Tag: 2025 recruiting cycle

Flurry of predictions favor Sooners for 2025 4-star defensive lineman

After receiving a pair of predictions from On3 midday Tuesday, a flurry of projections came through favoring the Sooners for 2025 four-star defensive lineman Trent Wilson.

The writing may be on the wall for the Oklahoma Sooners in their pursuit of four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Trent Wilson[/autotag].

On Tuesday, the Sooners picked up a pair of On3 predictions from Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons. Then, later in the day and into Wednesday, the Sooners garnered five more predictions between On3 and Rivals.

Penn State publisher for On3, Sean Fitz, and Happy Valley Insider for Rivals ,Dylan Callaghan-Croley, each issued predictions in the last 16 hours favoring the Sooners. From a local lean, Parker Thune and Brandon Drumm of OUInsider and Rivals issued Rivals Futurecasts for the Sooners to land Wilson. Joining his Rivals colleagues, national recruiting analyst Adam Friedman also issued a Futurecast favoring Oklahoma.

Now, predictions aren’t commitments and commitments aren’t signatures, but it appears that the Sooners have created a ton of momentum in their recruitment of Trent Wilson.

Wilson is a game-changer up front. He’s got good size and pairs that with elite athleticism for the position. He has a quick first step, which allows him to gain leverage on the offensive lineman as he works to the backfield.

The Upper Marlboro, Md. native is a top 10 defensive line prospect in 2025, according to On3 and Rivals. He’s just outside the top 10, according to ESPN at No. 11. Nationally, he’s a top 150 player in the cycle.

Paired with a commitment from [autotag]Ka’Mori Moore[/autotag], the Sooners could potentially have another strong interior defensive line group coming to Norman in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] if they can land Wilson as well.

More: Sooners climbing SEC recruiting rankings after commitment from Tory Blaylock

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Sooners now the trending favorite for 2025 4-star defensive lineman

The Oklahoma Sooners received On3 Predictions from Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons for four-star defensive lineman Trent Wilson.

The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to build upon one of their best defensive line recruiting classes of the modern era in the 2024 cycle. Oklahoma already has commitments from [autotag]Ka’Mori Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Alexander Shieldknight[/autotag] and look to be the trending favorite for a blue-chip prospect, [autotag]Trent Wilson[/autotag].

Steve Wiltfong, now of On3, and Chad Simmons each issued an On3 prediction favoring the Sooners in Wilson’s recruitment. The Sooners now have a sizeable lead over Penn State and Maryland in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Wilson, who hails from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, has 17 offers from Big Ten and SEC schools.

The Sooners offered Wilson at the end of January but [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] has apparently moved the needle in a short time.

Here’s what I had to say about Wilson back in January. At the end of January, Wilson released a top eight that included the Florida State Seminoles, Penn State Nittany Lions, Maryland Terrapins, Florida Gators, Texas A&M Aggies, Tennessee Volunteers, and the Ohio State Buckeyes along with the Sooners.

Wilson, who plays as the three-technique defensive tackle, or between the guard and tackle in their defensive alignment, plays with good quickness and power. He uses a good first step to dart the gap between opposing offensive linemen to get to the quarterback or bring down the running back in the backfield. – Williams, Sooners Wire

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Duke lands fifth 2025 commitment, a three-star defensive lineman

The Blue Devils got a commitment from Georgia defensive lineman Julius Columbus, a three-star 2025 recruit, late on Monday night.

Duke landed its fifth commitment of the 2025 football cycle late on Monday night.

Julius Columbus, a three-star defensive lineman from Gainesville, Georgia, announced his commitment to the Blue Devils on social media.

Columbus is 247Sports’ 99th-ranked defensive lineman in the class and the No. 86 player in the state of Georgia. Over 12 games as a junior, MaxPreps credits him with 58 total tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, and 17.0 sacks.

He unofficially visited Durham over the weekend, committing swiftly afterward. The Blue Devils beat out offers from Yale, UCF, Appalachian State, Liberty, and a handful of other schools.

Columbus is the fifth player from the Class of 2025 to commit to new Duke head coach Manny Diaz and the fourth to do so since February 8. Four-star linebacker Cameron Smith leads an all-defensive class that includes edge rusher Sampson Onuoha and defensive backs Ma’Khi Jones and William Felder Jr.

Duke is now 37th in 247Sports’ recruiting rankings for the 2025 cycle.

2025 three-star edge rusher Sampson Onuoha commits to the Blue Devils

Sampson Onuoha, who plays for Belmont Hill in Massachusetts, announced his commitment to the Blue Devils on Friday.

Sampson Onuoha, a three-star edge rusher in the Class of 2025, announced his commitment to the Blue Devils through social media on Friday.

Onuoha, who plays for Belmont Hill School in Massachusetts, is the 37th-ranked edge rusher in the class, per 247Sports’ rankings. MaxPreps tracked him with five sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 35 total tackles during his six-game junior season in 2023.

He became the fourth commit of Duke’s 2025 class, joining four-star linebacker Cameron Smith and three-star corners Ma’Khi Jones and William Felder Jr.

“I am incredibly grateful for all of my coaches, teammates, friends, and family who supported throughout this process. #bleedblue,” Onuoha wrote in his message about the commitment.

The Blue Devils beat out offers from schools like Boston College and Rutgers. Onuoha took an unofficial visit to the Blue Devils last Friday, one day after an unofficial visit with Boston College.

Onuoha also plays basketball, and he made Great Britain’s roster for the FIBA u16 European Championships back in the summer of 2022.

His official Duke visit is scheduled for June 23.

Sooners earn another crystal ball from 247Sports director of football recruiting for in-state star

The Oklahoma Sooners latest crystal ball comes from 247Sports director of football recruiting Steve Wiltfong

The Oklahoma Sooners have made significant headway in the recruitment of 2024 four-star edge [autotag]C.J. Nickson[/autotag]. Nickson, out of Weatherford, Oklahoma, is considered one of the best prospect in the state and is the No. 46 prospect in America according to 247Sports.

And it looks like the Sooners have opened a significant lead in Nickson’s recruitment.

Brandon Drumm of OUInsider, Josh McCuistion of SoonerScoop and Collin Kennedy of Sooners Illustrated have each issued a prediction favoring the Sooners. That’s one from each of the major recruiting sites that covers the Oklahoma Sooners.

On Monday, 247Sports director of football recruiting Steve Wiltfong joined the local experts with a crystal ball of his own favoring the Sooners.

Nickson is a consensus four-star prospect and if the Sooners are able to land his commitment, it would give OU eight prospects from the state of Oklahoma in the [autotag]2025 recruiting cycle[/autotag].

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Sooners pick up another prediction for 2025 4-Star Oklahoma product C.J. Nickson

The Oklahoma Sooners earned an On3 prediction for the state of Oklahoma’s No. 1 player, C.J. Nickson.

The Sooners have done yeoman’s work in Oklahoma to land the top in-state prospects. Of the 10 prospects committed in their 2025 recruiting class, six of them are from the state of Oklahoma.

Based on the trending predictions for four-star outside linebacker [autotag]C.J. Nickson[/autotag], the Sooners look like they’re on the verge of adding another in-state star.

SoonerScoop’s Josh McCuistion issued a prediction favoring the Oklahoma Sooners on Friday afternoon. This comes after Brandon Drumm of OUInsider at Rivals issued a futurecast favoring the Sooners last week.

Nickson is a top 50 player in the country according to On3 and 247Sports and is a four-star prospect across the board. He’s considered the No. 1 player in the state.

He’s an incredible athlete who also stars on the basketball court for Weatherford High School. Nickson also holds an offer from Porter Moser and the Oklahoma basketball program. Nickson has the size and athleticism to be a dynamic edge rusher for the Sooners.

C.J. Nickson’s Recruiting Profile

Projections

  • Rivals futurecast from OUInsider’s Brandon Drumm.
  • On3’s recruiting prediction machine favors the Oklahoma Sooners with a 97.5% chance to land Nickson after McCuistion’s prediction.

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Sooners earn crystal ball from 247Sports director of football recruiting

247

The Oklahoma Sooners look like they’re in the driver’s seat for a five-star defender in the [autotag]2025 recruiting cycle[/autotag].

Over the weekend, predictions rained down from On3, favoring the Sooners to land five-star defender [autotag]Jonah Williams[/autotag]. Williams, out of Galveston, Texas, is a two-sport athlete and one of the best defenders in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

On Tuesday, 247Sports national recruiting director Steve Wiltfong issued a crystal ball prediction supporting the Sooners’ standing with Williams.

Williams is an incredible talent who has a knack for making plays in deep safety roles as well as in run support. His ability, combined with his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame, makes him an intriguing option for the cheetah role in [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] and [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ defense.

He’s the No. 14 player in the 247Sports composite. Listed as a linebacker with 247Sports, he’s the No. 2 linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class.

Whether he plays linebacker, safety or cheetah at the next level, just get him on the football field. He’s the kind of player that can help take your defense to the next level with his playmaking ability.

Oklahoma put itself in a comfortable position in Williams’ recruitment, but it can’t get too comfortable. Williams has offers from the who’s who of college football and every one of those programs would love to turn the momentum in their favor.

If the Sooners eventually sign Williams, he would be their fourth five-star prospect in the last three recruiting classes, joining [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag], [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag] and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag].

That’s how you build a defense.

More: 5-Star prospect Jonah Williams recruiting profile

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Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from 3-Star OT Ryan Fodje

The Oklahoma Sooners picked up their 10th commitment in the 2025 recruiting cycle with a pledge from offensive tackle Ryan Fodje.

The Oklahoma Sooners hot start in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] continued Sunday morning with a commitment from offensive tackle [autotag]Ryan Fodje[/autotag].

Fodje is currently considered a three-star prospect according to 247Sports and On3 but has received a lot of buzz in recent months, picking up a number of high-profile offers.

In addition to the Sooners’ offer, Fodje holds offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Oregon, Nebraska, Missouri, Tennessee, and USC. He’s considered a top 30 offensive tackle prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle but could see his stock rise.

Last summer, Fodje spent time with the Sooners at Brent Venables Football Camp and earned an offer from Oklahoma in August. That August 26 offer from OU was his first, but over the last four months picked up 18 more offers. In the last couple of weeks, he received offers from Texas, Oklahoma State, and Oregon among others. He even spent time at Texas’ Junior Day on January 20.

The commitment marks the Sooners 10th in the [autotag]2025 recruiting cycle[/autotag] and second offensive line commitment, joining [autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag] from Melissa, Texas.

Fodje moves very well with his 6-foot-5, 275-pound frame. He has a nice first step in pass protection and uses his length well. As a run blocker, Fodje is a physical player. Once he engages his defender, he doesn’t disengage until the opponent is on the ground or the play is over. He does a great job driving his feet and blocking through the whistle. He’s a natural athlete who has all the tools to make a huge impact at the University of Oklahoma.

More: Oklahoma Sooners 2025 commitment tracker.

Ryan Fodje’s Recruiting Profile

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Oklahoma included in top 12 for 2025 5-star wide receiver

The Oklahoma Sooners included in the top 12 for 2025 five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham.

The Oklahoma Sooners have done a fantastic job on the recruiting trail since the arrival of Brent Venables. But their wide receiver recruiting took a big step once Emmett Jones joined the fold.

Oklahoma added four dynamic wide receivers in the 2024 cycle and the position had a breakout season in 2023, Jones first season coaching the position for the Sooners.

In the 2025 cycle, the Sooners have already added a trio of commitments at the position in Gracen Harris, Elijah Thomas, and Jaden Nickens. The Sooners are also in the mix for one of the top wide outs in the 2025 cycle, Caleb Cunningham.

On Monday, Cunningham included the Oklahoma Sooners in his top 12 after spending the weekend in Norman. The Ackerman, Miss. native included the Sooners alongside Ole Miss, Mississippi State, LSU Tigers, Auburn, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Tennessee.

Cunningham is a dynamic two-sport star, showing off incredible athleticism on both the gridiron and the hardwood. As a junior in 2023, he caught 48 passes for 1,138 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has great size already and shows off the ability to break away from the defense after the catch. Cunningham’s a sure-handed receiver that catches the ball away from his body.

The Sooners will be in quite the recruiting battle for the No. 2 wide receiver in the country. But given Jones’ success on the recruiting trail and the success of the wide receiver position on the football field in 2023, Oklahoma is well-positioned to add one of the best players in the 2025 recruiting class.

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Oklahoma Sooners make top 8 for 2025 4-star defensive lineman

The Oklahoma Sooners are in the mix for an elite defensive line prospect in the 2025 recruiting class.

Fresh off a tremendous defensive line haul in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Todd Bates and Miguel Chavis are back on the recruiting trail to follow that up with another blue-chip defensive line class in 2025.

Oklahoma received some good news on that front, landing inside the top eight for Upper Marlboro, Md. four-star defensive line prospect Trent Wilson. Wilson also included the Florida State Seminoles, Penn State Nittany Lions, Maryland Terrapins, Florida Gators, Texas A&M Aggies, Tennessee Volunteers, and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Wilson, who plays as the three-technique defensive tackle, or between the guard and tackle in their defensive alignment, plays with good quickness and power. He uses a good first step to dart the gap between opposing offensive linemen to get to the quarterback or bring down the running back in the backfield.

In addition to his quickness, Wilson plays with great strength, showing an ability to redirect offensive linemen. In particular, he has good lower body strength that allows him to earn leverage in his matchups.

Oklahoma has a pair of defensive line prospects committed to the 2025 cycle in Ka’Mori Moore and Alexander Shieldknight. Listed as a defensive lineman, Wilson could play defensive tackle in four-man fronts or flex outside to defensive end in three-man fronts.

Trent Wilson’s Recruiting Profile

Projections

  • No Rivals Futurecasts issued at this time.
  • On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine currently favors Penn State.
  • No Crystal Ball predictions issued at this time.

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