Tag: Caleb Williams

Oklahoma five-star quarterback target Caleb Williams announces commitment timeline

Oklahoma five-star quarterback target Caleb Williams has the recruiting world at his fingertips. He details his commitment timeline.

While many thought Caleb Williams may wrap up his recruitment early last Monday, the five-star quarterback had other plans.

Oklahoma’s only quarterback target released a top-five instead, with the Sooners entrenched in the fight. Williams has wrote glowingly about his relationship with Lincoln Riley and how his last visit to Oklahoma checked off all the boxes in past blogs with Sports Illustrated.

The Washington D.C. native has another entry in his weekly blog, this time letting the world know of when he thinks about committing.

“With the timeline, I’ve always wanted to commit before my senior year of football,” wrote Williams. “That’s still the plan, I don’t want to move that unless I have to. I’m still wanting to stay before the season but if that has to change then it has to change.”

In the mean time, Williams wrote that he will spend his time building relationships with some of the other top recruits in the 2021 class. He says he’s not pressuring anybody in this role, but communicating with them constantly and building a friendship.

Williams says he’s been waiting to get to this part of the process in order to help put the best recruiting class around him.

“Being able to have the same options along with top guys in the nation is pretty cool, especially when you can build relationships and bring those guys with you,” he wrote. “You really don’t get that in high school, especially at Gonzaga because you have to get in the school first. So you’re not able to bring guys in like college. Then in the NFL, like my dad says, they choose you. You don’t choose what team you want to go to, at least not in the first contract you get. College is pretty unique and pretty special.”

The Sooners remain without a quarterback committed for the 2021 class and Williams remains the priority for Riley and Oklahoma.

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Oklahoma is reportedly on top for four of the top-16 recruits in the 2021 recruiting class

In the midst of an emergency mandated recruiting dead period, Oklahoma has surged on the trail for four of the top-16 recruits in 2021.

In the midst of an emergency mandated recruiting dead period, Oklahoma has surged on the trail.

The Sooners week got started on Monday when five-star and No. 1 overall quarterback Caleb Williams included Oklahoma in his final five schools after weeks of positive movement in his recruitment for Lincoln Riley. Within the next 48 hours, the momentum got bigger.

Four-star and No. 3 overall wide receiver Mario Williams has reportedly moved the Sooners near or the top of his list. Rivals’ national recruiting director Mike Farrell tweeted out that five-star and No. 1 offensive guard Bryce Foster was trending to Oklahoma—which was followed by Foster tweeting ‘BOOMER’ and Sooners’ center Creed Humphrey tweeting his pitch.

Foster has visited Norman, Oklahoma, twice since year turned in Jan., with one being an impromptu visit for the first practice of the Sooners spring.

The wave of momentum culminated with a report on Wednesday that Oklahoma is the No. 1 contender for the No. 1 running back in the 2021 recruiting class in Camar Wheaton.

“Wheaton has frequented Oklahoma’s campus as much as any school in the country and it should be poised out the success Lincoln Riley and the Sooners have enjoyed in North Texas,” wrote Sam Spiegelman, the south central recruiting analyst for Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma for Rivals. “Oklahoma was one of two schools to get the five-star on campus before the travel ban, which is probably a testament to the strong bond that has formed between Wheaton and the head coach. Right now, the Sooners have to like where they sit with the elite running back.”

Those four are four of the top-16 recruits in the entire 2021 recruiting class according to Rivals—Caleb Williams at No. 3, Wheaton at No. 7, Foster at No. 9 and Mario Williams at No. 16.

The last time Oklahoma was able to accomplish that feat was in 2019 when Jadon Haselwood, Theo Wease, Spencer Rattler and Trejan Bridges signed when the four were in the top-21 of the entire ’19 recruiting class. The Sooners landed the No. 5 recruiting class in 2019 with those four leading the haul.

It’s a long way until the first national signing day in Dec., but Riley and Oklahoma have made big in-roads for four of the country’s best in the 2021 recruiting class. The Sooners can’t bring any visitors in or go see any on the road due to the mandated recruiting dead period for the coronavirus through April 15, but Oklahoma can still contact recruits on the phone.

Oklahoma makes top-five schools for five-star quarterback Caleb Williams

Oklahoma has made the final list for one of the 2021 recruiting classes’ best. Five-star recruit Caleb Williams has cut his list to five.

Oklahoma has made the final list for one of the 2021 recruiting classes’ best.

Five-star and consensus No. 1 quarterback recruit Caleb Williams is ready to start winding down his recruitment. He announced a top-five on Monday morning with the Sooners included.

Oklahoma will be battling for his services against long-time leader LSU, Clemson, Maryland and Penn State.

“To Oklahoma, I mean, kinda speaks for itself,” Williams wrote in his weekly blog with Sports Illustrated about including Oklahoma. “Their history and what Coach (Lincoln) Riley has done these past three years — Baker (Mayfield) to Kyler (Murray) then to Jalen Hurts, then to whoever else is next and then maybe me.”

Williams recently saw the Sooners on March 5-7. It was his third unofficial visit to see Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma. One of those took place after then-No. 1 quarterback Brock Vandagriff committed in the summer of 2019.

“I got the clarity that I needed,” Williams wrote in an earlier blog about that visit to Oklahoma. “Having the trust in coaches and mentors Mark and Russ, my dad and my mother being with me, it also helped that they asked a few questions that I wouldn’t know to ask and they gave us the answers. It felt like it was the truth, what they were telling us.”

His dad gave the same glowing remarks about the visit to the Sooners.

“From my perspective it feels like you go to Oklahoma and get into the lab for three or four years,” said Carl Williams in the same blog. “You get glimpses of what they’re developing on Saturdays and they prepare you for the NFL. That’s what I really see there. We had detailed explanation. We didn’t get a chance to see a lot of Norman, we didn’t get a chance to see a lot of Oklahoma City, but we will when we return.

“In terms of meetings and things we did there, I think we got an in-depth look at what student life will be like as an athlete at Oklahoma. I think that’s really important. We feel really good about it.”

With the recent recruiting dead period mandated by the NCAA, Williams will have to wait to return to Oklahoma, but he can still remain in contact with Riley and the OU coaching staff.

The Washington D.C. native could become the second No. 1 quarterback recruit to commit to Oklahoma in the last three recruiting class, joining presumed 2020 starting quarterback Spencer Rattler.

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Five-star quarterback Caleb Williams recaps March visit to Oklahoma in latest blog

Oklahoma had one of its most important recruits from the upcoming class of 2021 recruiting class on campus this past week. 

Oklahoma had one of its most important recruits from the upcoming class of 2021 recruiting class on campus this past week.

Five-star recruit and No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class, Caleb Williams, took in the sights and sounds of Norman, Oklahoma, from Thursday through Saturday. It was Williams third visit to Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley.

“I got the clarity that I needed,” Williams wrote in his personal blog on Sports Illustrated. “Having the trust in coaches and mentors Mark and Russ, my dad and my mother being with me, it also helped that they asked a few questions that I wouldn’t know to ask and they gave us the answers. It felt like it was the truth, what they were telling us.”

Joining Williams on the trip was his mom and dad and two of his mentors.

He says that he met with Jalen Hurts and Oklahoma president Joseph Harroz on the visit. Williams says Harroz laid out out a strategic plan over the next few years and how important Oklahoma football is to the university.

The five-star quarterback wrote that his mom enjoyed the visit and “how peaceful it was”. Williams says that his mom “thought it was a very mellowed out campus and that the vibe was very cool”.

His dad also had beaming remarks.

“From my perspective it feels like you go to Oklahoma and get into the lab for three or four years,” said Carl Williams in the blog. “You get glimpses of what they’re developing on Saturdays and they prepare you for the NFL. That’s what I really see there. We had detailed explanation. We didn’t get a chance to see a lot of Norman, we didn’t get a chance to see a lot of Oklahoma City, but we will when we return.

“In terms of meetings and things we did there, I think we got an in-depth look at what student life will be like as an athlete at Oklahoma. I think that’s really important. We feel really good about it.”

The Sooners have four commitments already for the 2021 recruiting class. Oklahoma took a 2020 quarterback late in the son of Auburn offensive coordinator Chad Morris, Chandler Morris and are expected to be going with the top quarterback from the 2019 class in Spencer Rattler through the 2021 season.

Williams has not announced when he is returning to Oklahoma for a visit.

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Five-star quarterback Caleb Williams talks upcoming visit to Oklahoma, relationship with Lincoln Riley in personal blog

Five star quarterbacks and Oklahoma remain a thing. Caleb Williams talks upcoming visit and relationship with Lincoln Riley in personal blog.

Oklahoma and five-star quarterbacks remain a thing.

The Sooners landed Spencer Rattler in the 2019 recruiting class, who ended up as the top quarterback in that class. Then it was Bryce Young, who ended up the same in the 2020 class but chose hometown USC before flipping late to Alabama, though the prevailing thought was that he’d pick Oklahoma if it weren’t for Rattler.

Enter Brock Vandagriff in the 2021 class. He was the No. 1 ranked quarterback at the time of his commitment to Oklahoma last summer and eventually de-committing for hometown Georgia.

Now?

Current five-star and No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class Caleb Williams*, who is set to visit Oklahoma over the next three days.

“If you just go look at their recent history with Coach (Lincoln) Riley, that should be enough to get me back on campus,” Williams wrote in his personal blog with Sports Illustrated. “With Baker (Mayfield), to Kyler (Murray), to Jalen Hurts. They were all Heisman contenders, two Heisman winners and two were first overall picks. Jalen is coming up in this draft and he should go high.”

When Vandagriff committed last summer, Lincoln Riley never stopped communicating with Williams.

The Washington D.C. native visited Oklahoma soon after Vandagriff made his commitment and the Sooners not having a spot for him. Williams has visited Norman, Oklahoma, twice, and wrote on his relationship and upcoming visit the next three days.

“I’ve already visited there twice and I’ve liked it,” he wrote. “I like Coach Riley. He and I were in the war room—they call it—the offensive meeting room. We were going through a bunch of plays; we were talking and connected very well. I think it was for a long time and it wasn’t supposed to be, it was supposed to be 20 minutes or so and it went way longer. I have a good connection with Coach Riley. The recent history is enough for me to come back.

“Still trying to figure out if that is one of the places for me out of all the schools I’m choosing from. And just the feeling of being there and if I could be out there for three or four years and call it my home.”

Oklahoma is the perceived leader in the clubhouse with LSU and Clemson being the stiffest competition.

It has not been announced or reported if Williams will be making a return visit to the Sooners after this weekend.

*according to Rivals.com

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Five-star quarterback Caleb Williams will reportedly visit Oklahoma next week

Hello, Lincoln Riley. The No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class will reportedly visit Oklahoma next week.

Hello, Lincoln Riley.

The Oklahoma head coach lost his head honcho of the 2021 recruiting class when former No. 1 quarterback Brock Vandagriff de-committed on Jan. 1. Now, the current No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class is set to visit.

Caleb Williams, the third overall prospect and top quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class according to Rivals, will reportedly visit Oklahoma from March 5-7. It was first reported by 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong and later confirmed by Rivals.com east coast recruiting analyst Adam Friedman.

Williams is one of two quarterbacks who were offered by Riley in the 2021 recruiting class. He visited Oklahoma after Brock Vandagriff committed in the spring of 2019. The upcoming visit will be his first without the Sooners having a quarterback committed and the first as Riley’s main target in the class.

LSU was the perceived leader for Williams until offensive wizard Joe Brady moved up to the NFL with the Carolina Panthers.

Clemson is another at the top of the race, but Dabo Swinney is bringing in the No. 2 quarterback in the 2020 class as the heir apparent to Trevor Lawrence. If we learned anything about that in 2020, Oklahoma was unable to snatch Bryce Young due to Spencer Rattler becoming a Sooner in the 2019 class.

Oklahoma only has three commitments thus far in the 2021 recruiting class.

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247 Sports director of recruiting predicts Oklahoma to land 5-star quarterback

For the second time in three years, Oklahoma is looking to bring in one of the best signal-callers in the country. 

For the second time in three years, Oklahoma is looking to bring in one of the best signal-callers in the country.

After landing the No. 1 quarterback in the 2019 class in Spencer Rattler, Lincoln Riley has his eyes on class of 2021 five-star quarterback Caleb Williams.

Soon after the de-commitment of fellow 2021 five-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff, Williams became the priority target for Oklahoma. The Sooners never stopped recruiting him despite Vandagriff’s commitment, and it seems to be paying off.

Steve Wiltfong, the director of recruiting for 247 Sports, predicted Williams to be a Sooner on Monday.

“While I’m riding with the Sooners right now, I could easily flip back to LSU depending on who the Tigers hire to replace offensive whiz Joe Brady,” Wiltfong wrote. “They were the clear team to beat following a visit to Baton Rouge in the fall. Brady taking a job with the Carolina Panthers changed the dynamic and opened the door for Oklahoma with Lincoln Riley keeping in nearly daily contact. They’ll return to Norman in March. Clemson, Oregon and Penn State are also still in the thick of this recruitment. A recent visit to see Dabo Swinney and company moved the needle.”

Since that article was published, LSU has reportedly hired longtime NFL coach Scott Linehan to fill offensive aficionado Joe Brady’s position as the Tigers’ quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. He last worked as the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator from 2016-18 before parting ways with the Cowboys after the 2018 season.

Williams is the fourth-ranked quarterback on 247 Sports and the 15th overall prospect for the 2021 recruiting class. He was named the No. 3 overall recruit and the No. 1 ranked quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class on Rivals on Monday.

He has not set a timetable for a decision.

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2021 5-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff decommits from Oklahoma

The No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 class has de-committed from the Sooners. pic.twitter.com/luGcDU7ZGI – brock (@BrockVandagriff) January 1, 2020 Brock Vandagriff, a five-star quarterback, and the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2021 class has …

The No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 class has de-committed from the Sooners.

Brock Vandagriff, a five-star quarterback, and the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2021 class has announced that he will re-open his recruitment process after being committed to Oklahoma since June 20, 2019.

The 6-foot-3, 198-pound pro-style quarterback out of Bogart, Ga. (Prince Avenue Christian School) has offers from nearly every single power-5 school in the country.

Although a big blow to Oklahoma’s 2021 outlook and a pretty unexpected decision by a lot of fans, the Sooners are still in good shape. Lincoln Riley still has all of his cards in play when it comes to the 2021 class, including the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 5 overall prospect via Rivals, Caleb Williams (Gonzaga High School; Washington D.C.).

Williams is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound dual-threat and took a visit to Oklahoma on Sept. 28 when the Sooners beat Texas Tech 55-16. Per Rivals, Williams is favoring LSU and Georgia but with an opening at Oklahoma and Riley’s history with quarterbacks, Williams could reconsider.

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