Tag: 2024 Recruiting

2024 five-star WR Ryan Williams re-commits to Alabama

Alabama lands a MASSIVE commitment from 2024 five-star WR Ryan Williams after he de-commited when Nick Saban retired.

Kalen DeBoer has his first huge headline-making news break as the Alabama football head coach. Five-star wide receiver of the 2024 class, Ryan Williams, has re-committed to the Crimson Tide.

The news was devastating for Crimson Tide fans when he announced he would be opening his recruitment back up. He took a visit to Texas A&M and was being heavily pursued by LSU, Texas and Auburn.

The in-state prospect, however, canceled his visit to Texas and re-committed to Alabama the very next day.

This is a massive win for the new Alabama head coach, as many had criticized his ability, or lack thereof, to retain the talent already on the roster and recruit at a high level.

With another National Signing Day soon approaching and the transfer portal re-opening in the Spring, there is a lot to be excited about with this new-look Alabama football program.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football as the 2024 offseason progresses.

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David Stone ascends to No. 1 Defensive Lineman in the nation for 2024

David Stone finishes out the 2024 cycle rising into the top 5 of Rivals player rankings as the No. 1 defensive lineman.

The most important recruitment of the 2024 recruiting cycle came on the defensive side of the football. That was the pursuit of five-star defensive tackle David Stone.

Though there were others in pursuit of the Oklahoma native, it was the Sooners that landed one of the best prospects regardless of position in the cycle.

Now, as recruiting services finalize their ranking for the 2024 class, Oklahoma’s five-star defensive tackle signee has another accolade to add to his ledger. Stone ascended to earn the top spot among defensive linemen, according to Rivals. In the process, he rose to be the No. 5 overall player in the class.

Stone overtook former Sooners target and Missouri signees Williams Nwaneri in Rivals’ rankings.

The tools are there for Stone to be an elite player at the collegiate level. But in addition to what he can do physically, he sounds like a player who is going to put the work in to make sure he does meet and exceed expectations.

With Stone’s arrival in the midyear, he’ll have a chance to be an impact player as a true freshman for the Oklahoma Sooners. OU needs interior pass rush help, and Stone’s ability to play with power and speed will create havoc on the inside.

His ascension into Rivals top five is just the latest sign in the tireless work ethic David Stone is bringing to Norman. If he isn’t already a fan favorite, it won’t be long before he is.

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5 recruits that newly hired, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer needs to reach out to

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer will need to prioritize recruiting during his time at Alabama. Here are five recruits that DeBoer needs to contact sooner rather than later.

It might take a minute before newly hired Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer actually goes out and recruits. However, there are some calls that DeBoer can make to recruits now that he has accepted the head coaching position at the University of Alabama.

DeBoer will have to quickly assemble a coaching staff to get out on the recruiting trail and retain players on the current roster. Events will likely move very quickly in the coming days.

Roll Tide Wire lists five recruits DeBoer needs to reach out to as Alabama’s new head coach.

Sooners signee wins Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year

Oklahoma Sooners signee Andy Bass wins Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year after an incredible senior season at Heritage Hall.

The Oklahoma Sooners added one of the best offensive players in the country when they earned the signature of three-star athlete Andy Bass.

Bass, who played quarterback for Heritage Hall, was incredibly productive, showing off his dual-threat ability with an explosive senior season. For his efforts, Andy Bass was named Oklahoma’s Gatorade Player of the Year for 2023.

Bass completed 66% of his passes for 3,144 yards, 35 touchdowns and two interceptions. He ran for 1,478 yards and 30 touchdowns, averaging 10.7 yards per carry.

At Oklahoma, Bass will be in the running back room, but he also will see time at wide receiver. He’s a dynamic athlete who can create huge plays.

Sooners [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] won Texas and National Gatorade Player of the Year awards. [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] was a two-time Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year.

Here’s a look at Bass’ huge year via Hudl.

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What does ESPN have to say about incoming quarterback Michael Hawkins?

Oklahoma’s incoming quarterback Michael Hawkins has a chance to be a big-time player due to his dual-threat ability, says ESPN.

The Oklahoma Sooners have long been a place where quarterbacks find success. That’s in part due to the offenses that the Sooners playcallers have put on the field, but also because the university attracts some of the nation’s best quarterbacks.

In the [autotag]Alamo Bow[/autotag]l, we’ll get to see [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] make his first start, but Oklahoma’s quarterback future goes beyond Arnold. The Sooners added two quarterbacks in the 2024 recruiting class, [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag] and [autotag]Brendan Zurbrugg[/autotag].

Hawkins, it could be argued, was severely underrated in the 2024 recruiting class as he showed off a number of tools that will make him successful at the collegiate level. 247Sports and On3 were lower than ESPN and Rivals on the Oklahoma legacy, where he was considered a four-star prospect in the 2024 cycle.

It’s the dual-threat nature of Hawkins’ game that has Todd Luginbill of ESPN (ESPN+)  excited for his future with the Sooners.

Hawkins is going to be a dynamic runner for the Sooners. He has a live arm but is not a classic passer. He timed at 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash in 2021 and now runs 4.6. If Oklahoma and new OC Seth Littrell want to really challenge defenses with a running QB, Hawkins fits the bill. – Tom Luginbill, ESPN

At a camp at SMU back in 2021, Hawkins posted a time of 4.43 in the 40-yard dash.

There’s no telling at what point Hawkins could see the field. It could very well be in 2024 as he’s gotten a jump start on his Oklahoma Sooners career, joining the team for Alamo Bowl practices. But when he does, you can bet, he’ll put a lot of stress on the defense with his ability to beat teams with his legs.

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ACC Football 2024 Team Recruiting Rankings After Early Signing Day

Here is a full look at how the ACC stands in team recruiting rankings after early signing day.

Early signing day was, as it should be for every college football program nationwide, a very busy day.

High school players across the country signed their national letters of intent and secured the next step in their football careers as they prepare to join their new teams. The ACC had some good success on early signing day, with multiple ACC programs landing in the top 25 of class team rankings following the day. 

So, how does the ACC stack up against each other? That’s what we’re going to take a look at today. Here is a look at every ACC team’s 2024 team recruiting ranking according to 247Sports following early signing day.

Updated 12/25

Where does Oklahoma rank among the top 25 recruiting teams in college football in 2024?

Where do the Oklahoma Sooners rank in 2024 team recruiting rankings after securing their signing class?

The Oklahoma Sooners finished the 2024 recruiting cycle without a whole lot of issues, signing all 27 of their committed prospects.

It secured the Sooners a third-consecutive top 10 signing class under head coach Brent Venables in his two years in Norman. The 2024 class has a chance to help set the Sooners on a trajectory to help them contend for SEC and national titles.

It all starts up front with a defensive line class that includes five blue-chip prospects, headlined by five-star defensive tackle David Stone. But beyond Stone, the Sooners have a number of talented players who will be big-time contributors for Oklahoma in 2024 and in the coming years.

With the early signing period wrapping up, let’s take a look at how Oklahoma’s 2024 signing class compares to the rest of the country. Here’s a look at the top 25 teams in recruiting based on an average of the team rankings from 247Sports, On3, and Rivals.

More from the [autotag]2024 early signing period[/autotag].

Oklahoma Sooners’ 2024 signing class position outlook

A position by position look at who signed with the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2024 signing class.

The Oklahoma Sooners put together another top-10 recruiting class, signing all 27 of their prospects on the first day of the early signing period.

It’s a class that will help define Oklahoma’s success in the SEC. It’s a class that’s balanced, with 14 offensive signees and 13 on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive front is garnering all of the attention, but the Oklahoma Sooners brought in a number of really talented players on both sides of the ball.

Here’s a position breakdown of the Sooners’ 2024 signing class.

More: [autotag]2024 Early Signing Period[/autotag] coverage

How ready are the Oklahoma Sooners to compete in the SEC?

Brent Venables and co. did great job recruiting the past three years but are they ready to compete in the SEC?

The [autotag]2024 recruiting[/autotag] class for the Oklahoma Sooners is their first class in a new conference. The Sooners finished with the No. 6 class according to Rivals, which was good for No. 4 in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

While the 2022 and 2023 classes were top 10 classes as well, this was their best defensive haul, especially along the defensive line.

It’s obviously going to take some time to develop this class and continue to develop the 2023 class even though many members of that 2023 class received significant playing time this season. Brent Venables spoke about just how ready they are to compete in the SEC.

“We’re always working to be better,” Venables said. “We are certainly competitive. We want more. We’re going to need more. Whatever that means. It’s all-encompassing. It’s incredibly competitive. It’s relentless. It’s year-round. It’s challenging. There are some smart coaches, and there are a lot of programs that have a lot of resources. Just like Oklahoma. So, it’s a very real competition. One that’s not going to go away. You are going to win some and then not win some but you need to win some more than you lose.”

Oklahoma has had a class that would rank in the top five among SEC schools every year since Venables took over at Oklahoma. Gone are the days, however, where the Sooners have only one school to compete with in their conference.

This is a new challenge. A tough challenge. But it is one Venables and his staff are up for.

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7 Takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 2024 signing class

The Oklahoma Sooners locked in all 27 commits to their 2024 signing class and here are seven takeaways.

The Oklahoma Sooners found success on the recruiting trail in each of the three cycles Brent Venables has been in Norman. Because they signed all 27 commitments on the first day of the early signing period, the Sooners locked up a third-consecutive top 10 recruiting class.

It was a great day for the Sooners on the recruiting trail. It also was a stress-free morning: The Sooners had their class locked up by 11:30 a.m. CT.

Now they turn their attention to their remaining targets on the recruiting trail, namely Dominick McKinley, who isn’t expected to sign until the February’s national signing day.

Even if they don’t pull off an improbable flip with McKinley, the Sooners have put together another really strong recruiting class on both sides of the ball.

Here are some takeaways from the Sooners 2024 signing class:

Check out more from the [autotag]2024 early signing period[/autotag].