program, but in basketball, it’s far from a blue blood. The program doesn’t recruit itself like Duke or Kentucky does.

When [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] took the job, he was staring down the impossible. Nobody expected much out of him for his first year or two on the job — hence the seven-year contract given to him providing security and breathing room.

The roster McMahon was going to be working with during his first season was supposed to be a collection of mid-major transfers, three-star recruits, and maybe a couple of guys that followed him from Murray State. Whatever that expectation was, McMahon has far exceeded it.

McMahon was able to bring three of his players from Murray State in [autotag]Justice Hill[/autotag], [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag], and [autotag]Trae Hannibal[/autotag].

That trio makes up three of the top four scorers from a Murray State team that went 31-3. Williams led the team in scoring with 18 points/game on his way to winning conference player of the year.

Hill averaged 13.4 points and 5.1 assists per contest as a sophomore and Hannibal proved to be a solid piece as well with 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds on average.

Murray State didn’t face top competition, but a 31-3 record is a 31-3 record no matter the schedule, and McMahon brought the core with him.

Then there are the guys McMahon has gotten out of high school, which might be his most impressive feat considering how late in the game it is for the 2022 recruiting class. So far, the Tigers have added forwards [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Reed[/autotag].

Ward is a four-star on average, but On3 has him slated as a five-star. Regardless, he’s a top recruit and there were a lot of people who didn’t think LSU would be landing players of Ward’s caliber again for a few years.

Reed was another big get, ranking as one of the 10 best power forwards in his class.

All of this was cemented last week when [autotag]Adam Miller[/autotag] announced he’d be returning to LSU. Miller transferred from Illinois prior to last season but tore his ACL before the year even started. When Miller went down, LSU’s offense took a large hit that was evident throughout the year.

If he was healthy last season, it’s likely that LSU doesn’t go home in the first round. That team was one scorer away from being dangerous. With Miller back in the fold, the talented freshman, and the guys from Murray State, McMahon is now working with a competent roster.

Along with Miller, McMahon also managed to get [autotag]Mwani Wilkinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Justice Williams[/autotag] back from the portal, two players who are likely to contribute next season. Wilkinson, despite having a limited role, was a starter last year.

McMahon has proven he can get the most out of his team, and if he gets the most out of this one, is it crazy to see LSU as an eight or nine seed? Of course, they’d have to avoid a postseason ban, but crazier things have happened in this sport.

McMahon took over a program in dire straits and has already laid a foundation. If this track continues, it’s not hard to see a scenario where he keeps LSU basketball relevant at a time when it looked like that relevancy was fading.

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