Tag: 2023 recruiting class

A bulked up Adepoju Adebawore could be a nightmare for SEC offenses

The former five-star prospect is much heavier than he was when he walked on campus and ready to terrorize QBs in the SEC.

Day 2 of [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag] featured [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Venables, quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman [/autotag], and safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] had plenty to say about this year’s team while on the mic. However, one note from the head coach before OU’s time at the podium was eye-opening.

Venables shared with the media in attendance that true sophomore defensive end [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag] is over 260 pounds entering fall camp. The former five-star prospect in the [autotag]2023 recruiting class[/autotag] weighed 240 pounds exiting high school, according to Rivals. That means that the speedy pass-rusher has gained over twenty pounds since arriving in Norman. He was one of three five-star prospects in that historic class, along with Arnold and safety [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag].

Adebawore played in all 13 games last season after enrolling at OU in January 2023. He was a consensus five-star and top-25 national recruit, ranked as the No. 4 player in the country by On3, No. 9 by 247Sports, No. 20 by ESPN, and No. 21 by Rivals. He was regarded as the nation’s second-best edge prospect by 247Sports, On3 and ESPN, and No. 3 by Rivals. Adebawore ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the state of Missouri by all four services and was a 2022 Under Armour All-American. He chose Oklahoma over Arkansas, Missouri, and Northwestern, among others.

Adebawore had a limited role in his true freshman season, but still made his presence felt at times during the year. He could be in line for more playing time at defensive end in 2024, and his upside is nearly limitless.

The Sooners lost plenty of depth and experience on the defensive line this offseason, but return [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] to lead the way. However, Adebawore provides the talent in a pass-rushing role that Oklahoma needs in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

Oklahoma is entering a trenches conference, where the lines of scrimmage win and lose football games. An elite pass rusher like Adebawore, who has the potential to develop, would go a long way towards winning in 2024 and beyond.

He might not be on everyone in the SEC’s radar yet, but now that he’s spent some time under the tutelage of Jerry Schmidt and bulked up this offseason, he may be wreaking havoc in a backfield near you soon.

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Former five-star recruit Emma Risch arrives at Notre Dame

The Irish are excited about this one.

Even with [autotag]Emma Risch[/autotag] having put pen to paper, [autotag]Niele Ivey[/autotag] and her staff surely still couldn’t believe it had happened. One of the country’s top recruits, Risch officially signed with Notre Dame in November. However, they can put all their disbelief away now. Risch is all moved into her home for the next few years, and the Irish’s Twitter account took full advantage in making a fuss about it:

Risch averaged 23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists over 24 games in her final season at the high school level. When her signing was announced, Ivey said the following:

“Emma is one of the best shooters I’ve seen in a very long time. She has an incredible IQ, deep shooting range and elite vision. Her size and ability to score in all three levels separates her and will translate to college basketball immediately. I’m looking forward to the positive impact she will make on our team on and off the court. We can’t wait to welcome her to South Bend!”

Well, the welcome has happened, and it will be exciting to watch what she can do.

Former four-star CB Jasiah Wagoner set to enter the portal

Oklahoma Sooners cornerback Jasiah Wagoner entering the transfer portal, according to a report on Thursday.

Spring practice is over for the Oklahoma Sooners and they’re one of the teams in college football feeling the roster crunch. Programs and players are making tough decisions about their future.

In the spring portal window, the Oklahoma Sooners lost projected rotational cheetah Justin Harrington. Now, another key defensive back piece in the 2023 recruiting class is heading to the portal.

According to Collin Kennedy of Sooners Illustrated and 247Sports, former four-star prospect Jasiah Wagoner is entering the transfer portal.

Wagoner played eight games and 76 snaps as a true freshman, according to Pro Football Focus. Wagoner had a terrific summer leading up to the season and was routinely discussed as someone who could push for snaps immediately as the Sooners searched for consistency at cornerback.

He missed the first half of the season due to injury before becoming a consistent part of the rotation in the back half of the year. He totaled three tackles and two pass breakups in 2023.

Oklahoma earned Wagoner’s commitment over Arizona State, Notre Dame, Washington, and Texas.

Wagoner’s departure is probably not the last for Oklahoma as players on the fringe or lower on the depth chart than they’d like to be will seek to enter the transfer portal ahead of the May 1 deadline.

Recent rule changes have clarified that all transfers, graduate or not, must be in the portal by May 1st to seek a new school. Previously, grad transfers were allowed to enter the portal after the deadline, but with the new rules, all players are treated the same when entering the NCAA transfer portal.

Wagoner will have three more years of eligibility remaining.

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Notre Dame’s Carey Booth enters transfer portal but could return

Hopefully, he comes back.

When a player enters the transfer portal, they generally don’t go back to where they came from. Not so fast in the case of Notre Dame forward [autotag]Carey Booth[/autotag]. In an Instagram story and in speaking to On3’s Joe Tipton, Booth announced his that he’s entering the transfer portal. However, he has not ruled out coming back to the Irish as indicated in the following statement:

“I’m beyond thankful for getting to wear the blue and gold this year. I’m especially thankful to Coach Shrewsberry and his staff for believing in me and bringing me to South Bend. With that being said, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal to keep all of my options open – including a return to Notre Dame.”

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Booth, the highest-rated player in Notre Dame’s 2023 recruiting class on 247Sports, played all 33 games for the Irish this past season, starting 19 of them. In his first collegiate season, he averaged 6.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.6 blocks a game.

At 6-foot-10, Booth was tied with [autotag]Kebba Njie[/autotag] for the tallest player on the team, and it’s possible he felt he couldn’t compete with Njie for a starting spot going forward. Whatever the case, hopefully, he isn’t gone for good.

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Texas A&M track and field inks multiple athletes from 2024 recruiting class

Texas A&M loads up on talent as they sign high-end Track & Field athletes

Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country has one of the elite coaching staffs in the country with legendary Track & Field coach Pat Henry and recent Coach of the Year Wendel McRaven. That alone makes the University an attractive place to come and develop their talent, but there is also a brand-new Indoor Track Stadium.

This past month, Coach Henry has signed several talented athletes to the roster throughout November and now December. Below, you can see who signed and the official announcement via the Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country social media page.

Yierra Flemings – Cameron, TX – Heptathlon

Khybah Dawson – British Virgin Islands – Long Jump

Nico Signorelli – The Woodlands, TX – Pole Vault

Milena Chevallier – Farmington Hills, MI – High Jump

Tyler Lowe – Johns Creek, GA – 400M / 200M

Penny Gracy – The Woodlands, TX – 3200M

Gilbert Rono – Kericho, Rift Valley, Kenya – 1500M / 800M

Debora Cherono – Kericho, Rift Valley, Kenya – 1500M / 6K

Madison Peters – League City, TX – 1600M / 3200M

Congratulations to all of the signees, and we can’t wait to see them in the Maroon & White next season.

Steve Sarkisian praises the freshmen class and how talented they are

Texas has a group of freshmen that will make immediate impacts.

This past recruiting cycle for Texas is one that can help shape the program for years to come. Continue reading “Steve Sarkisian praises the freshmen class and how talented they are”

Anthony Hill named to On3’s preseason true freshman All-American team

Anthony Hill is a star in the making

Of all of the talented freshmen that Texas brought in from the 2023 class, only one of them was named a preseason true freshman All-American by On3.

Former five-star linebacker Anthony Hill, who they ranked as the No. 4 player in the country, is the sole Longhorn named to the team. When talking about what he brings to the table, On3’s Charles Power raved about his aggressiveness and physicality.

“Aggressive, physical, downhill linebacker with versatility to also be a situational pass rusher. I think that skill set, his level of development, coming from a top HS program … has him set up to really make an impact early on as a freshman for Texas.

Hill has reportedly been emerging as a young star during fall camp, and has even been moved to a couple different spots. He was an elite athlete at the high school level, racking up 303 tackles, 13 sacks, and nine forced fumbles.

Oklahoma freshman Peyton Bowen poised for a strong 2023 season

Peyton Bowen starting to settle in just a few weeks before the season starts.

The Oklahoma Sooners struck gold in the [autotag]2023 recruiting class[/autotag], landing three five-star players. Two of those players were in key positions on the defensive side of the ball.

[autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag], one of those aforementioned key defensive players, is on track to play a big role in the 2023 season.

After Tuesday’s practice, Bowen told reporters he’s thankful he decided to come to Norman early and get spring practice under his belt. But he believes this isn’t an easy position to play at Oklahoma.

“All of the movement,” Bowen said. “That’s the hardest part. I feel like I know the plays really well; it’s just how your alignment and disguising. I think that’s just the main thing, and that gets to me. Obviously, I’m getting better at it now from the spring, but it’s coming along.”

In addition to learning traditional safety, Bowen mentioned after practice that he’s played several spots in the Sooners’ secondary.

“I have moved around a lot,” Bowen shared with OUInsider’s Jesse Crittendon. “I’ve played five different positions in fall camp. It’s been a challenge, but I’m doing great at it. I feel like every day, I’m getting better at it. Obviously, it’s not perfect because I’m still learning five different positions and I get put in at five different places. So every time we’re learning a new install, I’m learning it at that position they put me in that day.”

The Denton, Texas, native is joining a room that has one returning starter, [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag]; one player who has played a lot at Oklahoma, [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag]; and a starter for another Power Five school, [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag]. All are guys Bowen said he’s leaned on for help.

“The old guys have been great on if you ask them a question about the defense, they’ll easily teach you it and show you and take you under their wing,” Bowen said. “Even the young guys that came in too, the freshmen, they’re all trying to help each other out because you’re only as strong as your weakest link.”

While there is immense pressure on a five-star at any program, there’s even more when you are a five-star at Oklahoma and on defense. But if the spring game was any indication, Bowen is poised to live up to the hype and put forth a great freshman season.

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Walter Rouse back from his injury and ready to roll

After spending four years playing for the Stanford Cardinal, Walter Rouse is excited about making one last statement at OU.

The [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] made a few splashes last offseason both in the transfer portal and in the [autotag]2023 recruiting class[/autotag]. One of those was the addition of [autotag]Stanford Cardinal[/autotag] offensive tackle transfer, [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag].

Rouse finished his four-year career at Stanford with multiple accolades. He was an All-Pac 12 honorable mention selection twice and freshman second-team All-American. Instead of going pro, something he admitted was the plan. He decided to use his COVID year and transfer to Oklahoma.

That’s how he ended up at the [autotag]University of Oklahoma[/autotag]. The Sooners had a need at tackle after the departures of [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag] to the NFL.

Combine that with the injury to freshman [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag], and the Sooners were thin. Rouse comes to the Sooners with 38 starts under his belt and more than 2,500 snaps at the collegiate level. Despite missing the spring due to a shoulder injury, he said he’s ready to go.

“The shoulder feels great,” Rouse said. “A lot better than I expected it to be. Honestly, from the first day to now, I feel like I’ve been getting better every single day and improving just a little bit. Honestly, I’m just having fun. I haven’t been able to hit somebody in about eight months.”

He admits missing the spring led to a learning curve, but he said it helped that he could ask questions and do some mental reps on the side. But even with that missed time, Rouse feels the offensive line is coming along really well.

“Overall, especially the one’s group, we are really connecting with one another, and I’m loving working with Savion (Byrd) on the left side,” Rouse said. “Just really forming a great relationship with one another. Some of the stuff we are doing is non-verbal because we just are already feeling it, it’s already instinctive.”

The offensive line plays a major role in how the offense performs as a whole. It helps to have one of the best in the business coaching them in Bill Bedenbaugh. It might be crazy to say after losing a first-round left tackle, but if this group can come together, they have a chance at being even better than a year ago.

And if they are, the addition of Walter Rouse through the portal will be a big reason as to why.

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Former Notre Dame commit picks powerhouse program

At one time he was the highest-ranked player in Notre Dame’s 2023 recruiting class. Now he’s officially headed to the SEC.

The first commitment Notre Dame received in the 2023 recruiting class was from edge rusher Keon Keeley in spring of 2021. Keeley was a big-time commitment out of Florida who, along with Brenan Vernon of Ohio, gave the Irish a solid start to the future Notre Dame defensive line in a matter of days.

Vernon remains committed to Notre Dame’s class, but Keeley, now graded a five-star prospect, backed off his commitment in August. Now Keeley has decided on his future school, and it’s the one we were most worried about the second he took a visit there while still committed to Notre Dame.

As they say, the rich keep getting richer.

See updated 2023 recruiting team rankings following Keeley commitment

As for Notre Dame, it’ll still have a very strong class but missing on a talent like Keeley certainly stings. The Irish also received the bad news in the last few hours that a four-star defensive lineman from the 2024 recruiting class is backing off his commitment as well.

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