Tag: Branson Hickman

Another transfer center expected to visit the Oklahoma Sooners per report

The Sooners are still looking up ways to shore up their offensive line as another center will take a visit to the Sooners.

It’s no secret the Oklahoma Sooners are trying to find ways to help their center position heading into the 2024 college football season. Center became a big question mark after the loss of Troy Everett, who is expected to be out until the end of fall camp.

[autotag]Josh Bates[/autotag] has stepped in but doesn’t have the experience yet. So the Sooners are looking for some starting experience to supplement the position. SMU transfer center [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] is set to visit this weekend during the spring game.

On Thursday, they found out Utah Utes transfer center Kolinu’u Faaiu would be making a trip to Norman. Faaiu is 6-foot-3 and 324-pounds. His representatives told ESPN’s Pete Thamel he will be taking three visits with Oklahoma on the shortlist.

He didn’t play as a freshman but has earned more opportunities the last two seasons. In 2022, he appeared in five games on the offensive line, but only played 88 snaps. Then last season he played in 11 games, starting the last eight at center. He played more than 500 snaps for the Utes last season.

This would be a big get for Oklahoma as he would have two years of eligibility left. He doesn’t have the starts or experience that Hickman has, but he’s a much bigger player, which will help against [autotag]SEC[/autotag] defensive linemen.

As of right now, the official date hasn’t been set but that would be a big win for Oklahoma if they can pull it off.

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Defensive tackle transfer Philip Blidi no longer visiting Oklahoma for the Spring game

The Oklahoma Sooners have a busy recruiting weekend ahead but one talented defensive lineman will no longer be there.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a massive weekend ahead with the spring game and the number of recruits set to be on campus. In addition to the high school prospects OU will be hosting, the Sooners will also host several transfer targets this weekend.

The list of transfers includes defensive tackles [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Jermayne Lole[/autotag] and interior offensive lineman [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag]. Initially, that list included Indiana Hoosiers’ transfer, [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag]. He was the first of the group to announce he’d be at the spring game but has now announced he will not be in attendance.

Some people may look at that and be surprised. When Blidi first entered the portal, it looked like he was set to be a Sooner. But after a few visits and the list of Sooners targets growing, the rumblings of Blidi not ending up in the Crimson and Cream only grew louder.

Obviously, he would have brought a lot of experience, which would have helped a talented but young defensive tackle group. However, the Sooners still have two big-time transfers at that position set to come to campus. Williams is considered Oklahoma’s top defensive tackle target. As the Sooners are over the scholarship limit, they were going to have to be picky in their additions.

So, now the focus turns to Williams and Lole and a recent transfer portal entry in UCLA defensive tackle Jay Toia. But it remains to be seen how active the Sooners will be with Toia.

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Oklahoma targets among ESPN’s top 25 transfers in the spring window

The Oklahoma Sooners are hoping to supplement their roster through the portal and several of their targets are among ESPN’s top 25 players.

The Oklahoma Sooners haven’t been shy about making additions to the roster via the transfer portal during [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] tenure. Though the program would like to build through the high school ranks, they’ve also been proactive and opportunistic in the transfer portal with Venables at the helm.

This offseason, they’ve already added a player in [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag], who looks like he’ll start at wide receiver for the Sooners in 2024. Oklahoma’s brought in a number of offensive linemen who could crack the starting lineup as well. But the Sooners are still looking to fortify their ranks in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

The Sooners are set to host a number of high school and transfer prospects this spring and several were included in ESPN’s top 25 transfer portal players (ESPN+).

No. 6 Damonic Williams, DT

Even at his size, he still possesses good quickness and explosive pop off the ball to shed and penetrate opponents’ backfields. He plays with a motor as well, chasing plays down laterally and is very active in the trenches. With the physical tools and consistency he has shown in just two seasons in Fort Worth, Williams could be one of the biggest defensive targets in this spring cycle. – Billy Tucker, ESPN

[autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] was incredibly productive in his first two seasons at TCU, showing off the ability to stop the run and rush the passer from the nose tackle position. He could come in and immediately upgrade the Sooners defensive interior with talent but lacks experience.

No. 20 Philip Blidi, DT

He signed with Texas Tech, immediately contributed and continued to do so while in Lubbock, appearing in at least 10 games in each of his three seasons there. He transferred to Indiana last season and started 11 games with a big increase in production. He tallied 30 tackles (seventh on the team) with four tackles for loss. – Tucker, ESPN

Like Williams, [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag] has been a productive player in his collegiate career. He’s also a legit nose tackle that could help supplement what the Sooners are going to get from Da’Jon Terry.

UPDATE

Philip Blidi announced via social media that he would no longer be visiting Oklahoma for the spring game.

No. 22 Branson Hickman, OL

With over 30 starts in his career at SMU, he was a second-team All-AAC performer in 2023. Hickman is a good technician and competitor with knowledge to make line of scrimmage calls and adjustments. – Tucker, ESPN

The Oklahoma Sooners have questions along the offensive line as things stand right now. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t answer them at the spring game or by the time Oklahoma kicks off the 2024 regular season. But if they feel like they need more interior offensive line help, Hickman could provide a solution, especially at center. The loss of Troy Everett took an experienced voice off the field.

This is a big weekend for the Sooners, with more than 70 in attendance, according to the folks at OUInsider. Williams and Hickman are expected to be in Norman along with another transfer portal target Jermayne Lole.

If the Sooners can knock this weekend out of the park, they could move the needle in several recruitments that will impact both the Sooners’ short-term and long-term future.

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